Panel: Driving Meaningful Change Through Technology

Demetris Cheatham

Chief of Staff to the CEO at GitHub

Ruth Ikegah

Community and Program Lead, CHAOSS

Samson Goddy

Co-founder of Open Source Community Africa (OSCA)

Tiyani Nghonyama

COO at Geekulcha

Time

9:42 AM - 10:30 AM

Abstract

This panel brings together experts working at the intersection of technology and social impact. It explores how the tech community, including open source developers, can drive positive social change, highlights ongoing initiatives in the country, and discusses GitHub's role in supporting these efforts.

About the panelists:

  • Ruth Ikegah is an open source program manager, community manager, GitHub Star, technical writer, and lead of All In Africa. She is sparked about onboarding beginners into the tech system, especially into the open source space.
  • Samson Goddy is the Open Source Program Manager at Hedera Hashgraph, where he leads community development around OSS initiatives. He co-founded the Open Source Community Africa and is a GitHub Star.
  • Tiyani Nghonyama is a Computer Engineer and social development activist, named as the 41st IT Personality of the Year by IITPSA. He has developed over 300 tech solutions and mentored over 120 young IT professionals.

Key takeaways

  • Understand how the tech community, including open source developers, can drive meaningful social change by leveraging technology and collaborative efforts.
  • Get insights into the current initiatives within South Africa that are making a significant impact on society, showcasing real-world examples of tech-driven social development.
  • Learn about GitHub's contributions and support in these social impact efforts, highlighting their role in empowering developers and fostering community-driven projects.