PyCon Africa Beginner's Day
Opening Doors to the Python Community
Are you curious about Python but don't know where to start? Or do you know a little Python and want to expand your horizons? PyCon Africa Beginner's Day is designed specifically for you.
Experience the Magic of Learning Together
Moments from previous Beginner's Day events - where curiosity meets community and everyone learns together
What Is Beginner's Day?
Beginner's Day is a special pre-conference event dedicated to welcoming newcomers into the Python community. Through hands-on workshops and supportive mentorship, we're opening doors for aspiring developers, data scientists, and technologists from all backgrounds.
Our mission:
Create an inclusive, supportive environment where anyone can start their Python journey, regardless of their technical background or experience level.
Advanced Pythonistas Welcome Too!
We are all beginners at something. Even if you're an experienced Python developer, these workshops cover a wide range of topics that might be new to you - from data visualization with Plotnine to game development with PyGame.
Learn Something New
Expand your Python toolkit by exploring areas outside your expertise. Data scientists can try game development, web developers can dive into data visualization, and everyone can discover new libraries and approaches.
Share Your Knowledge
Join us as a coach! Your experience can help guide newcomers through their first Python steps. Teaching others often deepens your own understanding and gives back to the community that helped you grow.
Featured Workshops
HumbleData
Learn the fundamentals of data analysis with Python.
This beginner-friendly workshop will introduce you to working with data, creating visualizations, and drawing insights - perfect for aspiring data scientists and analysts.
DjangoGirls+
Build your first web application!
This internationally-recognized workshop has introduced thousands of women and marginalized genders to web development. No prior experience needed.
Build Your First Game with PyGame
Create your very first video game!
Learn game development fundamentals while building a fun, interactive game using Python and PyGame. Perfect for beginners who want to see immediate, visual results from their code.
Why Beginner's Day Matters
Technology thrives on diverse perspectives and fresh ideas. By making Python accessible to everyone, we're:
- • Breaking down barriers that prevent people from entering tech
- • Increasing diversity in the Python community and broader tech ecosystem
- • Creating pathways for underrepresented groups to discover their potential
- • Building confidence for those who might feel intimidated by technical conferences
- • Fostering inclusion by providing a welcoming entry point to PyCon Africa
Event Details
Venue
The Wanderers Club
Illovo, Johannesburg, South Africa
Located in the heart of Johannesburg, The Wanderers Club provides an excellent venue for our Beginner's Day workshops. More detailed venue information and directions will be provided to confirmed participants.
Learn more about the venue →What You'll Need
- Laptop (we'll help with setup on the day)
- Enthusiasm to learn
- Willingness to ask questions and help others
What We'll Provide
- Instructors and mentors
- All workshop materials and resources
- Refreshments and lunch throughout the day
- A supportive, encouraging environment
How to Attend
Step 1: Purchase Your Ticket
Purchase your Beginner's Day ticket for R50 (approximately $2.50) through our ticketing system.
Don't worry - this event is completely free! The ticket fee ensures your commitment to attend and helps us plan accurately. We will refund your full R50 payment when you check in on event day.
Important: If you purchase a ticket but don't attend the event, we cannot provide a refund. This policy helps us maintain our limited capacity for those who are truly committed to participating.
Buy Beginner's Day TicketStep 2: Watch Your Email
Once you've purchased your ticket, keep an eye on your email inbox for important updates from us.
We'll send you:
- Next steps and preparation instructions
- Workshop resources and materials
- Setup assistance for your laptop
- Event day logistics and venue information
For Coaches
Experienced Python developers can also purchase a R50 ticket to join as coaches and help guide newcomers through their learning journey.
Your R50 will be refunded when you check in, just like participants. We appreciate your contribution to building an inclusive Python community! We only ask people to pay up front to reduce no-shows!
Can't buy a R50 ticket?
If you're unable to purchase the R50 ticket, you can request to have the fee waived by filling out this form:
Critical Attendance Commitment
If you receive a waived ticket, it is absolutely critical that you show up on event day.
We're happy to be generous and support people's learning, but no-shows are burning money - we still need to pay the venue for your participation and catering costs whether you attend or not. Please only request a waiver if you are 100% committed to attending.
Note that we won't be able to provide any other financial assistance at this time. We can only waive the R50 refundable registration charge in special cases.
Help Us Expand Our Impact
Currently, we can accommodate 100 participants due to per-person costs for materials, refreshments, and resources. Want to help us welcome more beginners into the Python community?
Your contribution directly increases the number of people we can support!
Tell your friends!
Do you know anyone who would benefit from taking part? Let them know what we are doing here so they can join in!
This event is great for anyone new to code, business folks who need to be code-literate to do their best work, experienced developers looking to pick up different skills, and advanced Pythonistas with teacher's hearts!
Success Stories
Previous Beginner's Day participants have gone on to:
- Land their first tech jobs
- Contribute to open source projects
- Start their own Python projects
- Become active community members
- Attend and even speak at future PyCon events
"Beginner's Day gave me the confidence to pursue a career change into data science. The supportive environment made all the difference."- Sarah, 2023 participant
"I never thought I could code, but the DjangoGirls workshop showed me I could build real applications. Now I'm a full-time developer!"- Amara, 2022 participant
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need any programming experience?
A: Not at all! Beginner's Day is designed for people with no prior programming experience.
Q: What if I'm not selected?
A: We'll maintain a waitlist and notify you if spots become available. We also encourage you to check out our online resources and join our community channels.
Q: Can I attend both Beginner's Day and the main conference?
A: Yes! You'll need separate tickets for the main conference, but we offer discounts for Beginner's Day participants.
Q: What operating system should my laptop have?
A: Windows, Mac, or Linux all work fine. We'll help with setup regardless of your system.
Get Involved
Whether you're taking your first steps into Python or ready to mentor the next generation of developers, Beginner's Day offers something meaningful for you.