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My origins

I’m Josep, born and raised in Rocafonda, a working-class and humble neighborhood in Mataró.

I come from a family that has worked with wood lovingly for three generations. Carpentry was always our trade, our way of understanding life and making a living.

For many years, I worked with wood, shaping it with the same hands and patience I learned at home.

At the same time, my curiosity led me down other paths: interior design and technical drawing as a draftsman, where I discovered the joy of imagining spaces before building them.

The turning point

Everything changed during the COVID-19 pandemic when my heart decided to stop beating properly. A genetically inherited heart condition forced me to stop completely and look at life from a new perspective.

Suddenly, everything I took for granted; health, routines, the simple act of making plans disappeared, just as my life almost did.

But it didn’t.

I pulled through. With after-effects, yes, but with an incredible desire to live.
Out of that will to live came the decision to reinvent myself and study while recovering.

New life, new goals

There were twenty-six months of rehabilitation, relapses, and searching for an effective treatment.

Yet, amid all that chaos, I managed to step back and turn my skills into a new opportunity.

I studied Content Marketing and discovered a well-known secret for many, but something completely new for a carpenter from a neighborhood in Mataró.

WordPress.

And with it, its community.

Metamorphosis

And then… everything changed.

I discovered WordPress through my marketing studies, and thanks to our beloved CMS, I created my first blog. I keep the logo and some of my early posts, remnants of a time when I was learning to tell stories and give shape to ideas.

In May 2023, I volunteered for my first WordCamp in Barcelona. The experience opened my eyes to a new universe full of generous, passionate people eager to share.

I quickly connected with the community and joined the Mentorship Program, a global initiative from the Community Team. I was one of the first eleven mentees in the world. For me, it was a dream come true.

Shortly afterward, I began combining my increasingly active contributions with the same program, but this time as a mentor. I had received so much from the community that my gratitude pushed me to give back that knowledge and share those values with anyone willing to listen.

I continued collaborating as a volunteer, speaker, and documentation table participant at WordCamp Europe Torino 2024. It was a step forward in every sense from learning to teaching, from receiving to contributing.

I began managing the Spain Handbook documentation alongside my mentors Javier Casares and Jesús Yesares. Together, we laid the foundations for a project that, like everything in WordPress, is built with patience and community.

I also joined the global documentation team for WordPress version 6.6, “Dorsey.”

Rising from my ashes

Thanks to WordPress and its community, I grew as a person and as a professional in a new discipline as competitive as it is exciting and alive.

They supported me through the hardest moments and helped me rise again, like a phoenix from the ashes.

At the end of 2023, through the Five for the Future initiative, Wetopi, a high-performance managed hosting company that exclusively hosts WordPress sites, placed its trust in a newcomer to the industry and offered me a full-time position where I could unleash all the creativity I had inside.

Present and future

If there’s one thing I learned during my illness, it’s to enjoy the moment and not worry so much about the future.

That’s my focus now, the present, always grateful to all those who helped me become who I am today, in 2025.

I have a new job, new friends, and I could almost say a new family, and it’s all thanks to WordPress.

Many people tell me that if I weren’t so resilient, persistent, and determined, I wouldn’t have achieved any of this.

I simply smile and think that all those qualities were brought to light one day by Hari Shanker, during the Mentorship Program, together with WordPress and its community.

Thank you to all of them.

De la carpintería al marketing digital, esta es la historia de cómo WordPress me ayudó a reconstruir mi vida.

Mis orígenes

Soy Josep, nacido y criado en Rocafonda, un barrio trabajador y humilde de Mataró.

Vengo de una familia que ha trabajado la madera con mimo durante tres generaciones. La carpintería siempre fue nuestro oficio, nuestra forma de entender la vida y de ganárnosla.

Durante muchos años trabajé la madera, moldeándola con las manos y la paciencia que aprendí en casa.

Al mismo tiempo, mi curiosidad me llevó por otros caminos: el diseño de interiores y el dibujo técnico como delineante, donde descubrí el placer de imaginar espacios antes de construirlos.

El punto de inflexión

Todo cambió en plena pandemia de la COVID-19, cuando mi corazón decidió detener el ritmo.
Una enfermedad cardíaca de origen genético me obligó a parar por completo y mirar la vida desde otro lugar.

De repente, aquello que daba por sentado —la salud, las rutinas, el simple hecho de poder hacer planes— se desvaneció, como casi se desvanece mi vida.

Pero no.

Salí adelante. Con secuelas, sí, pero con unas ganas de vivir increíbles.
Y fruto de esas ganas decidí reinventarme y estudiar mientras me recuperaba.

Nueva vida, nuevas metas

Fueron veintiséis meses entre rehabilitación, recaídas y la búsqueda de un tratamiento eficaz.
Pero, entremedio de todo ese caos, supe abstraerme y convertir mis habilidades en una nueva oportunidad.
Estudié Marketing de Contenidos y descubrí un secreto a voces para muchos, pero completamente nuevo para un carpintero de un barrio de Mataró.

WordPress.
Y con él, su comunidad.

Metamorfosis

Y entonces… todo cambió.

Conocí WordPress gracias a mis estudios de marketing y, gracias a nuestro querido CMS, pude crear mi primer blog.
Aún conservo el logo y algunos de mis primeros textos, vestigios de una etapa en la que aprendía a contar historias y a dar forma a ideas.

En mayo de 2023 me ofrecí como voluntario en mi primera WordCamp, en Barcelona. La experiencia me abrió los ojos a un universo nuevo, lleno de personas generosas, apasionadas y con ganas de compartir.

Rápidamente conecté con la comunidad y accedí al Mentorship Program, un proyecto global del equipo de Comunidad.
Fui uno de los primeros once mentees del mundo. Para mí, era un sueño.

Poco después, pasé a compaginar mis contribuciones, cada vez más activas, con el mismo programa, pero esta vez como mentor.
Había recibido mucho de la comunidad, y mi gratitud me empujó a devolver ese conocimiento y a compartir esos valores con todo aquel que quisiera escucharme.

Seguí colaborando como voluntario, ponente y participante en la mesa de documentación en la WordCamp Europe Torino 2024.
Fue un salto de calidad, y también un salto personal: de aprender a enseñar, de recibir a aportar.

Comencé a gestionar la documentación del Spain Handbook junto a mis mentores Javier Casares y Jesús Yesares.
Juntos pusimos las bases de un proyecto que, como todo en WordPress, se construye con paciencia y en comunidad.

También formé parte del equipo de documentación global para la versión 6.6 de WordPress, “Dorsey”.

Renacer de mis cenizas

Gracias a WordPress y a su comunidad crecí como persona y como profesional en una nueva disciplina: tan competitiva como apasionante y viva.

Me sostuvieron durante mis malos momentos e hicieron que resurgiese como si de un ave fénix se tratase.

A finales de 2023, gracias al proyecto Five For The Future, Wetopi —una empresa de hosting gestionado de altas prestaciones que aloja únicamente sitios web creados con WordPress— confió en un recién llegado al sector y me ofreció un proyecto a tiempo completo donde podía dar rienda suelta a toda la creatividad que llevaba dentro.

Presente y futuro

Si algo aprendí en mi época de enfermedad es a disfrutar más el momento y no pensar tanto en el futuro.

Y en eso me centro: en el presente, agradeciendo siempre a todas aquellas personas que me ayudaron a ser quien soy hoy, en 2025.

Tengo un nuevo empleo, nuevos amigos, casi puedo decir que una nueva familia, y es todo, todo, gracias a WordPress.

Mucha gente me dice que, si yo no fuese tan resiliente, resistente y tenaz, no habría conseguido nada.

Yo simplemente les sonrío y pienso que todas esas cualidades las hizo aflorar un día Hari Shanker, en el Mentorship Program, junto con WordPress y toda su comunidad.

A todos ellos gracias.

The post From carpentry to digital marketing, this is the story of how WordPress helped me rebuild my life. – De la carpintería al marketing digital, esta es la historia de cómo WordPress me ayudó a reconstruir mi vida. appeared first on HeroPress.

I wasn’t sure I was going to make it to WordCamp US this year, but at almost the last minute, WordPress.com helped me out with travel and accommodations! More on that below.

Contributor Day

The first day was contributor day and I was a table lead. I think we had more people this year than any other year before. I started the day showing 4 or 5 people how to become contributors, and they each uploaded 20 photos or so. All told we moderated about 160 photos during the day, and pushed the total over 26,000. I also made some great new friends!

Photography

For the first time ever I was on the WordCamp Photography team. I feel like it’s a great honor because don’t really think of myself as a photographer, and I don’t even own a “real” camera, I just use my iPhone. I do have some lenses from Moment.io which are cool, but they’re not a patch on some of the big crazy lenses I saw around. I took several hundred pictures over the week, here are just a few:

The Mural

In addition to the regular photos, I got a series of Jax Ko making a WordCamp mural. They painted for 2 straight days, and I took a photo about every 2 hours. Here’s the progression in slideshow format:

How I Got There

As I mentioned at the top, WordPress.com was my sponsor to get to WordCamp US this year. I really wanted to attend, I’ve never missed one! They very generously offered to help me get there and cover my hotel. More than that though, folks from .com at WordCamp sought me out and told me how glad they were that I was there. It was a very welcoming gesture.

If you haven’t looked at WordPress.com for hosting in a while, you should check it out. There have been some substantial changes in the last few years, there are some great new features.

While many people may have thought of WordPress.com as a “free blog” platform only, WordPress.com has been a full-featured host for years. At the business and commerce plan level the plugin library is available for both free and paid plugins, which is great, and for more advanced users and developers they offer features like staging servers, SSH access, WP-CLI, github deployments, and a local development environment. That local dev environment allows you to copy sites from production to local and then push back to either staging or production. This lets you to work on your site without disrupting your visitors’ experiences.

