Hi y’all,
Another one here! As part of doubling our contributors and reaching every corner — and with what I’m currently pushing alongside the DEI and Docs teams — I had a chat with the chairperson, Benard, at Kirinyaga University, and we’re planning an info session and docs workshop on the 8th of November.
The session will be in person.
More info will be updated here.
cc: @jonatoni, @jflory7 @pboy @pbokoc @theprogram
update: poster.
Great news @lochipi 
let us know if you need any help
Hey @lochipi, this is awesome. I appreciate the work you are doing here.
Is there anything you will need to help you be successful? Do you plan to ask for budget funding to do this? Do you need any resources, information, or insight from other members of the Fedora community? Since this is three weeks away, if you are expecting support, we should make sure we are engaging in the right places to get you support you need in time, without putting anyone else in a last-minute, high-pressure crunch to get things you need to be successful.
Also, I was wondering if you have given any thought to making a “Fedora Kenya” regional chapter. We could make a Matrix room, but as I observed from @chris’s trip report from CHAOSScon Africa and OSCAFest 2025, Matrix was hard to onboard people to. Is something like Telegram, WhatsApp, or another app used a lot in Kenya? Would it be helpful to make a group chat for Fedora Kenya folks on an app that people in Kenya actually use?
We have a Fedora East Africa WhatsApp group. Most of the people from the last Docs Workshop are on there, but it is still quiet. A couple of people came on board with Discourse too.
Oh, that is awesome. Is WhatsApp the “best” platform to use for managing a discussion group about Fedora? If yes, maybe @lochipi can make it a more featured part of onboarding folks at the next workshop?
To me, the idea is that we have an easier place to onboard local folks (e.g. WhatsApp), and then folks like @lochipi or @theprogram could be “connectors” to bring some of the more passionate folks into the fold of the global Fedora community.
Just a thought. I am thinking a lot about the observations Chris shared from Nigeria in July.
Yes, Cornelius identified the same problems some time ago.
WhatsApp is a good platform, as most people in East Africa are on it or can install with one click.
I’m sure Cornelius will agree with your suggestion to highlight the local group as a contact point, and we both monitor it daily.
yeah. thanks Justin.
So far so good, I can handle it, I’ll reuse the slides @pbokoc used in the previous session, it really covered everything. I can’t see anything big here, maybe the funding part. But I believe now that would be quick, even voting for approval. I’ll get everything in place by next week.
Most people use WhatsApp around here and currently we have a group for East Africa.
Finally! Things have been moving slowly on this end but I’ve got everything I needed to confirm this. We’re moving ahead with this and I’m filling a ticket for swags.
If it at some point brings an advantage, you can think of founding a Kenya SIG or East Africa SIG. Not sure if that makes sense at this time, but a Matrix channel and a tag here in Discourse can for some groups be helpful to organize themselves (e.g., #region-uk in Matrix & uk-sig here in Project Discussion). It might be also more inclusive (e.g., everyone can find the group though its SEO and easily join, and without need to share their number or so) and more of a best (open) practice than WhatsApp 
Just to keep it in mind when it gets useful
Yeap, that’s a good idea. Thanks Chris. Let’s get this done and see how it goes and we’ll see how we can have those.
For what it is worth, @chris is the lead of the Fedora West Africa chat room on Matrix. However, it is not super active there. I don’t want to speak on Chris’s behalf, but we could take a page from how the CHAOSS community has done it, and try to transform those existing channels into a “Fedora Africa” chapter.
I have always been hesitant to wrap all of the African continent up together in one big bucket, because there is so much diversity across the continent. And it does not do us service to speak about all of our emerging African contributors and communities as the same way. However, perhaps for the purpose of having more activity as a whole, it might not be a bad idea to at least get the ball rolling?
Any thoughts on that?
While i feel the existing channels (like Fedora West Africa) should not be deleted or fully merged. We can retain these chapters for special or focused functions.
There might just be more to gain with a “Fedora Africa” chapter. The CHAOSS African community has benefited from this with a single, visible front for the community, showcasing collective strength and activity. Individual initiatives are often the catalyst for wider regional engagement, and we have a valuable opportunity to learn from our own shared experiences.
I share the view on the vast diversity, but I believe a “Fedora Africa’”hub is essential as a necessary bridge. Its presence might amplify visibility within the global project and drive higher levels of engagement that the smaller regional channels currently struggle to achieve.
i am really looking forward to this workshop , get insights on open source contribution …see you tommorow 
I’m excited to be part of the Fedora event at Kirinyaga University. I’ve always wanted to learn more about open-source contributions, and this looks like a great place to start. Looking forward to meeting everyone and exploring Fedora Docs!
Super exciting!
Not to rock the boat if WhatsApp works well for you guys, but have you considered Signal by chance? Works very similar to WhatsApp but it’s FOSS and more privacy-respecting. Thinking about it for people who don’t want to share their personal phone number with online communities, but maybe that’s not a concern for many. Signal lets you use usernames and join chats without having to give personal information.
Either way, glad to hear there is a group chat where folks are congregating! Whatever works best is best!
I am eager to learn and contribute to the Fedora project. The commitment to innovation and collaboration within the Fedora community resonates with my values, and I am particularly intrigued by the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies and improve user experiences. I believe that by contributing to Fedora, I can not only enhance my technical skills but also engage with a diverse group of talented individuals. I am excited to explore areas such as packaging, documentation, and community outreach, and I look forward to making a meaningful impact while learning from experienced contributors.
I’m not sure if that’d be the fastest way to reach out to the community here, but I guess as long as they’re comfortable with that - whatever works best is best!
We also have a feature that hides group members info, anyway, we’ll find out.
Karibuni sana! 
Excited to be part of this and learn, contribute and see how conversation unfolds.
