LinuxChix celebrates Software Freedom Day/LinuxChix celebre la Journee de la Liberte des Modules.

• Author: Muthoni, Dorcas

10th of September 2005 was designated by advocates of free and open-source software (FOSS), the Software Freedom Day. The objective of Software freedom day is to promote public awareness and use of free and open source software. Although the concept is an initiative of the nonprofit company Software Freedom International, it is actualized by grassroots free-software advocates. This year celebrations were held in over 50 countries across the globe.

The Kenya Chapter of LinuxChix Africa marked the day with a career workshop to appraise high school girls of careers and opportunities available in the information technology industry. The aim of the workshop was to encourage more young women to pursue degrees and careers in computing, with the ultimate goal of narrowing the gender gap in the industry.

The career workshop also aimed to provide role models, and mentors and hands-on experiences to the young women so that they can develop a vision of what a career in computing will be like.

The event was a resounding success. Many girls said they had been edified about computing and were motivated to pursue a related degree. It was an eye-opener in respect of the dearth of computing information that is almost endemic in schools. LinuxChix Kenya intends to hold similar events in order to help fill the information gap.

The workshop was held at The Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Over 200 people attended the workshop, ranging from high school students to luminaries in the IT industry. Keynote Speakers included Jackline Bitutu of Wananchi Online, Naomi Muta of UUNET, Eva Kimani of Celtel Kenya, Edgar Okioga of AfricaDotNet, and Nancy Macharia of The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

Summary of report by Dorcas Muthoni, LinuxChix Africa

For more information on Software Freedom Day, visit www.africalinuxchix.org

LinuxChix celebre la Journeew de la Liberte des Modules

Le 10 septembre 2005 a ete declaree Journee de la Liberte des Modules par les avocates des modules libres et a sources-ouvertes (FOSS). L'objectif de la journee de la libede des modules est de promouvoir la prise de conscience du public et l'utilisation des modules libres et a sources ouvertes. Malgre que le...