[Django Day India Talk] Organizing Djangonaut Space: A Toolkit for Inclusive Events
Organizing a global open-source mentorship programme like Djangonaut Space has taught me that event success isn’t just about checklists—it’s about people, communication, and doing the little things that help someone feel seen and safe. In this talk I’ll share a practical toolkit of reflections, routines and practices drawn from my time as a Session Organizer, which help turn volunteer-driven gatherings into inclusive, welcoming spaces. You’ll walk away with actionable ideas you can apply in hackathons, community meetups, conference streams or university-led programmes.
Presented at Django Day India 2025 by Priya Pahwa
Date: November 08, 2025
Location: Scaler School of Technology, Bangalore
Presentation Mode: In-Person
Website: Link
Slides: Link
At Djangonaut Space, each session brings together contributors, mentors, and organizers across continents for eight weeks of guided open-source exploration. As a Session Organizer, I found myself navigating time zones, communication styles, accessibility, and team energy — all while trying to keep the experience personal and human. How do you craft announcements that people want to read across time-zones? How do you schedule globally without burning out? What does inclusion look like when you’re coordinating volunteers, beginners and experts?
This talk takes you inside that orbit: a behind-the-scenes look at how Djangonaut Space is designed and sustained. Through real examples, templates, and reflections, we’ll explore:
- Communication that includes everyone: Writing with tone and clarity, using TL;DRs, emojis as cues, and setting communication norms that help quieter voices speak up.
- Consent and comfort: Handling recordings, photos, and shoutouts with care; why explicit consent builds psychological safety.
- Inclusive structures: Using shared workbooks, clear roles, and recurring check-ins (“Win of the Week”) to maintain rhythm and transparency.
- Timezones and pacing: Managing asynchronous engagement, calendar invites in local time, and designing schedules that account for energy differences.
- Reflection and iteration: Running retrospectives, co-reviews, and feedback loops that sustain improvement and prevent burnout.
To know more about the strategies discussed during the talk, refer to:
All in all, it is focused on a way to think about inclusion as intentional design, and a set of adaptable tools they can use to organize community events.