Even if you don’t have hosting needs at the moment, you can still get involved! They have a great affiliate program, check it out here.

The post HeroPress at WordCamp US 2025! appeared first on HeroPress.

এই নিবন্ধটি বাংলায় পাওয়া যায়

Beginnings

My story with WordPress began in a classroom. I was a student working on a simple project, a portfolio website. I wanted to use WordPress because it felt easy to learn and flexible enough to build what I had in mind. I completed the project and proudly showed it to my teacher.

Instead of encouragement, I was told to scrap it. “Do it with raw PHP coding,” my teacher said. WordPress was dismissed as the easy way out. At the time, that felt discouraging. I followed instructions and rewrote everything in PHP, but the memory stayed with me.

What my teacher could not see was what I had already discovered. WordPress had opened a door. It gave me confidence that I could build something meaningful with the skills I had. That moment became a seed. It was the beginning of a path that would later shape my career, my community work, and my life.

Learn

In 2016, I joined weDevs. This was my first real step into the professional WordPress ecosystem. Products like Dokan and WP User Frontend were not just plugins. They were solutions that empowered people. Dokan made it possible for anyone to create a multi-vendor marketplace without needing deep technical knowledge. WP User Frontend gave site owners control from the frontend in a way that felt natural and accessible.

Then came WP ERP. This plugin fascinated me more than anything else at that time. The idea that WordPress could run HR, CRM, and accounting for a business was almost unbelievable. For me, it was proof that WordPress is like water. It can take any form. It can flow into any gap and solve almost any problem.

Later, I worked with newer products, including ElementsKit, MetForm, ShopEngine, GetGenie AI, which now powers more than 2 million websites around the world. Over the years, I built an 8-year career in WordPress product marketing, working with multiple global companies to grow their eCommerce, LMS, SaaS, and WordPress products.

But my learning did not stop there. Coming from a computer science background, I shifted into marketing. At first, I wasn’t sure I belonged in this space. But I discovered that having the knowledge of algorithms, logic, and technical systems helped me become a better marketer. It allowed me to solve business problems more effectively and to connect with product teams in a way that bridged technical and user needs. That blend of skills became my advantage.

As Shakespeare wrote, “To be or not to be, that is the question.” For me, the answer has always been to be—to be curious, to be adaptable, and to be willing to learn. Or in the words of Bruce Lee, “Be water, my friend.” That is what WordPress has taught me. Adapt, flow, and find your form.

Connect

In 2017, I organized my first WordPress meetup. It was a small gathering, but the energy in the room was undeniable. People came together to share, to teach, to learn, and to encourage each other. That was when I saw the true strength of WordPress. It was not just software. It was a community.

From that point on, I made community a core part of my life. Meetups turned into WordCamps. I spoke at events. I volunteered wherever I could. And I attended as many gatherings as possible. To date, I have been part of 25 WordCamps around the world. Each one gave me new lessons, friendships, and a sense of belonging.

The first time I spoke at WordCamp Kathmandu 2019, I was nervous. I had fixed what I would say but my heart was racing. I kept thinking, “What if nobody listens? What if I fail?” When I walked onto the stage and looked at the audience, something changed. I saw faces eager to learn. I realized they were not there to judge me. They were there to grow with me.

It was a panel discussion where I sat together with my mentor, M Asif Rahman, and we discussed marketing WordPress products. That panel discussion gave me confidence I had never felt before. It showed me that sharing what you know, even if it feels small, can inspire others. After that, I participated in two other panel discussions: WordCamp Nagpur in 2022 and WordCamp Sylhet in 2024.

Over the years, I have served as a WordCamp Organizer, Speaker, Volunteer, Global Mentor, and Event Supporter. I mentored teams as they organized their first WordCamps, helping them overcome challenges and celebrate success. These connections showed me that WordPress is not just a platform to build websites. It is a platform to build people. It gives us the tools, but more importantly, it gives us the relationships that carry us forward.

In 2022, I was humbled to receive the Yoast Care Fund award for my community contributions. It reminded me that the efforts we give to the community, often behind the scenes, do not go unnoticed.

Contribute

With learning and connection came responsibility. I knew I had to contribute.

Contribution takes many forms. For me, it has been about building communities, mentoring, and supporting events. I have served as a WordCamp Mentor and Global Event Supporter, helping new organizers take their first steps. I have guided teams, answered their questions, and encouraged them through the challenges of organizing. Seeing them succeed gave me joy that no personal achievement could replace.

WordCamp Asia holds a special place in my heart. I have been part of its organizing team three times so far, including working with the AX and communications teams. It was a chance to tell stories, welcome attendees, and celebrate the diversity of Asia’s WordPress community.

When I joined the organizing team for the first WordCamp Asia in 2022, it felt like stepping into history. This was the first flagship WordCamp in our region, and expectations were sky high. I worked on the AX team, helping to provide an amazing experience to the attendees. There were long nights, endless discussions, and moments of uncertainty. But when the doors opened and thousands of people gathered, it was worth it. That event showed me how powerful Asia’s WordPress community had become. It was proof that our voices, our energy, and our contributions mattered on a global scale.

Since then, I continued serving as part of WordCamp Asia 2023 and 2025, and later joined the organizing team of WordCamp US 2025, one of the biggest WordPress events in the world. Being part of that team was a reminder that no matter where we come from, our contributions connect us on a global scale.

In 2025, I was also honoured to be selected as a recipient of the Automattic Open Horizons Scholarship, which supports contributors from underrepresented communities in continuing their WordPress journey.

At the same time, I am pursuing a PhD in marketing, researching Agile Marketing Methodologies for Promoting Digital Software Products. For me, this connects directly to WordPress. Agile and AI-driven methods are shaping how we market plugins, SaaS platforms, and digital tools. My research helps me give back not only to academia but also to the WordPress ecosystem by exploring new ways to reach people, improve adoption, and create sustainable growth.

Volunteering, speaking, organizing, mentoring, researching — each role has shown me the same truth. Contribution is not about doing everything. It is about showing up, sharing what you can, and making space for others to shine.

A Story for Marketers Who Wonder: “Can I Belong?”

If you are a marketer, a writer, or someone who feels more comfortable with words than code, you may wonder if you truly belong in WordPress. I want to speak directly to you.

You do belong.

WordPress needs your thinking. It needs your storytelling. It needs people who can bridge the gap between product and user. Your technical background, even if it is small, is an asset. Your creativity is essential. Your ability to connect with people is what gives technology meaning.

I moved from computer science into marketing and found my place. You can too. You don’t have to be a developer to be valuable. Contribution comes in many forms. Learning, connecting, mentoring, writing, organizing—all of these matter.

Remember: WordPress is like water. It adapts to the needs of its people. And in the same way, you can adapt your own path in it.

Lessons

Looking back, three words define my WordPress journey.

• Learn. WordPress taught me more than software. It taught me resilience, curiosity, and the courage to explore.
• Connect. The relationships I built through meetups, WordCamps, mentoring, and organizing have been the most valuable part of this journey.
• Contribute. Giving back to the community has been my way of honouring everything I have received.
  

Wrapping Up

I sometimes think about that moment in my classroom when my teacher told me not to use WordPress. At the time, it felt like rejection. Today, I see it as the spark that lit the way forward. Without that moment, perhaps I would not have discovered what WordPress truly means to me.

WordPress has been my teacher, my platform, and my community. It has given me a career, friendships across the world, and a purpose that goes beyond myself.

I am also a loving father of a 3-year-old daughter and a proud husband. My family gives me balance and joy, and they remind me why community and contribution matter so much.

If you are reading this and wondering whether you belong in WordPress, I want you to know that you do. Whether you are a developer, a writer, a designer, or someone still figuring out your path, there is space for you here.

Start by learning. Reach out and connect. Then, when you are ready, contribute in your own way.

That is how WordPress grows. That is how communities grow. And that is how we grow as people.

Learn. Connect. Contribute. That is my story.

শিখুন, যুক্ত হোন, অবদান রাখুন; আমার ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস গল্প

শুরু

আমার ওয়ার্ডপ্রেসের যাত্রা শুরু হয়েছিল ক্লাসে। তখন আমি একজন ছাত্র, একটা পোর্টফোলিও ওয়েবসাইট বানাচ্ছিলাম। কাজটা করার জন্য আমি ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস বেছে নিয়েছিলাম কারণ এটা শেখা সহজ আর ব্যবহার করতেও আরামদায়ক। প্রোজেক্টটা শেষ করে গর্ব করে স্যারকে দেখালাম।

কিন্তু প্রশংসার বদলে স্যার বললেন, “এটা বাদ দাও, একেবারে শুরু থেকে PHP দিয়ে বানাও।” কথাটা শুনে খারাপ লেগেছিল। তবুও তার কথা মেনে PHP তে আবার করলাম। কিন্তু সেই অভিজ্ঞতা মনে গেঁথে রইল।

তখনই আমি বুঝে গিয়েছিলাম ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস আমার জন্য একটা নতুন দরজা খুলে দিয়েছে। সেটাই পরে আমার ক্যারিয়ার আর জীবনের পথ ঠিক করে দিয়েছে।

শিখুন

২০১৬ সালে আমি যোগ দিই weDevs এ। তখন কাজ করেছি Dokan, WP User Frontend, WP ERP এর মতো প্রোডাক্টে। এগুলো আমাকে দেখিয়েছিল ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস কতটা শক্তিশালী হতে পারে।

পরে কাজ করেছি ElementsKit, MetForm, ShopEngine, GetGenie AI এর মতো প্রোডাক্টে, যা এখন লাখ লাখ ওয়েবসাইটে চলছে। গত ৮ বছরে আমি ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস প্রোডাক্ট মার্কেটিং এ ক্যারিয়ার গড়েছি, বিভিন্ন আন্তর্জাতিক কোম্পানির সাথে কাজ করেছি তাদের eCommerce, LMS আর SaaS প্রোডাক্ট বড় করতে।

