Advancing Open Source Technologies for Development
Python African Tour (PAT) is an exciting African open source technology initiative
aimed at promoting agile programming languages, mainly Python, among Africa's tech communities. Through the efforts of
various developers, organizers, activists and volunteers, the programme has
successfully trained interested people in Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco and Ghana to develop computer
software using Python-based technologies. Similar efforts are currently
underway to bring the Python African Tour experience to Kenya.
The
first PAT workshop in Ghana was held from 18th to 22nd
January 2011 at African University College of Communications (AUCC) and Ghana
Telecom University College (GTUC) in Accra. PAT Ghana was sponsored by Google,
BECATEC, Ageliaco and the Python Software Foundation (PSF), while Ghana Google Technology User Group
(Ghana GTUG), Fedora Linux Project and Hutspace were partners. The Accra event birthed many avid Python programmers, a mailing list and the call to spread Python to other parts of Ghana.
Therefore,
the Python African Tour team in Ghana is organizing a follow-up Python training
workshop specially targeted at students at Kwame Nkrumah University of Scienceand Technology (KNUST), Kumasi Polytechnic (K-Poly) and other tertiary
institutions in the Kumasi area. Other technology enthusiasts in the Ashanti region
are also welcome to attend. This makes Ghana the first country to have a second
PAT event organized.
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| Kumasi city centre. Picture credit: travelblog.org |
The overall goal is to boost development in Africa through Python
and allied technologies; this will be achieved by empowering young Ghanaian
students, developers and entrepreneurs with quality skills to tackle local
problems. It is also the objective of the Tour to inspire and build
conversations among local developers, creating an ecosystem of cooperation,
idea-sharing, collaboration and creativity.
Python African Tour takes a different approach from other
tech-related conferences that have been held in Ghana due to its focus on
hands-on Python training and skills transfer, opportunity local developers have
been yearning for. The schedule for the Kumasi event is as follows:
- 19th September to 25th September, 2011: Online course – “Introduction to Python" at School of Webcraft
- 29th September to 30th September, 2011: Introduction to Python
- 1st October, 2011: Introduction to Django web framework/Sprints
The emphasis of the training regimen is on developing a
problem-solving and practical approach to programming. The training team
consists of volunteers from PAT Ghana team, PAT Ghana participants, KNUST GTUG
members and well-established software developers.
British Council, Google Ghana/Africa, BECATEC, Ageliaco, PSF,
Ghana GTUG and KNUST GTUG are supporting this event to come to fruition. Sponsorship opportunites are still available for the workshops or hackathon. Contact
the PAT team via email and get your organisation to be part of this exciting
initiative.
To participate in the Python African Tour (PAT) Kumasi workshop, please fill out the
registration form at the PAT website now. If you are interested in sponsoring, supporting the training team
or helping out in any way, please send an email to patghana(at)gmail.com.
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Connect
with Python African Tour:
Twitter:
@PATGhana
Facebook:
Python African Tour Ghana Leg
Training starts today, 29th September, but the venue is now KNUST ICT Centre . Please note the change in venue.
ReplyDeletePlease i just noticed your association.I am new to programming and will like to join.
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