This talk explores how WordPress can be used for community-driven projects and to empower NGOs, Schools, and Students.
Thousands of nonprofits and schools work tirelessly to create change, but they lack a digital presence and technical ability to share their work with the world. At the same time, students learning web development often struggle to find meaningful real-world projects or mentorship. Code for Charity bridges that gap.
Using WordPress as our foundation, we’ve built and deployed sites for national and international non-profits, completely free of cost. We’re teaching public school students web development and helping them build their own school’s website. In every project, students work in teams and receive mentorship from experienced WordPress developers. We’ve partnered with different companies to provide mentorship and internships to outstanding students, after the project is completed.
For organizations, these websites have helped them reach donors, hire and engage volunteers, and communicate their mission more effectively. For schools, their students learned practical skills, and schools get visibility.
In this Lightning Talk, I’ll share the story of how Code for Charity grew from a simple idea into a community of changemakers using WordPress for social good. I’ll discuss the challenges we faced, like maintaining quality in volunteer-built projects, partnering with companies for experienced mentorship, and how we went from running without funding to receiving generous support from Paymentology (UK’s Top-20 Enterprise Fintech), and the impact we’ve generated. This talk will offer a real-world look at how technology, especially WordPress, can create a sustainable impact. Attendees will be motivated to volunteer for a cause, build similar initiatives, foster collaboration, and use WordPress as a platform not just for blogging and business, but for connection, empowerment, and change.
Ultimately, this talk is a story about what happens when young people, purpose, and open-source come together, proving that with WordPress, even small ideas can make a big difference.