আমি কম্পিউটার সায়েন্স থেকে মার্কেটিং এ চলে এসেছিলাম। প্রথমে ভয় ছিল আমি পারব কিনা। কিন্তু টেকনিক্যাল ব্যাকগ্রাউন্ডটা আমাকে এগিয়ে দিয়েছে। এতে প্রোডাক্ট টিমের সাথে কাজ করা আর ব্যবসার সমস্যা বোঝা সহজ হয়েছে।

ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস আমাকে শিখিয়েছে কৌতূহলী থাকতে, মানিয়ে নিতে আর শেখা চালিয়ে যেতে।

যুক্ত হোন

২০১৭ সালে আমি প্রথম ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস মিটআপ আয়োজন করি। অনুষ্ঠানটা ছোট ছিল, কিন্তু সেখানে সবাই একে অপরকে শেয়ার করছিল, শেখাচ্ছিল, শিখছিল। তখনই বুঝলাম ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস শুধু সফটওয়্যার না, এটা আসলে একটা কমিউনিটি।

এরপর থেকে আমি মিটআপ, ওয়ার্ডক্যাম্প, নানা ইভেন্টে যুক্ত থেকেছি। এখন পর্যন্ত আমি ২৫টা ওয়ার্ডক্যাম্পে অংশ নিয়েছি, কখনো বক্তা হিসেবে, কখনো স্বেচ্ছাসেবক বা আয়োজক হিসেবে। প্রতিটি অভিজ্ঞতা আমাকে নতুন বন্ধু আর আত্মবিশ্বাস দিয়েছে।

প্রথমবার ওয়ার্ডক্যাম্প কাঠমাণ্ডু ২০১৯ এ বক্তা হই। শুরুতে ভয় লাগছিল, মনে হচ্ছিল যদি কেউ না শোনে? কিন্তু মঞ্চে উঠে দেখলাম সবাই শিখতে এসেছে। তখনই সাহস পেলাম।

২০২২ সালে কমিউনিটিতে অবদানের জন্য আমি Yoast Care Fund Award পেয়েছিলাম।

অবদান রাখুন

শেখা আর সংযোগের পর বুঝলাম ফিরিয়ে দেওয়ার সময় এসেছে।

আমি কাজ করেছি WordCamp Mentor আর Global Event Supporter হিসেবে। নতুন আয়োজকদের পাশে দাঁড়িয়েছি, তাদের সাহায্য করেছি। তাদের সাফল্য আমাকে সবসময় খুশি করেছে।

WordCamp Asia আমার কাছে খুবই বিশেষ। আমি ২০২২, ২০২৩ আর ২০২৫ এ আয়োজক টিমে ছিলাম। পরে যুক্ত হই WordCamp US 2025 এর টিমেও।

২০২৫ সালে আমি পাই Automattic Open Horizons Scholarship। একই সময়ে মার্কেটিং এ পিএইচডি করছি, যেখানে গবেষণা করছি কিভাবে নতুন পদ্ধতিতে সফটওয়্যার প্রোডাক্ট প্রচার করা যায়।

এসব অভিজ্ঞতা আমাকে শিখিয়েছে: অবদান মানে সবকিছু করতে হবে না, বরং যা পারেন সেটুকু নিয়মিত শেয়ার করাটাই আসল।

মার্কেটারদের জন্য কথা

আপনি যদি মার্কেটার হন, লেখক হন বা কোডের চেয়ে লেখালেখি ভালো পারেন, তবে নিশ্চিন্ত থাকুন, ওয়ার্ডপ্রেসে আপনার জায়গা আছে।

ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস শুধু ডেভেলপারদের প্রয়োজন নেই। প্রোডাক্ট আর ব্যবহারকারীর মধ্যে সেতু গড়তে যারা পারে, গল্প বলতে পারে, মানুষের সাথে সংযোগ তৈরি করতে পারে, তাদেরও সমানভাবে দরকার।

আমি কম্পিউটার সায়েন্স থেকে মার্কেটিং এ এসেছি, আপনিও পারবেন নিজের জায়গা খুঁজে নিতে। শেখা, লেখা, আয়োজন, মেন্টরিং সবই অবদান।

শিক্ষা

আমার যাত্রাকে তিনটি শব্দ সবচেয়ে ভালোভাবে বোঝায় –

• শিখুন. কৌতূহলী হোন, শিখুন, এগিয়ে যান।
• যুক্ত হোন. সম্পর্ক আর বন্ধুত্বই আসল শক্তি।
• অবদান রাখুন. যা শিখেছেন, সেটা অন্যদের সাথে ভাগ করুন।

শেষ কথা

শুরুতে শিক্ষক আমাকে ওয়ার্ডপ্রেসে কাজ করতে মানা করেছিলেন। তখন খারাপ লেগেছিল, কিন্তু আজ বুঝি সেটাই আমাকে সামনে এগিয়ে নিয়ে গেছে।

ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস আমার শিক্ষক, আমার প্ল্যাটফর্ম, আমার কমিউনিটি। এখান থেকেই আমি ক্যারিয়ার, বন্ধু আর জীবনের উদ্দেশ্য খুঁজে পেয়েছি।

আমি একজন ৩ বছরের মেয়ের বাবা আর একজন গর্বিত স্বামী। পরিবারই আমাকে সব সময় প্রেরণা আর আনন্দ দেয়।

আপনি ডেভেলপার হোন, লেখক হোন বা এখনও নিজের পথ খুঁজছেন, ওয়ার্ডপ্রেসে আপনার জন্য জায়গা আছে। শুরু করুন শেখা দিয়ে, তারপর সংযোগ তৈরি করুন আর ধীরে ধীরে অবদান রাখুন।

শিখুন. যুক্ত হোন. অবদান রাখুন. এটাই আমার গল্প।

The post Learn. Connect. Contribute. My WordPress Story – শিখুন, যুক্ত হোন, অবদান রাখুন; আমার ওয়ার্ডপ্রেস গল্প appeared first on HeroPress.

When I first heard about WordPress, people talked about it like it was a joke — the cheap shortcut for people who couldn’t “do real coding.” I wasn’t looking for money, fame, or even a side hustle. I just wanted to know what the fuss was about so I could talk with authority the next time it came up. What I didn’t know was that I was picking up a stone that would later prove to be gold — taking me from clueless newbie to community leader, and from replacing demo content to designing websites for real clients… and even offer consultancy services

“The thing you throw away may be the thing you look for tomorrow.” — Ugandan Proverb

Scratching in the Sand

People often ask me:

“Moses, tell us about your WordPress journey.”

I always laugh and say: “Ah, my friend, it’s the story of the stone that turned out to be gold.”

In life, we pick things here and there. Like children at the seashore — a shiny shell here, a bottle cap there, a flat stone for skipping on the water. You never really know which one will be precious until life polishes it for you.

For me, that “stone” was WordPress.

The Reputation of a ‘Cheap’ Tool

Back then, WordPress had a bad reputation in my circles. I have a computer science background, and among my peers, real developers stayed up late wrestling with raw code until their eyes were bloodshot.

WordPress? “That’s for people who can’t code,” they’d say. Even teachers, IT technicians, and random tech hobbyists had an opinion — and it wasn’t kind.

But one day, while working as a school technician, I saw my friend Mr. Dumba mention WordPress on a teachers’ WhatsApp group. He had just started using it to build sites and was offering to journey with some people.

I thought: “Hmm… let me check this thing for myself. If it’s nonsense, at least I’ll know. And if it’s good, I can talk about it without looking like I just fell off the mango tree.”

I wasn’t looking for money. I just wanted to have an opinion. You see, I’m the kind of person who enjoys jumping into conversations with some authority — even if I learned the thing yesterday.

My First Meetup – Lost in the Blocks

My first WordPress Meetup was all about Gutenberg. This was around 2018 — actually 2018. Gutenberg was super fresh and not even fully launched yet

Laurence was introducing this “block editor” thing. Everyone was nodding seriously. Me? Everything went in through one ear and politely left through the other without even greeting my brain on the way out.

Just as I was wondering if I had wasted my time, someone said:

“If you’re here for the first time and you don’t understand anything, that’s okay.”

Inside me, something jumped: “Eh! That’s me you’re talking about!”

The Mind-Opener: Offline Development

Then, Mr. Lutaaya  introduced us to building WordPress sites offline.

My friend, this was a million Dollar revelation.

Until then, I thought websites could only be built online — which meant needing fast internet and a good computer. And in Uganda? The Internet was like a stubborn goat — expensive and disappearing when you needed it most.

With XAMPP, I could build ten websites in a week without spending a coin on data. They were ugly, yes, but they were mine.

Falling in Love With Elementor

Not long after, I met Elementor. Ah! It was like discovering rolex after years of plain chapati.

No coding headaches. Just drag, drop, and design. I paired it with the Astra theme plus Starter Templates (now called Starter Sites)  and started cranking out websites — or what I thought were websites.

If a client needed a hospital site, I’d hunt for a hospital theme with demo data. School site? Same thing. All I did was replace demo pictures of dogs with cows, or gardeners with goat herders, and voilà — “Nice website!”

The Drupal Disaster That Changed Me

Then came my humbling moment.

At WordCamp Kampala in 2019, a UCU student asked me to help her migrate her site from Drupal to WordPress. I said confidently: “No problem!”

A few hours later, I realized… big problem.

This wasn’t a “replace the dog with a cow” job. It needed a full custom theme. I needed knowledge on custom design which I had never paid attention to. I had no clue how to make one from scratch. That day, I felt like a boda boda rider asked to fly a helicopter.

I failed her completely.

But in that failure, a fire was lit. I decided to actually learn custom design.

