Volunteer for us

join us now

Build West Bengal’s open-source future—one contribution at a time.
WBFOSS (West Bengal Free & Open Source Society) is a community of students, professionals, educators, and makers advancing Free and Open Source Software across the state and beyond. Whether you can give an hour a week or a weekend a month, there’s a place for you here.

Why Volunteer?

  • Create public good: Your time improves software, documentation, and digital literacy used by thousands.
  • Grow your skills: Ship real projects, get mentored, and build a portfolio that counts.
  • Strengthen local tech: Help schools, colleges, startups, and public institutions adopt open standards.
  • Belong: Meet a welcoming community that values collaboration over credentials.

Who Can Join?

Anyone who supports FOSS values. No minimum experience required. We welcome contributors from all districts of West Bengal (and friends elsewhere), across backgrounds, languages, and abilities. বাংলা/English both welcome.

Current Priority Roles

Who we’re prioritizing now:

  • Students in West Bengal
  • Active open-source contributors from West Bengal
  • Anyone originally from West Bengal (now anywhere) who wants to give back

1) Meetup & Community Organizers

Do: Plan city/district meetups, run sessions, manage RSVPs, secure venues, coordinate A/V.
Good for: Students with campus access, alumni networks, local OSS champs.
Time: 4–6 hrs/month + event day.

2) Project Development (Core & Starter Kits)

Do: Ship features, fix bugs, write tests, improve DX, help with issues/PRs.
Stacks: JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Go, Linux tooling.
Time: Flexible; pick issues sized to your schedule.

3) Project Reviewers (Code & Architecture)

Do: Review PRs, uphold style/security checks, suggest patterns, mentor first-timers.
Nice to have: CI familiarity, lint/test coverage, basic threat modeling.
Time: 2–4 hrs/week.

4) Content Writers & Editors

Do: Blog posts, project updates, how-to guides, event recaps, newsletters.
Plus: Keyword research, simple SEO, crisp headlines, Bengali/English clarity.
Time: 2–3 hrs per post.

5) Communications & Community Building

Do: Social updates, speaker outreach, partner collabs, campus club liaison, inbox replies.
Channels: X, LinkedIn, Telegram/Discord/Matrix, mailing list.
Time: 2–4 hrs/week.

6) wbfoss.org WordPress Site Maintainers

Do: Update pages, publish posts, fix themes/plugins, harden security, backups, uptime.
Stack: WP admin, basic PHP/HTML/CSS, CDN, forms, analytics.
Time: 2–3 hrs/week.

7) Workshop Facilitators & Mentors

Do: Hands-on sessions (Linux basics, Git/GitHub, Python intro, OSS onboarding), office hours.
Extras: Create slides/labs, repo templates, starter kits for colleges.
Time: Prep 3–5 hrs + delivery.

8) Hackathon Core Team

Do: Theme curation, challenge design, jury/rubrics, infra (repos, CI runners), mentorship.
Also: Pre-hack “how to contribute” bootcamps for students.
Time: 6–10 hrs in the event month.

9) Translators & Localizers (English ↔ বাংলা)

Do: Translate docs, UI strings, workshop kits; build a Bengali tech glossary.
Tools: PO files, Weblate/Crowdin, Markdown.
Time: Flexible; task-based.

Time & Commitment

  • Flexible: From micro-tasks (~30 minutes) to ongoing roles
  • Remote-friendly: Most tasks can be done online
  • Event days: Occasional on-site support for meetups, workshops, and hackathons

We’ll match you with something impactful, whatever your schedule.

How It Works

  1. Apply: Email us with the below mentioned information
  2. Match: We’ll suggest tasks aligned to your skills and time.
  3. Start: Join the relevant channel, pick an issue, get a buddy, and begin.

What You’ll Work On

  • Meetups & community: District-level events, campus roadshows, speaker sessions.
  • Projects: West Bengal–centric FOSS utilities, education kits, localization, civic tech.
  • Reviews & mentorship: Help new contributors land their first PR with confidence.
  • Content & comms: Tell stories, document wins, invite more folks in.
  • Website: Keep wbfoss.org updated, accessible, and secure.
  • Workshops & hackathons: From Linux 101 to Git workflows and beyond.

Code of Conduct

WBFOSS is an inclusive space. We do not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or disrespect.
Be kind. Assume good intent. Help each other grow.

Recognition & Benefits

  • Public acknowledgement: Contributor roll, event shout-outs, digital badges
  • Mentorship: Guidance from seasoned practitioners
  • Certificates: Provided for meaningful contributions and event volunteering
  • Impact portfolio: Real, verifiable community work you can showcase

Swags and Goodies

We love celebrating contributors—but we don’t do gatekeeping. Swag is a thank-you, not a paywall. You don’t have to “earn” swag to belong here.

What’s on the table (subject to stock)

  • Stickers (vinyl, laptop-safe)
  • Button badges
  • T-shirts (unisex S–3XL)
  • Tote bags (cotton)
  • Event lanyards and limited edition badges
  • Digital swag: profile badges, social frames, contributor banners

Sustainability note: We prioritize eco-friendly materials and limited batches to avoid waste.

Access to Exclusive Events

As you contribute, you’ll unlock invite-only opportunities designed for learning, leadership, and deeper community ties.

What you can access

  • Contributor Lounge (Quarterly): Lightning talks, roadmap previews, contributor spotlights, and AMAs with mentors.
  • Maintainer Roundtable: Small-group architecture reviews, security clinics, CI/CD best practices, and project governance sessions.
  • Campus Champions Forum: For student organizers and club leads—how to run events, grow clubs, and sustain momentum.
  • Early-Access Workshops: Limited-seat deep dives (Linux internals, Git workflows, packaging, observability, threat modeling).
  • Partner & Sponsor Briefings: Behind-the-scenes product demos, internships/fellowships info, and pilot program slots.
  • Contributor Summit (Annual): A focused day of talks, hack rooms, hallway track, and recognition—priority seats for active contributors.

Students: We’re happy to sign internship letters or college activity logs upon verified contribution.

Volunteer Application Process

(Mention following information in your email ) at volunteer@wbfoss.org

Name:
Email:
Phone (optional):
City/District:
College/Organization (if any):
Preferred language(s): □ বাংলা □ English □ Both
Roles you’re interested in (choose any):
□ Meetup organizer □ Project development □ Project reviewer
□ Content writing/editing □ Communications/community
□ WordPress maintenance □ Workshops/mentoring □ Hackathon core team
□ Translation/localization
Skills/Tools :
Availability: □ <2 hrs/week □ 2–4 hrs/week □ 1 day/month □ Event-only
Accessibility needs (optional):
GitHub/Portfolio (optional):
Why WBFOSS? (1–2 lines):
Consent: I agree to follow the WBFOSS Code of Conduct. □ Yes
West Bengal link (select any): □ Currently in WB □ Student in WB □ Originally from WB