'LaunchLibre' and Introducing People to Software Freedom While They're Still Young
About a month ago (4 weeks ago) this very long thread began unfolding, being an unusually active month for libreplanet-discuss after a totally silent November (first time since March). We thought we can improve the impact and reach of the announcement from "carmenmaris" (unverified identity) by reproducing the message as HTML, GemText, and plain text.
Introducing a new project for teenagers in free software (and how you can help!)
Hi everyone!
I've been working on something really exciting I want to share with you all.
For the past several months I've been working on a project whose aim is to bring teenagers into the free software movement, help them develop their skills and give them a fun and supportive community that will sustain their interest.
My project is currently unnamed[1]. The idea for it was inspired by my own memories of discovering free software at age 13. This is the kind of thing I would have loved to participate in as a teenager. I hope that's also true for today's teens.
This is an ambitious project and I'm in it for the long-term. I'd like to start fairly small. In the first year, I'll be focussing on:
* Introducing teenagers to free software.
I'll be making plenty of age-appropriate materials telling people about free software and working with other youth organisations to distribute them to their members.
* Creating a community for teenagers interested in free software.
I will run an online community with structured discussions and online events. I'm also planning on running some biweekly free software clubs using videoconferencing software. The online communities will be safe places for young people to learn new skills and share what they know with others.
* Publishing a small online magazine once a month.
The articles will be things like answers to questions, stories on free software issues relevant to teenagers, inspiration for college and careers in technology, programming tutorials, interviews with people in the community and stories celebrating young people's successes.
* Helping teenagers fight back against non-free software in their lives.
What I do here really depends on the needs of the young people that join us. I want to work with them to find goals they can achieve with some support. Based on what I know about how things are in my local community, I would be looking at finding ways to help teenagers win the right to choose free software at school and get their friends to adopt free software social media and messaging apps.
This project isn't just for teenagers that are interested in programming. I have lots planned for everyone.
[1] I came up with a name ('LaunchLibre') many months ago. Despite searching trademark registers and the internet, I somehow hadn't heard about LaunchCode until this morning. Obviously, I'll be choosing another name as soon as I can. Suggestions are very welcome.
Where I'm at now
I've done substantial research and made detailed plans for what my project will do, how it'll be funded and how I hope it will grow into the future. I've been experimenting in my local community with distributing materials, speaking to community groups and working on setting up a free software club for teenagers. I've learnt a lot about what will work and what won't.
The plan for the next few months is to apply for a small business grant and incorporate.
How you can help me
I need members to found an incorporated society.
The law here in New Zealand says I need 10, but it's best if I have around 20. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find enough people in this country to get even remotely close to those numbers.
If you might be interested in becoming one of the society's members, please message me off-list. There will only be an occasional time commitment. Your participation is vital for making this a reality and I'll be very thankful for your help. You can become a member of the society even if you live outside of New Zealand.
I'm always appreciative of comments and advice. You can also help me by sharing this information with other people you think might be interested.
If you're 13-18 and haven't graduated from secondary school yet, I'd love to talk to you. This project is for you, and your thoughts mean a lot to me!
Questions and updates
I'm always happy to answer questions. I've thought long and hard about everything to do with this project and I'm excited to share!
If you'd like updates on my progress, I'll be putting together a mailing list. Please message me if you're interested.
If you're in Auckland, I'd love to meet you! I'll have a table at the Christmas festival at Coast Plaza on December 8. I'll be there from around 10 am to 3 pm with a break for lunch. If you can't make it, you can message me and I'm sure we can arrange something else.
- Carmen █