Facing Real Problems

By January 2019, I built my company’s first fully custom site. It wasn’t perfect, but it taught me about responsiveness, optimization, and making sure a site looked good on desktop, laptop, and mobile. My first website was so beautiful on Desktop but so broken on Mobile. Everyone was complaining about it and I wasn’t seeing the problem until I saw it on my phone. Whoah, it looked so horrible that a witch’s house was more organized. Everything was flying to where it found peace but inside my heart, I was happy with the learning curve that was super achievable.  

This was no longer a hobby. I was in deep. Curiosity building into a desire

A few years later, I learned Divi. I learned Gutenberg properly now known as FSE (Full Site Editing). I even designed my first block editor site and felt like a genius. A few years later, I used the block editor to design an entire WordCamp website, with a friend (a member from the local community) — and it worked beautifully.

Finding the Real Gold: Community

The real treasure, though, wasn’t Elementor, Divi, or even my first paying client. It was the WordPress community.

Other tech communities can be stingy with knowledge. In WordPress, people shared openly. Sometimes the knowledge shared required resources that even cost money but people still offered. In my very first days Rogers offered me a starter package with hosting and management and by then we were using the .ml and .tk domains from FreeNom since it was free. The people I met in the community teach you how to do the exact thing they do for a living — no gatekeeping, no “first pay me – Awesome, Right? I thought so too.”

I realized:

Contributing to WordPress is like washing the plate you ate on.

It’s a privilege, not a burden.

From Local Meetups to the White House

I’ve spoken at Meetups, organized WordCamps, helped beginners install WordPress for the first time, and served in multiple WordPress teams.

And I’ve seen where WordPress can go. It powers embassy websites. It’s used by the Ugandan State House. It even runs the White House site in the USA.

If the White House trusts it, my friend, no one can convince me otherwise.

From Rock to Treasure

I joined WordPress at version 4.9. Now we’re in the 6.x series. I’ve grown alongside it — from a confused attendee to a community leader, from a “text-replacing” novice to a custom developer.

When I picked up WordPress, I thought it was a useless rock. But when I washed it, shaped it, and put it in the fire, it gleamed like gold.

WordPress is gold. Pure and simple.

“The thing you throw away may be the thing you look for tomorrow. WordPress was my stone that turned out to be gold.”

The post The Stone That Turned Out to Be Gold – My WordPress Journey appeared first on HeroPress.

When I made the Continents taxonomy I didn’t think it through very well. For example, I made an Oceania continent, which isn’t really real. Also, most of the terms in the taxonomy are countries, which I think is more interesting, but I don’t really surface them anywhere. More on that someday.

One of the struggles I had was how to sort essays from Central America and the Middle East. Did you know the Middle East is on three different continents?

So I simply gave up on cartographically and geographically correct and decided to sort countries the way people do. So now there are two new continents, Central America and West Asia.

Here are what countries I’m considering in those areas:

Central America:

• Belize
• Guatamala
• El Salvador
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Costa Rica
• Panama

West Asia

• Iran
• Iraq
• Syria
• Lebanon
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• UEA
• Oman
• Yemen
• Saudi Arabia
• Israel
• Palestine

Thank you for your support.

The post New Continents! appeared first on HeroPress.

I never imagined I’d be writing this.

Ten years. A full decade of working in tech, without pause. Of growing, stumbling, learning, and showing up — with WordPress at the center of it all.

When I look back, the journey feels full — full of lessons, full of change, and full of heart.

From India’s City of Lakes to the Heart of Open Source

This year marks a major milestone in my life — 10 years of professional experience in the WordPress ecosystem. As I reflect on this journey, it’s not just a work anniversary. It’s a story woven with personal growth, learning, community, and quiet resilience — a journey that began in a small city in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, and now reaches across the globe.

I was born and raised in Udaipur — a city known for its lakes and history, but not especially for tech companies. After completing my college degree, like many fresh graduates, I faced the uncertainty of landing a job — especially with the added constraint of staying in my hometown. Thankfully, my parents were incredibly supportive. They guided me, encouraged me, and reminded me that ambition has no boundaries — not even geographical ones.

The Unexpected Beginning

Though I had trained in software testing, I didn’t know much about WordPress back then. I stumbled into the WordPress world by joining a local startup in Udaipur. That decision would change the course of my life.

The company, led by Puneet Sahalot, was where my real journey began. Puneet, a close friend and mentor, introduced me to WordPress — its structure, its vastness, and more importantly, its values. He had a gift for seeing potential in people and believed in exploring uncharted paths. Puneet is no longer with us today, but his wisdom and encouragement remain a cornerstone in my journey.

With his influence, I began digging deeper into WordPress. Finding my first bug on the WordPress core was a moment of both confusion and pride. Submitting it felt like stepping into a world where I didn’t just work on projects — I became part of a global movement.

“That one bug wasn’t just a bug — it was a beginning.”

That first bug ignited something within me. I started contributing to various areas — from core testing to translations, organizing local WordCamps, and even speaking at events. It felt empowering to give back to something that gave me so much.

Growth Beyond Comfort Zones

Marriage brought a new chapter — I moved to a metro city and joined Brainstorm Force, where I worked on a suite of powerful WordPress products, including the very popular Astra theme.

From a small local team to a larger product-driven organization, the shift was both challenging and fulfilling. I moved from being a tester to becoming a Product Manager, learning to balance leadership, quality assurance, user experience, and team collaboration. I found myself not just testing products — but shaping them.

I was also incredibly grateful to have a life partner who encouraged me to aim higher and supported my ambitions every step of the way.

One of the proudest moments in my journey was being selected to lead the test team for the WordPress 5.6 and 5.7 releases. It was surreal. The appreciation and recognition I received from the global community made me realize how far I had come — from finding my first bug to helping others make WordPress better.

A New Rhythm: Work and Motherhood

Life shifted gears again when I joined Caseproof (MemberPress) — a fully remote role that brought with it the flexibility I needed at a very important time in my life.

Working remotely was a new experience but quickly became a blessing. When I became a mother, I embraced both worlds with open arms. I continued to work with the same dedication, sometimes holding my daughter in one arm while debugging with the other. My work never stopped, and my love for WordPress only deepened.

These moments, though challenging, became proof that passion, purpose, and parenthood can co-exist beautifully. Each bug fixed, each feature tested, each call attended — became part of a rhythm that blended professional focus with maternal joy.

“I didn’t take big leaps. I took small steps. But I took them every day. That’s how I got here.”

Some days were messy. Some were magical. But all of them were mine.

Beyond the Screen: The Explorer in Me

Outside of my professional life, I’m a passionate foodie and an avid traveler. Exploring new places and trying different cuisines fills me with joy and curiosity. So far, I’ve had the privilege of visiting 30 countries — each one offering a unique flavor, story, and lesson.

Recently, my family and I began a new chapter by relocating to Dubai. It’s a city that’s fast-paced, full of opportunity, and incredibly vibrant — and we’re absolutely loving it so far. This new environment continues to inspire both my personal and professional sides in unexpected ways.

Still Learning, Still Contributing

Even after 10 years, I still feel like a student. The tech world evolves fast, and I try to keep pace. Recently, I’ve been diving into modern testing tools like Playwright and Cypress, and experimenting with AI-based automation — which is not just fascinating but necessary in today’s evolving digital landscape.

I’m excited to explore new contribution opportunities in WordPress — mentoring, accessibility testing, performance initiatives, and more. There’s always more to give back, and more to learn.

Final Thoughts

This journey wasn’t built on dramatic turns or overnight success. It was made up of steady progress, genuine passion, and a strong belief in community and consistency.

To those starting out, unsure of their path — your story is waiting. Take that first step.

“You can build a global impact even from a small city. WordPress doesn’t ask where you’re from — it only asks, what will you contribute?”

Reflections After 10 Years

If I’ve learned anything over these ten years, it’s this:

• You don’t need to be loud to be seen.
• You don’t need to do it all at once.
• You just need to keep showing up — honestly, consistently, and with curiosity.
  

Let’s Connect

• LinkedIn
• GitHub
• Twitter

If you ever want to talk about testing, WordPress contributions, remote work, motherhood, or just career growth, feel free to reach out. I’d love to help, share, and learn with you.

The post A Decade with WordPress: My Journey of Growth, Contribution, and Courage appeared first on HeroPress.

Hello! I’m Pratik Bhatt — a WordPress developer, community contributor, a small-town dreamer, an open-heart surgery survivor, a gamer and someone who found meaning in life through code, community, and courage. My journey is one of resilience, gratitude and purpose — and I hope it inspires even one person who reads it.

Early Life in Bhavnagar: Born for Battles

I was born in a humble neighborhood of Bhavnagar, a small but vibrant coastal town in Gujarat. Life gave me my first challenge almost immediately. At the age of 3.5 years, I underwent open-heart surgery — a life-saving procedure that left its mark not only on my chest but on my soul. Even before I could understand what pain meant I had survived it.

Just two years later, I lost my father. I was only five.

That loss could have broken me, but instead it introduced me to a hero — my mother. She worked tirelessly, day and night, playing both roles with fierce love and unimaginable strength. Her sacrifices were quiet, constant and invisible to the world, but they were the scaffolding on which my entire future was built. I owe everything I am today to her.

Teenage Years: Games, Chess, and Growth

In my teens, I gravitated toward strategy games and problem-solving — perhaps a subconscious expression of navigating a complex life so early. I participated in Open Bhavnagar chess tournaments, developing a love for logic and structured thinking. That same mindset later translated perfectly into coding.

Computers were rare, internet slower than a whisper and resources limited. Yet, I spent hours in cyber cafés, exploring the world behind the screen. Each click was a step toward a new identity — not as a survivor but as a builder.

College at Pacific University, Udaipur: Discovery and Identity

I went on to pursue my Bachelor of Engineering at Pacific University in Udaipur, where I found more than just an education — I found my voice and versatility.

I earned a strong reputation in quiz contests, debates, and elocution competitions. I enjoyed the thrill of standing on stage, thinking fast and expressing clearly — a skill that would later shape my professional communication and leadership.

