10 Things to Know:How to Run a BarCamp

Courtesy of the BarCamp Ghana team, here are 10 things to know about the BarCamp project and tips to consider if you want to run an ‘unconference’ of your own.

1. BarCamp Ghana is a free networking event focused on bringing together young change makers and enabling them to contribute positively to changing their country.
2. The BarCamp project began in 2008. In 2012, as many as 10 BarCamps were held annually. Now, there are more than 12 a year.
3. BarCamps take place in regional cities all across Ghana but you can reach out to the team if you see a need for a forum to be a held in a new city.
4. On average, 100 participants attend each event. The events are advertised on the team’s social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, and Google+) but Director of the GhanaThink Foundation, Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) says he prefers the more ‘organic’ approach of telling a friend to tell friend — something to consider if you feel your calling is to become a BarCamp lead.
5. BarCamps are different from any other networking forum because they gives participants the space to generate their own topics of discussion.
6. It’s all about participation for BarCamp Ghana lead, Kofi Yeboah (@kofiemeritus), “if you attend a BarCamp once, we don’t expect you to attend again because we expect you to be equipped enough.”
7. The BarCamp Ghana team measures ‘impact’ by following up with participants to see how they are putting what they’ve discussed and learned into practice — check out these 6 BarCampers who made it to this year’s Mandela Washington fellowship.
8. Never been to a BarCamp before? Everyone’s welcome but Marketing Coordinator for BarCamp Takoradi, Herbert Acheampong (@akyherb) says he has one question for you first, “Are you ready to help make your community a better place?”
9. BarCamp events feature 10-minute speed mentoring sessions with guest speakers. Yeboah says the idea behind this is to further engage participants and give them “just a taste” of what a long-term mentorship can do for them.
10. Still want to run a BarCamp of your own? Acheampong says the most important thing to remember is building a great team, “anybody who would love to organize events like BarCamps should have the right team members and ensure everyone does what they have to. The team must be ready to learn from each other and other people.”

To learn more about this month’s BarCamp in Cape Coast, check out,
“Young and Ready: Cape Coast Youths’ Plans to Beat the Odds”