PyCon Africa 2025 Opportunity Grants Programme

We are delighted you are interested in attending PyCon Africa 2025, which will be held from October 8th to 10th, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference will take place at The Wanderers Club, a centrally located venue known for its excellent facilities and accessibility.

As part of our commitment to fostering an inclusive community, we recognize that some individuals may need financial assistance to make conference participation possible.

Grant Availability and Coverage

Due to budget limitations, we can only support a small number of attendees with opportunity grants. These grants will be awarded based on financial need and responses provided in the application form. Please note that approved grants may only cover certain expenses (e.g. conference ticket but not accommodation). Any expenses not covered by your specific grant would remain your responsibility.

Application Details

Please complete the form to provide details on your financial needs and circumstances. This information is essential for the grants review committee to evaluate applicants and make fair and informed decisions on grant recipients.

We welcome your open and honest responses, even for basic needs. Our goal is to make the conference accessible to as many Python enthusiasts as possible from around Africa.

Your application will be treated in complete confidence.

Who Will Receive Opportunity Grants?

We would love to support everyone who applies, but unfortunately, our funds are limited.

The opportunity grants programme will prioritise:
- Speakers
- Those who will contribute back to their local communities
- Those who will help increase diversity at the event and in African programming

We will do our best to maximise the impact of our opportunity grant funding.

How to Apply

• First, you need to create a profile or log in. You can do that here
• Next up, go to your profile
• Click on the button that says "Apply for Grant"
• Fill in the form before the deadline: July 19, 2025 (anywhere in the world). We will not accept applications after this date.

Read the questions on the form carefully and answer them as best you can.

What Can I Request?

You can request a free ticket only, or a grant as well as a free ticket. Anyone who is allocated a grant will automatically receive a free ticket.

How Much Should I Request?

Our budget is limited, and we will have to make some hard decisions. Generally, it is easier for us to accept smaller requests, as a single large request could consume most of our budget. The lower your request, the more likely it is that we will be able to accept it.

You need to consider:
- How much you will need to spend in total in order to attend the conference
- How much of this you can contribute yourself

The difference between these two figures is the amount you should request.

How Should I Calculate How Much I Should Request?

You will need to budget for:
- Travel
- Visa, if necessary
- Accommodation
- Subsistence (evening meals, local transport, etc.) while in Johannesburg

Travel

Spend a little time researching your options. If you will need to travel by air, use websites such as Skyscanner or Hipmunk to estimate the cost of airfare. Be aware that a little flexibility with dates or routes can make a big difference to the price of an air ticket.

Accommodation

There are many websites that allow you to estimate the cost of accommodation, such as Hotels.com or Hostelworld. Johannesburg offers a range of options, including budget hostels, guesthouses, and mid-range hotels.

Since the conference venue is The Wanderers Club in the Illovo/Rosebank area of Johannesburg, we recommend looking for accommodation nearby. Options in the following areas are convenient and accessible:

• Illovo (within walking distance)
• Rosebank (5–10 minutes by car or Gautrain bus)
• Sandton (10–15 minutes by car)
• Melrose (also nearby and quiet)

If you are willing to share a room to reduce costs, let us know in your application.

Be reasonable – we want you to stay somewhere clean, safe, and comfortable, but we cannot afford to place you in a luxury hotel.

Subsistence

Lunch and refreshments will be provided each day during the conference.

In Johannesburg, you can find evening meals ranging from ZAR 80 to ZAR 150 (approx. USD $5–$8). Local transport, such as minibus taxis, Gautrain buses, and ride-hailing apps (e.g. Bolt, Uber), is widely available and affordable.

We recommend budgeting at least USD $10–$15 per day for evening meals and transport.

Timeline

• June 16, 2025: Opportunity grants application opens
• July 19, 2025: Opportunity grants application closes
• July 28, 2025: Grant recipients notified
• August 16, 2025: Deadline to accept/decline the opportunity grant
• October 8–10, 2025: PyCon Africa 2025 – The Wanderers Club, Johannesburg
• October 10, 2025: Disbursement of funds at the conference begins

When Will I Receive the Funds?

Funds will be provided to successful applicants upon attendance at the conference.

Unfortunately, applicants for opportunity grants who have received funds in the past and failed to attend have negatively impacted previous PyCons. Our financial situation cannot withstand this kind of abuse.

In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to provide funds in advance to those who would otherwise find it impossible to attend. Please contact us as soon as possible if this is the case.