I was also a dedicated gamer and proudly won a Need for Speed: Most Wanted tournament during college. That rush of speed and control mirrored how I wanted to approach life — with confidence and calculated risk. I also ranked 3rd in the college chess championship, keeping my connection to strategic thinking alive.

WordPress: My Lifeline, My Living

As I entered the professional world, I was introduced to WordPress — and everything changed.

I still remember the moment I activated my first theme. The way an idea turned into a visual reality — with structure, responsiveness and purpose — was nothing sort of magic to me. That moment, I knew: this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

Over the time, WordPress became my bread and butter — quite literally. It provided me with the skills, opportunities and financial independence to build a life I never thought possible.

But more than money, WordPress showed me the path to life.

It empowered me to give businesses a voice, bring local shops online, connect NGOs to donors and allow countless creators to share their passion. Every site I built wasn’t just a project; it was a platform for someone’s dream.

12+ Years of Development & Dedication

Today, with over 12 years of experience in the WordPress ecosystem, I have worked with global clients, built plugins and custom themes, contributed to enterprise sites and created solutions that matter. I have helped startups launch, helped NGOs amplify their causes, and empowered entrepreneurs from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to reach the world.

Whether I’m architecting a complex WooCommerce store, writing a custom plugin, improving performance, or debugging client pain points, my goal is simple: to build things that are fast, reliable, and human-focused.

The Power of Community: Meetups, WordCamps & More

While code gave me a career, it was the WordPress community that gave me connection, energy, and growth. I love attending local meetups and WordCamps, where ideas flow freely, support is abundant, and friendships are formed over coffee and code.

In 2023, I was honored to be part of the organizing team for WordCamp Ahmedabad, one of the biggest community events in India.

Seeing hundreds of attendees come together to learn and celebrate open-source was a proud and emotional moment for me — especially knowing how far I had come from Bhavnagar to that stage.

I also had the privilege of being a volunteer at WordCamp Asia, the flagship WordPress event for the entire continent. It was humbling to support an event of such magnitude, and heartening to see how diverse and inclusive the global WordPress family truly is. Being part of such efforts is not just service — it’s gratitude in action.

For me, meetups and WordCamps aren’t just events — they’re where I recharge my soul, share my knowledge, and feel deeply connected to a global family.

Hobbies Beyond the Keyboard

When I’m not writing code, I embrace life through small joys and soulful moments.

I’m a nature lover and plant enthusiast. Gardening gives me peace, patience, and a quiet form of discipline.

I’m a cricket fan — I love playing as much as watching, especially when Team India is in action. The game reflects my life: unpredictable, strategic, and driven by passion.

I enjoy driving — especially night drives when the roads are empty and music flows freely.

I’m also someone who loves being around animals. I find their presence grounding and healing. At home, I have a pet rabbit, who is more than a companion — he’s a part of my family and a source of daily joy.

Speaking of joy, music is my biggest hobby. Whether I’m coding or relaxing, there’s always a soundtrack playing in the background. Songs help me express what words can’t.

Giving Back & Building Others

Having come from a small town with limited resources, I’m deeply passionate about helping others rise. I actively mentor young developers, especially those from underprivileged or non-metro backgrounds. I want them to know that success is possible — regardless of where you start.

My dream is to one day launch a tech training program in Bhavnagar — to teach local youth about WordPress, freelancing and digital skills.

If WordPress could change my life, it can certainly change theirs.

I also regularly contribute to forums, help organize events, speak at community meetups and make time to guide freshers through their first steps in this amazing ecosystem.

What Life Has Taught Me

Here are some core beliefs that guide me every day:

Heartbeats are precious — I don’t take a single one for granted.

Struggle isn’t a setback — it’s a setup for something greater.

Community is strength — whether in a family, a WordCamp or a GitHub issue thread.

You can come from anywhere — what matters is where you’re going and how many you uplift on the way.

Technology can heal, empower and connect — if used with empathy.

Looking Forward: The Journey Ahead

I’m excited about the future of WordPress — especially AI, full-site editing, headless architecture and performance innovations. I aim to stay at the forefront of these changes, continuing to build solutions that empower users and delight clients.

I also plan to write a book one day — part memoir, part manual — about how open source, open hearts and open minds can transform even the most limited beginnings.

In Closing

If I could go back and speak to the younger version of myself — lying on a hospital bed at 3.5 years old or watching my mother’s struggle silently or feeling like the world was too big for a boy from Bhavnagar — I’d say:

“You’re going to make it. You’re going to build not just websites but a life that helps others build theirs too.”

I don’t just develop WordPress sites.

I develop opportunities, relationships and meaningful digital footprints.

And every time I hit “Activate Theme” or push a release, I think of the journey it took to get here — and the journey still ahead.

If you’re someone who believes in purpose, people and potential — let’s connect. Let’s build. Let’s inspire

The post The Journey Of Pratik Bhatt appeared first on HeroPress.

In 2004, I was at home with one baby, having just left a career that I loved. Being at home with a baby full-time was shriveling up my brain. Before WordPress I tried gardening, sewing, painting, preserving and cooking. I was desperate to fill the void left by my career. 

My husband at the time, was a tech genius and had heard of a new get rich quick scheme: “blogging”.

I didn’t know what that meant – I had to research what the internet was! But I was desperate and the evening news was featuring these “mommy bloggers” who were making small fortunes!

“If they can do it”, I thought, “So can I!”

I made a whole $0.82 that year.

I am not easily dissuaded though. I decided that a new theme would get me more revenue.

To build themes circa 2007, you had to learn the template system, the file structure, and the hooks baked into WordPress. 

It was like a giant puzzle and I was so excited to be using my brain – I jumped in.

Learning to Swim

I read every single page in the WordPress.org docs. I spent 10–20 hours a week in the support forums, mostly asking for help – not giving much! 

I learned to code by fixing real problems – it was challenging and the internet was full of quality resources.

I made big mistakes – I crashed countless sites! And in doing so, I learned what not to do. 

I was in heaven. 

Except for those all-nighters trying to fix something that I broke on a client’s site. 

I learned from the best in the community – because back then, they were in the forums with me. I learned from friends and other bloggers. I learned from online articles (pre-YouTube days).

Along the way, I met a fellow mommy blogger who had a side business called Desperately Seeking WordPress. (Her blog was Desperately Seeking Sanity and she has the best sense of humour!) She needed help. I was available. 

At the time, our offer was simple: we would install WordPress, a theme, and a few plugins – and make it look nice – for $20.

Eventually, she stepped back, and I got to take the reins. 

That’s when I realized I hadn’t the foggiest idea how to run a real business. I started reading books like *E-Myth*, *Duct Tape Marketing*, and *Purple Cow*. I had no MBA, no startup capital. Just the desire to help other mommy bloggers not get ripped off by tech ‘gurus’.

Building a Business While Falling Apart

I’ve struggled with depression for my entire adult life. By 2006, I had three young children. By 2012, I was divorced. The work that had been a fun puzzle, now had to pay the bills.

I couldn’t disappear on bad days – my fledgling company had to be reliable! The clients needed stuff. So I hired my first contractor. She made more than I did most months.

But I needed to know someone would be there for my clients when I couldn’t be. That was the first step toward building a team that would be better than any of us could have imagined.

The behind-the-scenes work we do stays the same whether it is for celebrities or tiny fledgeling bloggers. And when we were kind, didn’t talk down to them, and were honestly helpful, they talked about us. And we became 100% referral-based.

So how do YOU get referrals? 

I can’t tell you that – but – I know what works for us: radical honesty (even when it hurts our bottom line), genuine kindness and respect, and being the best at what we do. I believe with all my heart that our clients are in good hands.

And that honesty requires owning my mistakes. I wish I could say I don’t make them anymore but… radical honesty! 

We always do what’s in the client’s best interest, even when it costs us money.

The Invisible Work

After about seven years, I made an intentional decision to hire women. I grew up in West Africa, and I’ve seen firsthand how empowering women lifts entire families and communities. 

So we began funding microloans for women entrepreneurs in developing countries. The research shows that supporting women has a multiplier effect – and I’ve always had a soft spot for hard-working entrepreneurial free spirits.

From the very beginning, we were a remote team. I’ve never been on my own – being reliable is a non-negotiable – I need the team.

One of those teammates is Diane. I met her 14 years ago, just after she got married. She’s quiet, steady, avoids the spotlight – and she’s been one of the most important people in my life. We’ve built a business together through births, illness, life transitions – and I trust her completely.

That trust, that stability, is part of what we offer our clients. And it’s rooted in one simple idea: be kind. Treat everyone with dignity. Respect whatever expertise they bring, even if it’s not technical. Our job is to help their business succeed – not to impress them with ours.

Burnout, Boundaries, and Pricing with Purpose

In 2014, I burned out — hard. I had thrown myself into social media marketing. I spent $1000’s on courses and really tried to implement the suggestions. Guest post twice a month? Check. Two hours connecting on Facebook every day? Check. Write three posts a week? Check. 

I did all the things. ‘Cause they told me to.

I think it only took me three months to crash and burn. I got so sick, my body was done. I spent two full weeks in bed.

That’s when I learned my limits. And it’s when I learned to stay focused. 

Today, all decisions go through a, “What does this do to the bottom line?” framework. And by bottom line – I mean money, of course, but without sacrificing service, honesty or the trust of our clients.

Part of our growth meant making pricing decisions that felt terrifying.

We raised prices from $20/setup to $40/hour. We lost 20% of our clients — and I expected to lose more. But the ones who stayed? They valued us. They paid happily. They referred us to others.

Later, we raised it again — to $75/hour. I braced for another drop. It never came. 

Instead, I got emails thanking me! Clients said they were glad we were finally charging what we were worth! I’m still shocked about it. Who knew I’d have warm fuzzy stories on the day we raised our prices?

