Request for funding Haskell Meetup 2026 in the Democratic republic of Congo
Narcisse Mbunzama
Dear Haskell Foundation Committee,
I am writing to request support for organizing Haskell Meetup Kinshasa 2026 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Haskell Meetup Kinshasa 2026 is a community-driven technical event dedicated to functional programming, type-safe software design, and modern language theory applications in real-world software engineering. The initiative aims to strengthen local expertise in Haskell and functional programming paradigms, while encouraging participation in global open-source communities built around Haskell and its ecosystem.
Scheduled for July 20, 2026, in Kinshasa, the meetup will provide a collaborative environment where participants can develop practical skills in functional programming, exchange knowledge, and engage with both local and international Haskell communities.
Objectives
The meetup is designed to:
- Promote adoption of Haskell and functional programming principles within the Congolese software ecosystem;
- Introduce participants to strong static typing, purity, and type-driven development;
- Strengthen local capacity in formal methods and reliable software design;
- Encourage contribution to open-source Haskell projects and libraries;
- Support academic and practical understanding of advanced programming language concepts;
- Establish a sustainable local community centered on Haskell and functional programming.
Meetup Activities
The program will include a combination of technical and community-oriented activities, including:
- Introductory and intermediate sessions on Haskell programming;
- Workshops on functional programming concepts such as monads, functors, and applicative structures;
- Talks on type systems, compiler design, and correctness-by-construction approaches;
- Hands-on coding sessions using Haskell tooling and ecosystem libraries;
- Demonstrations of Haskell in backend systems, data processing, and domain modeling;
- Discussions on contributing to open-source Haskell projects and libraries;
- Networking sessions for students, developers, researchers, and educators;
- Community planning sessions focused on long-term ecosystem growth.
Target Audience
The meetup is intended for approximately 50 participants, including:
- Software developers and engineers;
- University students and recent graduates in computer science or mathematics;
- Systems developers interested in functional programming;
- Open-source contributors and language enthusiasts;
- Academic researchers in programming languages and formal methods;
- Startup founders exploring reliable software architectures;
- Individuals interested in advanced programming paradigms.
Expected Impact
Haskell Meetup Kinshasa 2026 aims to strengthen the local software engineering ecosystem by introducing rigorous functional programming practices and promoting high-assurance software development. The initiative is expected to:
- Increase awareness and understanding of Haskell and functional programming;
- Improve software quality practices through type-driven design approaches;
- Support academic engagement with programming language theory;
- Encourage participation in global Haskell open-source ecosystems;
- Build a long-term community focused on advanced programming methodologies.
Event Information
Event Name: Haskell Meetup Kinshasa 2026
Date: July 20, 2026
Location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Format: In-person community meetup and workshop
Expected Attendance: Approximately 50 participants
Participation Fee: Free of charge
Funding and Support
The total budget required for organizing Haskell Meetup Kinshasa 2026 is USD 1,800.
This funding will support venue logistics, internet connectivity, participant materials, audiovisual equipment, communication and outreach, refreshments, and volunteer coordination necessary to ensure the success of the event.
Additional non-financial support such as mentorship, technical guidance, educational resources, and engagement with the global Haskell community would significantly enhance the long-term sustainability and impact of the initiative.
Organizer
Narcisse Mbunzama is a software developer, trainer, and technology community leader from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and has over six years of experience leading developer education and community initiatives as Lead of the DRC Developer Association. His work focuses on software engineering, programming languages, functional programming, open-source technologies, and community capacity building across the Congolese technology ecosystem.
Contact
9, Av. Lutama, Q. Bianda, C. Mont Ngafula
Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tel: +243 842 774 438
E-mail: mbun...@gmail.com
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30/06/26 00:31:45 |
Laurent P. René de Cotret
> Additional non-financial support such as mentorship, technical guidance, educational resources, and engagement with the global Haskell community would significantly enhance the long-term sustainability and impact of the initiative.
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Narcisse Mbunzama
Dear Laurent,
Thank you very much for your response and for your interest in the Haskell Kinshasa 2026 initiative.
Regarding communication support, promotion of the Haskell Kinshasa 2026 meetup through your official communication channels and social media platforms would be a valuable contribution, significantly improving the visibility of the event within the global Haskell community.
On the logistical side, we would also like to request permission to use the official Haskell logo for designing posters, banners, and other communication materials. If possible, we would be grateful to receive the logo in a format suitable for graphic use.
Regarding funding, I understand, as you mentioned, the current limitations regarding direct financial support. However, at this stage of the organization, covering the venue rental and refreshments represents a major challenge. As participants are expected to attend from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, ensuring adequate hosting conditions and comfort is essential for the successful running of the event.
We also plan to ask participants to cover their transportation costs and we will reduce certain expenses related to media coverage. In this context, we will need to raise USD 750 for the venue and for refreshments to ensure the minimum conditions required for organizing the event.
We sincerely thank you again for your consideration and remain open to any form of collaboration with the Haskell Foundation.
Best regards,
Narcisse Mbunzama
