Call for Volunteers: Support Our Education Programs

WordPress Campus Connect is growing, and we need community support to advance key initiatives. We are seeking assistance in the specific areas detailed below. If you are interested in contributing, please comment on this post or reach out to the team in the #campusconnect SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/. channel.

Support Areas

Design

We need help creating the following assets:

  • Default Website Themes:
    • WordPress Campus Connect website theme
    • WordPress Student Club theme
  • Badges (Current point of contact: @debdesign):
    • Campus Connect Organizer
    • Campus Connect MentorEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues.
    • Campus Connect Participant

Documentation

We require assistance with reviewing and creating content:

  • Education Handbook: Review for clarity of instruction and identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Community Handbook Program ManagerProgram Manager Program Managers (formerly Super Deputies) are Program Supporters who can perform extra tasks on WordCamp.org like creating new sites and publishing WordCamps to the schedule. Pages: Review for clarity of instruction and identify opportunities for improvement.
    1. Draft WPCC Office HoursOffice Hours Defined times when the Global Community Team are in the #community-events Slack channel. If there is anything you would like to discuss โ€“ you do not need to inform them in advance.You are very welcome to drop into any of the Community Team Slack channels at any time. e-guide

Resources Page: Draft a new page in the Education Handbook that includes direct links to essential resources for organizers (e.g., pitch decks, logos).

Thanks @piyopiyofox for crafting this post.

#campus-connect

A Productive Day with WordPress Campus Connect Brahmanbaria

A Memorable Beginning

After spending a month preparing, our WordPress Campus Connect Brahmanbaria event finally took placeโ€”and it became one of the most productive and inspiring days our community has experienced recently. With support from our volunteers, speakers, and attendees, the entire program felt meaningful from start to finish.

The event ran from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM, and right from the registration desk, we felt the excitement in the room. For many students, this was their first ever introduction to WordPress, and their enthusiasm shaped the energy of the whole day.

As Lead Organizer, Shipon Karmakar welcomed everyone, introduced the purpose of Campus Connect, and set a warm tone for the rest of the program.

Why We Wanted to Bring Campus Connect to Brahmanbaria

Our vision for this event was simple: bring WordPress directly to students and help them discover new skills and opportunities.

In Brahmanbaria, many students havenโ€™t had the chance to explore WordPress or understand how powerful the platform truly is. Campus Connect was our way of breaking that barrierโ€”by offering a free, practical, beginner-friendly session right on their campus.

We also discussed:

  • joining our local WordPress meetupsMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook.,
  • the importance of WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what theyโ€™ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more.,
  • and how students can start contributing to the WordPress project.

The feedback we received showed how much this exposure meant to them.

What We Taught Throughout the Day

To make the learning process smooth for beginners, we focused on five key topics:

  • Introduction to Campus Connect โ€” Shipon Karmakar (Lead Organizer)
  • Discovering WordPress as an Open-Source Platform โ€” Eh Jewel
  • Why WordPress? Origin, Contribution Path & Personal Journey โ€” Muhibul Haque
  • WordPress 101: Build Your First Website โ€” Tanvirul Haque
  • Your Roadmap to a WordPress Career โ€” Shamim Mia

These sessions gave students a full learning journeyโ€”from โ€œWhat is WordPress?โ€ to building their very first website.

Behind the Scenes: Our Amazing Volunteers

None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our volunteer team. They supported registration, logistics, workshop assistance, and made sure every student felt comfortable throughout the event.

Special thanks to:
Meheraj Khan, Ashraful Amin, Mohammad Salman, Azim Jamshed, Musarraf Hossain, Monira Akther Nuri, Syed Riamul Haq, MD Safwan Ahmed, MD Shamrat, Seratul Mustakim

Their effort played a huge role in making the event smooth and enjoyable.