Eventually, we raised it to $89/hour. Still below the $110–$120 that custom coders charge. Because we’re not “true coders.” We’re *practical coders.* We solve real problems, fast, for people who trust us.

And that trust is priceless.

On Staying True in a Shifting World

Through all of this – the growth, the pivots, the grief and healing – this little WordPress agency has offered me survival.

The ability to work from home. To be present for my kids. To build something real while living with depression. To build a team based on trust, not hustle.

I can only recommend something that I truly believe is the best option for my clients. That’s why WordPress matters to me. It’s extensible, open-source, secure, supported, owned and portable. Currently it is the best option for my clients. And I can stand behind that.

A sign sits on my desk. It reads: “Who can I serve today?”

That’s the constant. That’s the compass.

Today, I volunteer in the WordPress support forums – the same ones I learned from. I volunteer in the community to give back. I’m sharing my story, not to teach anyone how to succeed, but to say: it’s okay to build slow. To price based on value, not hype. To grow into leadership without chasing fortune.

There are still chapters unfolding in my story. Some endings haven’t revealed themselves yet. But I know this much:

I stayed.

And through WordPress, I learned that staying — quietly, kindly, steadily — can be its own kind of success.

Cathy’s Work Environment

We asked Cathy for a view into her development life and this is what she sent!

HeroPress would like to thank Draw Attention for their donation of the plugin to make this interactive image!

The post The Remote Team Who Raised Me appeared first on HeroPress.

From a Refugee Camp to a Worldwide Community

I was born and raised in Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza — one of the most crowded places on earth. A place where electricity cuts were normal, water came in buckets, and even simple internet access was a daily battle. But it’s also the place where I became a WordPress and WooCommerce developer. I didn’t go to fancy schools or work in glass buildings — I learned by doing, failing, repeating, and staying curious.

Gaza wasn’t easy. But it gave me focus, grit, and a reason to push forward.

Living Through War

When the war started in 2023, the scale wasn’t the same as the previous wars imposed on a besieged population of Gaza. It turned into a brutal genocide, targeting civilians, homes, and entire neighborhoods. For six months, I was trapped inside Gaza. Every day, I woke up not knowing if I or my loved ones would survive the next airstrike.

Getting food became a full-time job. I stood in line for hours to buy just a bag of flour. Sometimes there was no bread. Drinking water was scarce and often unsafe. Showering became a luxury, sometimes I could only use one small bottle of water to clean myself.

Forced to Flee — Under the Gun

I got married just one month before the war started. My wife and I were full of hope, planning a simple future together in Gaza, despite all the challenges.

But soon after, everything collapsed.

We were forced to evacuate from northern Gaza to the south, walking through a military checkpoint, surrounded by tanks and armed soldiers. We stood in line, a long, slow-moving line of displaced families, with our hands raised in the air, step by step, under the eyes of a tank.

My wife was shaking. I held her hand, trying to stay calm for both of us. But deep inside, I was just as afraid.

We weren’t carrying weapons. We weren’t fighters. We were just a young married couple trying to survive.
All I had with me was my laptop and some food packed in a WordPress tote bag I’d gotten from WCEU 2023, everything that mattered to me at that moment.

Not long after we reached the south, my wife’s father was killed in an airstrike. We didn’t even get to say goodbye or grieve due to the continuous bombardment.

And yet, despite all of this — despite everything — we’re still trying to build a better life. Because that’s the only thing we can do. Keep going. Keep trying. Keep hoping.

Leaving Gaza – With Just My Laptop and a WordPress Tote Bag

After weeks of surviving in unbearable conditions, I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life: to leave Gaza on my own. I was only able to leave because of the support from the company I work with, they stepped in and helped cover the huge fees the Egyptian authorities charged to cross the border during the war. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made, leaving behind my entire family: my wife, my parents, my brother, my sisters, and their families, all of them still trapped in a war zone.

A month later, by some miracle, my wife, one of my sisters, and my brother managed to escape. This was only possible because of a GoFundMe campaign where many people from the Automattic and Codeable community generously contributed to help get them out. We reunited in Egypt, and for a short while, we felt like a family again — displaced, but together.

WordCamp Europe Journey

A Failed First Attempt

In 2024, I tried to attend WordCamp Europe in Turin, Italy. I had the passion, the knowledge, the motivation, but not the legal papers. As a Palestinian stuck in Egypt after fleeing Gaza, I had no residency, no ID, and no right to even apply for a visa.

A New Chapter in Oman

That’s when I made a hard decision. I left Egypt and moved to Oman, hoping for more stability and legal residency. It wasn’t easy to start from scratch, but I kept working, building WooCommerce plugins, contributing to projects, and slowly getting back on my feet. Oman gave me room to breathe, time to plan, and most importantly, a legal status.

The Second Try – and This Time, It Worked

Months later, I tried again. This time, I applied for a Schengen visa from Oman. I was nervous. I’d already been rejected by borders and systems that didn’t care about where I came from or what I could do. But luck, and persistence, were on my side. I got approved.

Holding that visa in my hand felt unreal. It wasn’t just permission to travel — it was a small victory against everything that tried to stop me.

WCEU 2025 — More Than Just a Tech Event

I attended WordCamp Europe 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.

I wasn’t just there to listen to talks or meet plugin authors. I was there because I believe stories like mine matter. I come from a place that’s usually erased from conversations. But I’m also part of this global community — a developer who pushed through war, exile, and paperwork, and still showed up.

Being there was not just for me. It was for every Palestinian developer still stuck behind walls. It was for every freelance coder who has talent but no passport. It was for those who build in silence, under fire, and without recognition.

Still Separated — In Every Way

Just before WCEU, I had to leave my wife and baby son in Egypt. I traveled to Europe to attend the event and explore a new future for my family. My wife and one-year-old son stayed behind in Egypt, waiting in limbo. This time, we don’t know when we’ll be reunited.

I looked at my baby’s photos almost every minute during the event — trying to hold on to every small detail while we’re apart. Being away from him and my wife has been incredibly painful. And at the same time, I’m also far from my mother, father, brothers, and sisters — all still in Gaza, living through unimaginable hardship.

That pain never fades, a constant shadow following me even as I kept going for all of them. While I walked freely through Switzerland, my parents, sisters, and closest friends remained trapped in Gaza’s nightmare, existing without homes, surviving on animal feed disguised as bread, drinking contaminated water that makes them sick, living without electricity, schools, or hospitals. They endure each day without the most basic human right: safety. The genocide continues relentlessly, now over a year and a half of systematic destruction. Every morning, with trembling hands, I check my phone not for work messages but for the simplest, most desperate confirmation—that my family is still breathing, still alive. So as I sat listening to talks about WordPress performance and block themes, my heart remained split in two, my body in Basel, but my soul still in Gaza, aching with every breath for those I left behind

WordPress Gave Me More Than a Job!

Being a WordPress developer gave me hope when I needed it most. The ability to work from anywhere meant I could survive and rebuild no matter where I ended up. WordPress wasn’t just a technology for me, it became my connection to a world of possibilities. The WordPress community helped me in ways I never expected. People reached out with support, advice, and genuine friendship. When everything felt uncertain, knowing I had skills that traveled with me and a community that welcomed me made all the difference. WordPress didn’t just give me work; it gave me a future I could believe in.

Grateful for Real Support

None of this would’ve been possible without the support of the company I work with — Progressus.io. During the most difficult moments — from trying to leave Gaza, to applying for visas, to finally making it to Basel for WCEU 2025 — they stood by me. Not just as an employer, but as humans who understood the weight of what I was going through. Their support wasn’t just professional — it was personal. And I’ll always be grateful for that.

My Message to the WordPress Community

To everyone at WCEU and in the broader WordPress ecosystem:

• Don’t take your freedom for granted.
• Remember that talent exists everywhere — but opportunity does not.
• Keep building open tools. You never know who’s learning from them in the shadows.

And to every developer in Gaza , or in any part of the world facing war, exile, or isolation:

Keep going. Keep coding. You’re not invisible.

What’s Next?

After everything, I’ve now moved to Spain, starting yet another chapter, far from where I began. It’s not easy building a new life from scratch again, but it’s a step toward stability, safety, and possibility.

I don’t know exactly where this path will lead. But I do know what I’ll keep doing: working on what I love, WordPress, WooCommerce, and helping small ideas grow into real businesses.

I’ve seen what war can destroy. Now I want to see what code and community can build.

The post From Gaza to WCEU 2025 Basel – My Journey as a WordPress Developer from War to Community appeared first on HeroPress.

I was more than surprised when Maja Benke, a well-known German community member and strong supporter of accessibility, put me in touch with Topher and HeroPress about Kenya. Of course I had heard of Topher. I had read a few posts from people in the WordPress community on HeroPress, people I’ve met, people who have inspired me, people who are very close to me for various reasons, and even some I disagree with. Nonetheless, they are all true WordPress heroes. I assumed the introduction was about someone from the Kenyan WordPress community who should be featured next on HeroPress or perhaps about proofreading something related to it. Imagine my surprise when Topher told me, “It’s about you!”

I don’t consider myself a hero, especially not in the WordPress ecosystem. My past contributions have been small and widely scattered here and there. A bit of polyglots, a bit of community work and a bit of WordPress TV. I’ve attended several WordPress meetups and, always with the help of others, founded three of them in Nuremberg, Würzburg, and Diani Beach. I’ve attended multiple WordCamps across Europe sometimes as a volunteer, other times as a speaker, and I was even fortunate enough to sponsor some through my company, AdminPress. I was the lead organiser of WordCamp Nuremberg 2016 and Würzburg 2018, both with incredible teams that made both “lead” and “organize” easy.

Being part of the organising team of WordCamp Europe in Berlin 2019 was my final major involvement, so to speak, before my contributions took their first hit due to COVID.

