[Important - Please Read Through] Increasing the number of GSoC student applicants from Africa.

[Chimdindu Aneke]

Hi Ex-GSoCers: My name is Chimdindu Aneke from Nigeria. I am an EX-GSoCer with Systers last year and and aspiring to become a mentor this year with the same org.

Hope you are doing great? I want to let you know about a new Initiative to encourage  African students  to participate in Open Source Development and currently a great platform to do so is the ongoing Google Summer of Code 2015 (GSoC). We all know the power of open source and its great effect on our productivity and lifestyle as tech enthusiasts.

As Ex-GSoC students, you are the only one that can help aspiring African students get ready and be prepared for GSoC 2015 application process. On this note I want each and every one of us here to become a Virtual Adviser who will help make sure these our African students get thorough preparation before the Google Summer of Code officially starts in March. You will be guiding students across Africa.

So who is a Virtual Adviser? A virtual Adviser in this initiative is a volunteer student or passionate individual/techie who loves change and growth of like minds in the tech space. They will provide virtual help, advice, invite, spread this initiative and coach aspiring students of GSoC up to the official GSoC application deadline. 

A great developer or passionate techie student in today's world does not live in the Cave. The great ones we know enjoy collaboration, diverse cultural mix up, no language barrier, great communication and  love growing together at scale and that is what GSoC helps in achieving.

It will be super exciting to see African students participate in the ongoing GSoC 2015 though official application starts on March 16 - March 27, 2015.

Based on feedback gotten from some African students, they see GSoC program as a highly competitive program and not meant for them when compared to other participants from other regions of the world and they also believe that the GSoC application is challenging and very difficult to get in.

Yes! Somewhat they are correct and that is why we have setup a unique community on G+ called GSoKites Virtual Classroom to bring all interested students willing to apply for GSoC 2015 to join and subscribe to aspiring students mailing list . Students who join will enjoy thorough preparation class ahead of the official application GSoC date.

Tips, great information and articles, advices and experiences will be shared by past GSoC students, LIVE hangout sessions by at least one organization who has participated  in GSoC telling students all they need to know when applying, what they are looking for from students and also simple projects will be shared so that interested students will learn beforehand how to engage in open source code collaboration, reviews, comments, feedback etc.

How we can help as EX-GSoCERS???

Action Items:

• Please share this with fellow passionate African developer/techie friends who are still students.

• Join the GSoKites Virtual Classroom

• Join the GSokites Mailing list and

• The whole show unfolds in the virtual classroom :)
• To Actually join to become a Virtual Adviser to this students please fill this FORM asap\
• If your Country is not in the Category list in the Virtual Classroom on G+ (please let me know too so I add it up immediately)