How the Day Unfolded (8:30 AM โ€“ 1:30 PM)

  1. Registration and check-in
  2. T-shirt and swag distribution
  3. Opening ceremony led by Lead Organizer โ€“ Shipon Karmakar
  4. 2-hour hands-on workshop (building a WordPress.comWordPress.com An online implementation of WordPress code that lets you immediately access a new WordPress environment to publish your content. WordPress.com is a private company owned by Automattic that hosts the largest multisite in the world. This is arguably the best place to start blogging if you have never touched WordPress before. https://wordpress.com/ website)
  5. Tea break & networking
  6. More sessions and discussions
  7. Q/A session
  8. Quiz competition
  9. Prize distribution
  10. Certificates for all participants
  11. Group photo
  12. Closing thanks

At the start, only 3โ€“5 students knew what WordPress was. By the end, more than 50 students built their first websiteโ€”a huge achievement for beginners.

Community Gathering: Learning & Connecting

One of the most meaningful parts of the event was the community gathering session. Students, speakers, and volunteers sat together, discussed ideas, shared inspiration, and talked openly about their learning journey.

We explained how joining regular meetups, participating in WordCamp, and contributing to open sourceOpen Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. can help them grow faster.

Many students expressed interest in joining future events and staying connected.

Quiz Competition & Prizes

The quiz added a fun, exciting twist to the event. Students were fully engaged, and the energy in the room was fantastic. Winners received special gifts, which made the moment even more enjoyable.

Certificates: Celebrating Everyoneโ€™s Effort

Every participant received an official Campus Connect Certificate. For many students, it was their first certificate related to tech or WordPress, and it brought a real sense of accomplishment.

Looking Forward

The impact was clear:

  • Students gained their first real website-building experience
  • Many discovered new interest in WordPress and web development
  • The community gained new potential contributors
  • Students want more workshops and meetups
  • A strong foundation for future WordPress activities in Brahmanbaria has been created

WordPress Campus Connect Brahmanbaria wasnโ€™t just a one-day programโ€”it was the beginning of a stronger, more connected local WordPress community.

#campus-connect

WordPress and Higher Education: An Alliance that Transforms

An Agreement that Opens New Paths

At the Faculty of Computer Science of Universidad Fidรฉlitas, we have taken a historic step: we signed an agreement with the WordPress FoundationWordPress Foundation The WordPress Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Matt Mullenweg to further the mission of the WordPress open source project: to democratize publishing through Open Source, GPL software. Find more on wordpressfoundation.org., turning our Computer Science students into key players in a global experience. Thanks to this partnership, every student will have the opportunity to complete an official internship through WP Credits, directly connecting with the WordPress community and its impact-driven projects.

This agreement reflects a deep conviction: higher education must be tied to the real digital ecosystem, with experiences that prepare students for jobs and to become agents of change within global tech communities.

Elineth Morera Campos (DeputyProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about program supporters in our Program Supporter Handbook. Director of 100% virtual courses at the Faculty) together with Mary Hubbard at the signing of the WPCredits agreement at WCUS25.

The Birth of the WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ 2025

To celebrate this alliance, we organized the first WordPress Campus Connect in San Josรฉ, Costa Rica, from September 23 to 25, 2025.

This event marked a milestone as the first WordPress Campus Connect held in Latin America within a university, open to participation from any individual who was a university student, regardless of their field of study or academic level, and carried out in a three-day hackathon format. Throughout the event, participants engaged in hands-on workshops, received direct mentorship, and took part in the WordPress HackLab, a competition designed to transform ideas into digital products with real societal impact.

Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ 2025
Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ 2025
Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ 2025

The Workshops: Learning with Energy and Creativity

The heart of Campus Connect lies in the eight workshops that guided students step by step in building their projects:

  1. From Zero to Website in 90 Minutes โ€“ How to quickly start and launch a functional site.
  2. Your Digital Empire, Brick by Brick โ€“ Strategic construction of a solid, scalable website.
  3. Think Like a Rebel: Create Without Asking Permission โ€“ Fearless innovation, exploring creative freedom with design thinking.
  4. Letโ€™s Dress Up: Branding that Hypnotizes โ€“ Keys to visual identity and branding to stand out online.
  5. Secret Vitamins for Your Website: What WordPress Doesnโ€™t Tell You โ€“ Advanced tips and features to power up any site.
  6. So Engaging Theyโ€™ll Read with Eyes Closed โ€“ Strategies for clear, persuasive, and AI-enhanced content.
  7. Houston, We Have a Website! (Go Live) โ€“ How to move a project from testing to production.
  8. Your Story on Fire (and in 3 Acts) โ€“ Digital storytelling and impactful project presentations.

These workshops were not only technical but also creative and strategic, showing students that WordPress is a living, open, and limitless ecosystem.

Cely Cruz, co-organizer of WPCCSJ25, giving her talk
Daniel Solano, speaker at WPCCSJ25 giving his talk
Ariel Ramos, speaker at WPCCSJ25 giving his talk
Rita Robles Loaiza, Lead Organizer of WPCCSJ25 giving her talk
Nicole, Nazareth, and Yiqi, co-organizers of WPCCSJ25 and speakers at the event, before giving their talk.
Rosita Pereira, Co-organizer of WPCCSJ25 giving her talk

The Challenge: โ€œReconnecting the Humanโ€

The central competition of the event was the WPCC 2025 Challenge: Reconnecting the Human.

The challenge stemmed from a paradox: we have never been so digitally connected, yet we have never felt so lonely. In response, teams had to create a digital product, presented in WordPress, that strengthens in-person human relationships within the university or local community.

The proposals were aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 10, and 11) and ESG principles. Within this framework:

  • SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) encouraged initiatives to strengthen emotional health and reduce loneliness.
  • SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) inspired inclusive and accessible solutions for the entire community.
  • SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) motivated proposals to rescue traditions and foster coexistence in public spaces.

At the same time, ESG principles framed the action plan: environmental care, positive social impact, and ethical, participatory governance. WordPress became the showcase to tell the story of the problem, the value proposition, the digital product, and the expected impact.

Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ 2025
Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ 2025
Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ 2025

The Organizing Team: The Force Behind the Event

None of this would have been possible without the dedication of a passionate organizing team that brought this first WordPress Campus Connect to life:

They were responsible for transforming a vision into a real experience, coordinating workshops, mentorsEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues., logistics, communication, and every detail to make the event shine.

Part of the team of volunteers and organizers of WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ 2025
Organizing Team of WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ 2025

WordPress Club Fidรฉlitas and Its Podcast

Another historic milestone was the official founding of the WordPress Club Fidรฉlitas, a permanent space where students, faculty, and the community can come together to learn, share, and contribute to the WordPress ecosystem.

As part of this initiative, the Clubโ€™s podcast was launched, where we will talk about:

  • WordPress and its impact on the global web.
  • Technological innovation applied to education.
  • Academic and community experiences from Fidรฉlitas.

This podcast will serve as a bridge between academia and the international WordPress community, amplifying the voices of our students and their projects.

You can listen to the podcast here: WordPress Club Fidรฉlitas on Spotify

A Starting Point, Not the Destination

The WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ and the agreement with the WordPress Foundation are just the beginning.

Every student who participates in this program will take with them not only technical WordPress skills but also the experience of belonging to a global community, working with purpose, and using technology to generate human impact.

Inspiring Transformation

With this event, we proved that a university can be innovative, close, and global at the same time.

The invitation is clear: to keep dreaming, creating, and reconnecting the human through technology. Because when academia and community walk together, the impossible becomes reality.

Group photo of WordPress Campus Connect San Josรฉ 2025 taken by Manuel Macias, volunteer from the WordPress San Josรฉ community.

#campus-connect, #costa-rica, #fidelitas, #wpcredits