If I were to compare myself to football personalities, I would side with Jürgen Klopp, who once described himself as “The Normal One” rather than with José Mourinho claiming to be “The Special One” (Yes, I’m talking about real football not the sport where the ball is egg-shaped and carried with the hands, yet still called football but I digress…). Again, I’m not a hero. So why should I appear on HeroPress?

Even more so, I’m turning 60 this year. I started using WordPress in 2005 but only discovered in 2012 that it was more than just a piece of software, but also a community. Let’s be generous WordPress has been a part of my life for about a quarter of it. And by now, we’ve come full circle, as WordPress has once again become a mere tool for me just as it was when I first started using it. Perhaps I should briefly explain the other three-quarters of my life to provide some context for my journey with WordPress (and why it is no longer my main focus).

Tolerance, Diversity, and Solidarity

I was born and raised in Neuwied, Germany, a small city that shaped me through its history and principles, perhaps more than I realised at the time.

In the 17th century, the city’s founder, the Count of Wied, granted religious freedom at a time when many others did the opposite. This openness attracted people of diverse faiths bringing with them knowledge, craftsmanship, and ideas. Neuwied became a place where diversity was not just accepted but thrived. Tolerance was not an end in itself, but the foundation of cohesion, innovation, and prosperity.

As the town expanded, surrounding villages became part of Neuwied. One of these villages was Heddesdorf, which was responsible for several nearby villages, including Irlich the very part of town where I grew up. In the mid-19th century, Heddesdorf was led by a mayor named Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen, one of the pioneers of the cooperative movement. Facing famine in the rural areas of the Westerwald and Siegerland, he developed a system that enabled small farmers to survive.

“The whole is more than the sum of its parts.”
— Aristotle

By pooling resources and forming a cooperative, farmers could buy seeds at lower costs, share labor and support each other financially, and market their harvest together. All of this was done without the intent of making a profit but instead on the principle of solidarity. To this day, I maintain an account with a bank that bears Raiffeisen’s name, and I am, of course, a member of the cooperative that operates it.

Modesty, Honest Work, and Quality

My late father was a craftsman, a plumber. He deliberately kept his company small, even when he had opportunities for larger projects. He refused to expand beyond what he could personally oversee, ensuring that the quality of work never suffered. For him, it wasn’t about prestige or unchecked growth. It was about honest work, personal responsibility for his employees, and ensuring that every job was done right.

As a result, I didn’t grow up in opulence, but in a stable, middle-class environment. I had access to a good education, solid structures, and a supportive atmosphere that encouraged me to forge my own path. These values still shape me today. I have inherited my father’s philosophy except that my craft is digital.

A Change in Perspective: Living and Working in Kenya

I have been living in Kenya for seven years now. This decision was not driven by a desire to leave Germany, but by curiosity, another value rooted in Neuwied. In the 19th century, Prince Maximilian zu Wied traveled across North and South America, and his explorations inspired Karl May’s adventure novels, which we devoured as children. Now, I wanted to explore how my skills, values, and profession would hold up in a different context. And I quickly learned that what I had considered “normal” was not as universal as I had thought.

The cultural differences are not just fascinating, they are also deeply educational.

Germany thrives on structure, planning, and efficiency. In Kenya, flexibility, networks, and situational awareness are paramount. Decisions require more context, as they must account for social relationships. Time is experienced differently, and trust is built not through contracts but through consistent presence and reliability over time.

My tolerance and openness were tested like never before. But differences are not disadvantages—they are an invitation to challenge our own thinking.

Making Privileges Visible

It was only in Kenya that I fully grasped how many doors had been open to me without any effort on my part. Not because of my talent, but simply because of my passport, my education, and my social security. And sometimes, simply because my white face afforded me opportunities that others had to fight for.

Consider WordCamps in Europe, the US, and Asia. These events are a reflection of privilege.

For those of us from these regions, attending such an event—even organising one—is relatively easy. Travel restrictions are minimal, and at worst, it is simply a financial decision—getting a visa, booking a flight, and securing accommodation. Travel times are short, flights are reasonably priced, and thanks to the stability of the WordPress industry, many of us can make a living from this industry and therefore can afford these trips.

But what does this look like on the African continent?

Exercise: Open Google Maps and compare the size of Africa to Greenland. Now, check Wikipedia for the actual area of both.

Surprised? Shocked? Many of us, me at least, were misled in school. The Mercator projection distorts Africa’s size, making it appear smaller—and therefore less significant—in Western minds. The distances alone across Africa are twice as long as those in Europe or the US. There are no low-cost airlines like in Europe, offering fares that almost resemble the costs of bus tickets. A trip from Kenya to Nigeria—two major economies on the continent—takes a full day, even by plane, with layovers in Ethiopia. Even though WordPress developers in Kenya may earn above the national average thanks to remote work, attending a WordCamp outside their country remains prohibitively expensive. For reference, during the recent WordCamp Nairobi, I met a participant from Cameroon who had spent approximately $1,500 for flights and accommodation. Keep in mind that in Kenya, the average the average income is around $250 per month.

I wrote about this in more detail on my not very well maintained personal blog. Even though the original idea dates back to 2019, and the article was written in 2023, everything remains relevant today.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
— Uncle Ben in Stan Lee’s Spider-Man

For me, the meaning shifts when you replace “power” with “privilege.” What I perceive as power is, in reality, privilege. In my case, it is the privilege of growing up in stable circumstances, with access to education, healthcare, and technology, in a country that has provided me with opportunities many people never receive. And with privilege comes responsibility, not moral superiority, not a saviour complex, but simple questions: What do we do with the resources available to us? How do we share our knowledge? How do we create structures that enable others to  also grow?

This perspective is not always easy to convey, especially in an era where many business models prioritise short-term returns, platform effects, scaling, artificial intelligence—insert any buzzword of your choice. Increasingly, control is being sold as freedom, and systems are being centralised without consideration for democratic processes. As developers, the technologies we create often accelerate these trends. Without a strong foundation of values, we risk becoming complicit.

Open source in general, and WordPress in particular, thrives on the very values I was raised with: openness, tolerance, diversity, and solidarity.

Without trust, collaboration, and a commitment to pragmatic solutions, open source software cannot evolve. Without a focus on quality and the drive to continually improve, no sustainable business model can be built on open source. Without humility, we leave no space for others whose contributions make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. And without a conscious effort to use privilege meaningfully, or better yet, to dismantle it we will not succeed. Not in the WordPress community. Not in this world.

Werte, Privilegien und Verantwortung

Ich war mehr als überrascht, als Maja Benke – ein bekanntes deutsches Community-Mitglied und starker Befürworter von a11y – mich wegen Kenia mit Topher und HeroPress in Kontakt brachte. Ich hatte von Topher gehört. Ein paar Beiträge von Leuten aus der WordPress Community hatte ich auf HeroPress bereits gelesen. Menschen, die ich kennengelernt habe, Menschen, die mich inspiriert haben, Menschen, die mir aus verschiedenen Gründen sehr nahe stehen oder sogar welche, mit denen ich nicht übereinstimme. Dennoch sind sie alle wahre WordPress-Helden. Ich war mir sicher, dass es sich bei dem Kontakt um jemanden aus der kenianischen WordPress-Community handelte, der auf HeroPress gefeatured werden sollte oder ein entsprechender Text den ich vielleicht hätte korrekturlesen sollen. Meine Überraschung hätte kaum größer sein können, als ich hörte: „Es geht um dich!“.

Ich betrachte mich nicht als Held. Schon gar nicht im WordPress-Ökosystem. Meine Beiträge in der Vergangenheit waren klein und sogar weit gestreut. Ein bisschen hier und da. Ein bisschen Polyglots, ein bisschen Community, ein bisschen WordPress TV. Ich habe mehrere WordPress-Meetups besucht und (immer mit Hilfe von anderen) drei davon in Nürnberg, Würzburg und Diani Beach gegründet. Ich habe an mehreren WordCamps in ganz Europa teilgenommen, ich habe dort voluntiert, bei einigen Talks gegeben und hatte das Glück, einige durch meine Firma AdminPress zu sponsern. Ich war Lead-Organizer des WordCamp Nürnberg 2016 und Würzburg 2018, wobei beide mit tollen Teams aufwarten konnten, die das „Lead“ und „Organize“ leicht machten.

Teil des Organisationsteams von WCEU in Berlin 2019 zu sein, war sozusagen der letzte Akt, bevor meine Contributions durch COVID einen ersten Schlag erhielten.

Wenn ich das auf den Fußball übertragen müsste, würde ich mich eher auf die Seite von Jürgen Klopp stellen, der sich selbst mal als „The Normal One“ bezeichnete, als auf die von „The Special One“ José Mourinho. (ja, ich spreche vom echten Fußball, nicht von dem Sport, bei dem der Ball eiförmig ist und mit den Händen getragen wird, aber trotzdem Fußball heißt – ich schweife ab …). Aber noch einmal: Ich bin kein Held. So warum sollte ich auf HeroPress erscheinen?

Außerdem: Ich werde dieses Jahr 60 Jahre alt. Ich habe 2005 mit WordPress angefangen und erst 2012 entdeckt, dass es mehr als nur eine Software ist, sondern auch eine Community. Seien wir mal großzügig: Wir reden hier von etwa einem Viertel meines Lebens, in dem ich WordPress zu einem Teil meines Lebens gemacht habe. Und mittlerweile hat sich der Kreis geschlossen. WordPress ist für mich mehr oder minder wieder zu einem reinen Werkzeug geworden, so wie es einst begonnen hatte. Vielleicht sollte ich die anderen 3/4 meines Lebens (so kurz wie möglich) erklären, um meinen WordPress Weg besser zu verstehen (und warum dieser für mich gerade eher zu Ende ist).

