Open Source for Good

Open Source for Good: From First PR to Global Impact

This intensive hands-on workshop transforms the often intimidating process of open source contribution into an accessible and impactful experience. Participants will contribute to real-world projects that drive social change while learning essential collaboration skills and best practices.

Workshop Structure (3 hours)

Introduction (15 minutes)
- Overview of open source in the social impact space
- Introduction to participating nonprofit organizations
- Overview of GitHub tools and contribution workflows

Getting Started (15 minutes)
- Environment setup with GitHub Codespaces (provided free)
- Team formation and project selection
- Pairing experienced developers with newcomers

Hands-on Contribution Sessions (2 hours)
Participants will work on real issues across three tracks:

1. Beginner Track

•    Documentation improvements
•    HTML/CSS enhancements
•    Accessibility fixes
•    Test coverage improvements

2. Intermediate Track

•    Feature implementations
•    Bug fixes
•    UI/UX improvements
•    API integrations

3. Advanced Track

•    Complex feature development
•    Data migration tools
•    Architecture improvements

Throughout these sessions, facilitators and nonprofit representatives will provide real-time code review, PR feedback, and technical guidance.

Closing Session (30 minutes)

• Impact assessment from nonprofit representatives
• Discussion of long-term contribution opportunities
• Resources for continued involvement

Technical Requirements

• Basic Git knowledge
• GitHub account (free)
• Laptop with web browser
• No local development environment needed (using GitHub Codespaces)