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From Volunteer to Organizer: Meet Suvash Khadka | WordCamp Nepal 2015

Suvash Khadka
Suvash Khadka

Today, I’ll be introducing you to, arguably, one of the most hardworking members of our WordPress Nepal community, Suvash Khadka. Just 25 years old, Suvash is already involved in many things including running his own business, and teaching computer science. Even so, he finds the time to be an active member of WordPress Nepal, and is the backbone of WordCamp Nepal 2015.

I asked Suvash to tell us a bit about himself and the reasons for his dedication to the community. What follows is Suvash’s journey from volunteer to organizer, as told by him.

I joined WordCamp Nepal as a volunteer when I was still studying Computer Science and Information Technology at Amrit Science Campus. I had been interested in open source technologies for a while, and heard of the recently formed WordPress meetup through a senior. I attended it, and liked it a lot. When the community decided to hold the first WordCamp, I volunteered to help organize it.

I have always been very interested in research and self-directed learning. I remember my college teacher saying, “Don’t expect much from us. Go directly to the source.” Since this is a field that is continuously changing, the community is a good way to learn from each other. In Nepal, professional courses on platforms like WordPress are not delivered by universities and colleges, and WordPress meetups and WordCamps are a great place for young people. There are a lot of new opportunities in WordPress and this is where you can come to learn and make a career in it.

This year, we have been facing a lot of obstacles in organizing WordCamp. The first obstacle was the great earthquake of April and its many aftershocks. The earthquake traumatized all Nepalese and our previous venue, Yalamaya Kendra, was also damaged, causing us to change our venue to Nepal Administrative Staff College. The second is the on-going political instability and fuel crisis. These difficulties had us thinking whether we should organize the event at one point. But the team thought events like this should BE held despite the difficulties or any other external factors. This is what I really like about our community, we come together, and have a positive attitude. Consistency is the backbone of our community. With our attitude, WordCamp Nepal 2015 is still on.

I spend a considerable time working on organizing WordCamp and WordPress meetups because the community has given me that responsibility. Also, since we get so much from WordPress, it becomes an ethical duty to give something back. I want the community to grow.  Today, the WordPress community is the largest and most active technology group of Nepal, and I get a sense of pride due to this success. WordPress and WordCamps have taught me so much, helped me build relationships and develop a strong network, and promoted my personal growth and self-esteem. I believe longevity and prosperity of an open source community like WordPress depends on its members and encourage everyone to contribute.

I am planning to keep working on fostering the community and organizing various activities. We are planning to conduct regional sessions next year, and increase our regular college events. Our outreach to colleges has already been really successful this year, and we hope to reach new people throughout Nepal, not just in Kathmandu. I hope when the time comes, a new set of young people will take over management of the community and we can step back. Until then, it is our responsibility to introduce new people to this platform, and help them succeed. 

Thank you Suvash for the great work with WordPress meetups and WordCamp! You inspire us all with your dedication to the community. WordCamp Nepal would not be possible without people like you.

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Author: sakinshrestha

Hello. My name is Sakin Shrestha, and I am a technology entrepreneur from Nepal. I am passionate about helping this sector grow, for many reasons. The technology sector creates jobs for many young Nepalis who would otherwise migrate to foreign countries. It lets Nepali professionals develop skills for a fast-changing global workplace, and compete at a high level with anyone, anywhere in the world. If it grows, it will provide a viable career option for many young Nepalis, and help us reap the benefits of a global economy.

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