Offenheit, Toleranz und Solidarität

Ich bin in Neuwied geboren und aufgewachsen. Einer Stadt, die mich durch ihre deren Geschichte und ihren Prinzipien geprägt hat. Vielleicht mehr, als ich es damals ahnte. Im 17. Jahrhundert gewährte der Gründer der Stadt, Graf von Wied, Religionsfreiheit, während viele andere das Gegenteil praktizierten. Diese Haltung zog Menschen verschiedenster Glaubensrichtungen an – und mit ihnen Wissen, Handwerk und Ideen. Neuwied wurde zu einem Ort, an dem Vielfalt nicht nur akzeptiert sondern aktiv gelebt wurde. Offenheit war nicht Selbstzweck, sondern Grundlage für Zusammenhalt, Innovation und Wohlstand.

Die umliegenden Dörfer wurden Teil der Stadt Neuwied, als diese im Laufe der Zeit wuchs. Eines dieser Dörfer war Heddesdorf, das selbst schon für einige andere Dörfer in seiner Nähe zuständig war, wie z.B. Irlich – genau der Teil der Stadt, in dem ich aufgewachsen bin. In der Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts wurde Heddesdorf von einem Bürgermeister namens Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen geführt. Kein Geringerer als einer der Erfinder der Idee der Genossenschaften. Angesichts der Hungersnot in den ländlichen Gebieten des Westerwalds und des Siegerlands ermöglichte er den Kleinbauern das Überleben.

“Das Ganze ist mehr als die Summe seiner Teile”
— Aristoteles

In dem sich die Bauern zusammenschlossen und eine Genossenschaft gründeten, konnte Saatgut billiger gekauft werden, Arbeit und Geld wurden gegenseitig verliehen und die Ernte gemeinsam vermarktet. All dies geschah ohne Gewinnabsicht und auf der Grundlage von Solidarität. Noch heute unterhalte ich ein Konto bei einer Bank, die Raiffeisens Namen trägt, und natürlich bin ich Mitglied der Genossenschaft, die die Bank betreibt.

Bescheidenheit, ehrliche Arbeit und Qualität

Mein jüngst verstorbener Vater war Handwerker, ein Klempner. Er hielt sein Unternehmen bewusst klein, obwohl er Angebote für mehr und größere Projekte erhielt. Er vermied es mehr Leute einzustellen, um nur noch deren Arbeiten kontrollieren zu müssen und die Qualität der Firma auf’s Spiel zu setzen. Für ihn ging es nicht um Prestige oder Wachstum um jeden Preis. Es ging um ehrliche Arbeit, die mit den Menschen zu tun hatte, die er beschäftigte, und um die Verantwortung für die Aufträge, die er und sein Team ausführten. Ich bin daher nicht in üppigem Wohlstand aufgewachsen, sondern in einer gut situierten Mittelstandsfamilie. Es fehlte mir aber auch an nichts: ich hatte Zugang zu einer guten Ausbildung, stabilen Strukturen und einem Umfeld, das mich ermutigte, meinen eigenen Weg zu gehen. Auch diese Werte prägen mich auch heute noch. Diese Haltung meines Vaters habe ich mir zu eigen gemacht. Nur das mein Handwerk digital ist.

Perspektivwechsel: Leben und Arbeiten in Kenia

Seit sieben Jahren lebe ich nun in Kenia. Die Entscheidung war bewusst – nicht getrieben von einem Aussteigen-Wollen, sondern von Neugier. Auch das ein Neuwieder Wert. Prinz Maximilian zu Wied bereiste in im 19. Jahrhundert Nord- und Südamerika und lieferte mit seinen Forschungen die Vorlagen für Karl Mays Abenteuerromane, die wir als Kinder verschlagen. Nun wollte ich entdecken, wie sich meine Fähigkeiten, meine Werte, mein Beruf in einem anderen Kontext bewähren. Und ich sollte herausfinden, ob das, was ich als „normal“ empfand, nicht wirklich so universell ist.

Die kulturellen Unterschiede sind nicht nur spannend, sie sind extrem lehrreich.

Deutschland ist geprägt von Struktur, Planung, Effizienz. In Kenia zählen Flexibilität, Netzwerke, situatives Handeln. Entscheidungen brauchen oft mehr Kontext, da sie soziale Beziehungen berücksichtigen müssen. Zeit wird anders erlebt, Vertrauen entsteht nicht durch Verträge, sondern durch Präsenz und Zuverlässigkeit über längere Zeiträume. Meine Toleranz und Offenheit wurde mehr denn je auf die Probe gestellt. Aber: Unterschiede sind kein Nachteil. Sie sind eine Einladung, das eigene Denken zu hinterfragen.

Privilegien sichtbar machen

Erst in Kenia wurde mir richtig bewusst, wie viele Türen mir offenstanden, ohne dass ich sie mir selbst erkämpfen musste. Nicht, weil ich so talentiert war, sondern weil mein Pass, mein Bildungssystem, meine soziale Absicherung, sogar einfach meine Hautfarbe mir Möglichkeiten eröffneten.

Sprechen wir für einen Augenblick über die WordCamps Europe, US und Asia. Sind sind Ausdruck dieses Privilegs.

Es fällt uns, die wir aus diesen Regionen stammen vergleichsweise leicht an einem solchen Event teilzunehmen oder gar mit zu organisieren. Wir reisen mit wenigen Beschränkungen in die Länder unserer Wahl. Schlimmstenfalls ist es eine Frage des Geldes um ein Visum zu erhalten, das Flugticket zu bezahlen und für ein paar Tage Unterkunft und Verpflegung zu finden. Die Flüge sind in der Regel überschaubar lang, kosten kein Vermögen und dank einer stabilen WordPress Industrie in der wir arbeiten dürfen sind die Kosten auch leicht zu decken.

Was davon existiert auf dem Afrikanischen Kontintent?

Übung: öffne Google Maps und schaue dir die Größe der Landmasse von Afrika und die von Grönland im Vergleich an. Schlage Wikipedia auf und suche nach der Fläche der beiden genannten Landmassen.

Überrascht? Schockiert? Unsere Sicht von außen auf Afrika wurde uns – mir zumindest – in der Schule falsch vermittelt. Die Merkator-Projektion macht den Kontinent kleiner als er ist. Und damit in unseren westlichen Köpfen unbedeutender. Schon alleine die Flugstrecken von einem Ende zum anderen sind doppelt so groß wie die, die wir in den USA oder in Europa zurücklegen. Die Billig-Airlines die z.T. Preise anbieten, die eher nach Busfahrten klingen, gibt es in Afrika nicht. Um von Kenia nach Nigeria – zwei der großen Volkswirtschaften – zu kommen, bedarf es auch mit dem Flieger einer Tagesreise mit dem Umweg über Äthiopien. Und auch wenn WordPress Entwickler dank Remote Zugang zu Projekten die Möglichkeiten haben mehr zu verdienen als der Durchschnitts-Kenianer, sind die Kosten für die Teilnahme an einem WordCamp außerhalb des eigenen Landes immer noch prohibitiv hoch. Zum Vergleich: das kenianische Durchschnittseinkommen liegt bei ca. $ 250 pro Monat. Flug und Unterkunft zum WordCamp Nairobi kosteten einen Teilnehmer aus Kamerun ca. $1.500.

Ich habe auf meinem – nicht sehr gut gepflegten – persönlichen Blog (in englisch) ein bisschen ausführlicher darüber geschrieben.

Auch wenn die Grundidee aus dem Jahr 2019 ist und der Artikel im Jahr 2023 geschrieben wurde, ist trotzdem alles noch anderthalb Jahre später gültig.

„With great power comes great responsibility.“
— *Uncle Ben in Stan Lee’s Spider-Man

Für mich gewinnt er eine neue Bedeutung, wenn man „power“ durch „privilege“ ersetzt. Denn das, was ich als Macht empfinde, ist in Wahrheit ein Privileg: aufgewachsen in stabilen Verhältnissen, mit Zugang zu Bildung, Gesundheitsversorgung, Technologie – in einem Land, das mir Möglichkeiten eröffnet hat, die viele Menschen nie bekommen. Und aus diesem Privileg erwächst Verantwortung. Keine moralische Überlegenheit, keine Rettungsphantasien. Sondern die schlichte Frage: Was machen wir mit den Ressourcen, die uns zur Verfügung stehen? Wie teilen wir unser Wissen? Wie schaffen wir Strukturen, in denen auch andere wachsen können?

Diese Haltung ist nicht immer leicht zu vermitteln, besonders in Zeiten, in denen viele Geschäftsmodelle auf kurzfristige Rendite, Plattformeffekte, Skalierung, künstliche Intelligenz, … buzzword deiner Wahl … setzen. Es gibt in der Welt aktuell eine Tendenz, Kontrolle als Freiheit zu verkaufen, Systeme zu zentralisieren, ohne demokratische Prozesse mitzudenken. Die Technologien, die wir als Entwickler schaffen helfen dabei, diese Tendenzen zu beschleunigen. Ohne einen stabilen Wertekanon machen wir uns zu Mit-Tätern!

Open-Source im Allgemeinen und WordPress im Speziellen lebt genau von den Werten, die mir vermittelt wurden: Offenheit, Toleranz, Diversität, Solidarität.

Ohne Vertrauen, Zusammenarbeit und dem Streben nach pragmatischen Lösungen entwickelt sich Open-Source Software nicht. Und ohne die notwendige Qualität und dem Willen Dinge permanent zu verbessern lässt sich kein erfolgreiches und nachhaltiges Geschäftsmodell auf Open-Source aufbauen. Ohne etwas Bescheidenheit werden wir keinen Platz für die anderen haben, die ebenfalls wertvolle Beiträge liefern und das Ganze zu mehr als seiner Summe machen. Ohne die sinnvolle Nutzung von Privilegien und letztlich den Abbau dieser werden wir es nicht schaffen. Nicht in der WordPress Community. Nicht in dieser Welt.

The post Values, Privileges, and Responsibility – Werte, Privilegien und Verantwortung appeared first on HeroPress.