I began as a participant with a dream, and now I serve as a Lead organizer with a vision.

The best thing the WordPress Community has ever done is organize WordCamps. It’s a place where WordPress enthusiasts gather, learn, and share, a place that has been an incredible part of my journey in the tech universe. WordCamps has to be my favorite days of the entire year. Let me take you through a little bit of my journey in this world of WordCamps.

It’s 2012,

And I, Surendra Shrestha, a curious tech enthusiast, stepped into the enchanting world of WordCamps. I was just an attendee then, soaking in the knowledge the most I could. The atmosphere was exciting, and little did I know that this was just the beginning of my WordCamp adventure.

WordCamp Nepal 2012

Till, 2014 I attended WordCamp as an attendee. Fast forward to 2015, I found myself putting on a new hat – that of a sponsor and a community representative for Codeable. I was no longer just an attendee; I had become part of the magic that made WordCamps possible.

It was so fun to see a group of people from different backgrounds brought together by a common hope and belief- the mission of WordPress. In 2016, I took a new step and attended WordCamp Europe. The experience was exhilarating, I got to meet WordPress enthusiasts from around the globe, sharing insights and creating memories.

I was part of the WordCamp Kathmandu 2016 Organizing Team, where I served as a panelist and represented Codeable and Rigorous Web as sponsors. It was an energizing year, marked by active involvement in event planning, insightful discussions, and proud sponsorship representation.

The following year, I continued my active involvement by taking on the roles of co-organizer and venue wrangler for WordCamp Kathmandu 2017, ensuring its resounding success. Additionally, in 2017, I had the pleasure of attending WordCamp Ubud, adding another enriching experience to my WordPress journey. This exhilarating journey continued in 2018 when I once again represented Codeable at WordCamp Kathmandu.

2019 was the year of multitasking. I co-organized WordCamp Kathmandu, was a Volunteer wrangler, and represented Codeable as well as the WordPress Kathmandu community. But I didn’t stop there. I hopped over to WordCamp Europe as a volunteer, providing PR support and spreading the WordCamp spirit.

In 2020, I decided to be a speaker at WordCamp Butwal. My topic? “Giving Back to the Community.” It was a refreshing experience to share my journey and inspire others. Two years later, in 2022, I returned as a sponsor wrangler at WordCamp Kathmandu and WordCamp Nepal.

The WordCamp family had become my second home. With a Grand Leap in 2023, I found myself at WordCamp Asia as a member of the Marketing and Communication team and a co-organizer. WordCamp Asia 2023 marked a historic milestone as the inaugural Flagship WordCamp in Asia. Being part of the organizing team was an exceptional privilege. Contributing to this prestigious event allowed me to immerse myself in the dynamic WordPress community on a grand scale.

It’s still 2023, and WordCamp Kathmandu 2023 has just taken place. I was eagerly anticipating this year’s WordCamp Kathmandu for a variety of reasons. Firstly, I enjoyed socializing with other open-source contributors. Secondly, because WordCamp organizers had continually improved and iterated, I was excited to see what had been tried out and enhanced each year. We had undertaken a few new initiatives for the first time at the event, and those changes were highly appreciated. The third reason was that I had served as the Lead Organizer this year. I probably should have mentioned this reason in the beginning. Just kidding, but, it is something I had achieved after years of learning, networking, and growing within the WordPress community. 

My commitment went beyond serving as the Lead Organizer this year because I had previously participated in a number of ways. No matter what role I contributed to, I remained dedicated and focused, and the community also gave me a lot of support. 

As I reflect on this journey, I can’t help but be grateful for the incredible people I’ve met, the knowledge I’ve gained, and the experiences that have shaped me.

WordCamps have not only been a platform for learning but also a source of inspiration and creativity. I began as a participant with a dream, and now I serve as a Lead organizer with a vision. WordPress continues to astound me as I continue on my WordCamp journey.

Last but not least, I’m happy to say that I’ll be organizing WordCamp the next year. I’m looking forward to the chance to make more adjustments. Hopefully, I will meet you at the next WordCamp where the journey continues, and the WordPress spirit thrives!

History of WordCamp Journey:

• WordCamp Nepal 2012 – Attendee
• WordCamp Nepal 2013 – Attendee
• WordCamp Nepal 2014 – Attendee
• WordCamp Nepal 2015 – Sponsor
• WordCamp Europe 2016 – Attendee
• WordCamp Kathmandu 2016 – Organizer (Venue Wrangler) / Speaker / Sponsor
• WordCamp Ubud 2017 – Attendee
• WordCamp Kathmandu 2017 – Organizer ( Venue Wrangler) / Sponsor
• WordCamp Kathmandu 2018 – Sponsor
• WordCamp Pokhara 2018 – Attendee
• WordCamp Kathmandu 2019 – Organizer ( Volunteer Wrangler) / Sponsor
• WordCamp Europe 2019 – Volunteer
• WordCamp Pokhara 2019 – Attendee
• WordCamp Butwal 2020 – Speaker / Sponsor
• WordCamp Kathmandu 2022 – Organizer (Sponsor Wrangler) / Sponsor
• WordCamp Nepal 2022 – Organizer (Sponsor Wrangler)
• WordCamp Asia 2023 – Organizer (Communication)
• WordCamp Kathmandu 2023 – Lead Organizer

Hits: 21