About us

WHO WE ARE

Open Source Africa is a non-profit organization dedicated to making open source education more accessible across Africa.

We work with organizations, universities, and communities to build practical digital skills, strengthen local capacity, and expand opportunity through open source technologies.

OUR STORY

Open Source Africa began in Zambia as the Living Open Source Foundation, with a simple belief: access to technology education should not depend on geography, income, or opportunity.

As demand for open source education grew beyond national borders, the movement expanded. Today Open Source Africa is building a continent-wide network of chapters, trainers, universities, and partners dedicated to creating economic opportunity through open technology.

Our goal is simple: empower African communities to become creators of technology, not just consumers of it.

Our Vision

We envision an Africa that is empowered through open source technology, local expertise, and accessible education.

We believe open source can strengthen local economies, expand opportunity, reduce dependence on costly proprietary software, and help communities, businesses, and governments build a more inclusive and self-reliant digital future.

Who We Serve

Organizations

We provide local training delivered by local talent at prices that make sense in the local context. This helps institutions build internal capacity in open source technologies without relying on expensive external training models.

Universities

We partner with higher education institutions across Africa to integrate open source technologies into their curriculum. By embedding these skills into formal education systems, we help prepare students for relevant careers and strengthen the continent’s digital workforce.

Community Members

We offer free training in open source software skills as well as hardware repair skills. These programs create accessible pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance, particularly for individuals who may not otherwise have access to technical education.

Our Values

Accessibility

We believe education should be within reach for all people and institutions, regardless of financial or geographic barriers.

Local Empowerment

We prioritize local trainers, local knowledge, and local leadership to ensure solutions are relevant, sustainable, and rooted in African contexts.

Inclusion

We are committed to serving diverse communities and creating opportunities for those who have historically been excluded from technology education.

Practical Skills for Real Impact

We focus on hands-on training that leads to real outcomes, including employment, institutional capacity, entrepreneurship, and community resilience.

Collaboration

We work in partnership with organizations, universities, and communities to build strong and lasting open source ecosystems.

Affordability

We believe high-quality technology education should be cost-effective and aligned with local economic realities.

Open Knowledge

We champion open source as a pathway to innovation, shared learning, digital independence, and long-term development across Africa.