How I decided to start helping AWS communities around the globe
Hi everyone,
My name is Aleksandar, and I have decided to start a personal project. I want to help and support creating local AWS communities around the globe. Like many things in life, this decision was not something that I intended to do with my life, it was born out of circumstances that were surrounding me in the past few months. Since it is not such a long story, I will tell you how I decided to start this project.
How it all started?
It all began in 2015. One day I decided that I no longer want to live in a country where most of the world known services are unavailable. So, instead of moving to another country, like most of the people around here would do, I chose to stay in Serbia and bring the services I need here. The service I wanted to work with is, as you may already guess, AWS. Even if everyone kept telling me that I was crazy and impossible to do it, I was determined to do this.
For a start, I decided to form a local AWS User Group and see how many people here are interested in Amazon Web Services. It turned out that there are more AWS geeks here than I could have guessed and we had our first informal meeting in fall 2015, in Novi Sad. After just a few gatherings in Novi Sad and Belgrade, our group had over 250 active members.
In spring 2016, we make it to caught AWS attention, and we hosted AWSome Day conference in Belgrade where we make it gathering over 250 people interested to know more about AWS techniques and business offerings. I need to mention that we make it organizing this massive event with some modest funds and with tremendous enthusiasm and support by our volunteers.
Soon, in May 2016, I got the official AWS acknowledgment for all my efforts — I started a new trend and helped to form local AWS User Groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and Romania, and my local group soon had over 400 members. I became an AWS Community Hero. I was one of the few Europeans who received this honor directly from AWS headquarters in Seattle. I can’t describe how much it meant to me to know that the largest cloud computing provider in the world is aware of my efforts to bring something new and exciting to my part of the universe.
What happened next? And how I decided to start this project?
I thought that after becoming a Hero, my life would continue on its regular track. But, ever since things started to happen. People from other communities approached me asking what they should do to start their own AWS communities and how they can do that. I was glad to help and share my experience.
And this is how I decided to start my personal project and help and support forming of local AWS User Groups all around the world. My goal is to create a system that will allow me to assist local communities in a more efficient manner. The general idea is to provide some essential resources for all the enthusiasts out there who are willing to make a move and bring AWS closer to their communities. I know how hard it can be to be driven only by your personal craziness and belief, and I am ready to help such people as much as I can.
What is this project all about?
To be more specific, here what this project is about:
- Supporting individuals from local communities to start their own AWS User Group — My intention is to encourage everyone who wants to spread the word and AWS technology into their own community to do that. My experience taught me how to overcame numerous obstacles in this path and I’m more than willing to share it with a friend in need.
- Providing informal mentorship for such people to help them getting started — I don’t have an intention to be the official AWS representative and mentor, but I’m more than willing to give informal mentorship and guidance in organizing events and meetups on various AWS related subjects.
- Connecting local AWS User Group to global supporters— Also, I know how hard it is to build such a community and live this story without any funds, so I decided to look up for global supporters who would support my initiative and help out local organizers. There are different ways that they can help and I would like to invite everyone who is interested in such engagement to get in touch.
So, this is my idea and the things that I wish to do in the future. I knew that I was on the right track because I already have some results.
The first global supporter
I have found one global supporter who will be my partner on this journey. The first company who understands what I’m trying to do is CloudAcademy. They are the first official sponsor who wants to help to create and support local AWS User Groups all over the world.
Cloud Academy is an independent Cloud computing training platform. On their website, you can find a very generous offer of training for all the key cloud computing providers, including AWS. Besides training courses, Cloud Academy provides video courses, quizzes, hands-on-labs, and individual tests that will help you get your AWS certification. All of these resources can help you improve your cloud and DevOps skills.
Cloud Academy is a significant partner in every AWS User Group because they have They have prepared: a free portal for AWS user group members, regardless of the geographical area where they are from.
I am collaborating with CloudAcademy team for a few months now and when I let them know that I wish to start the new project they were quite interested in being a part of it. Thank you, guys!
The first local AWS User group in the program
Another excellent news is that the first local AWS User group who is participating in my project is already formed. I am really proud to say that this is the first AWS User Group in Russia. They are settled in Saint Petersburg, and they have already managed to gather over 133 members.
AWS User Group Russia was initiated by Evgeny Rudinsky, a terrific guy, and an AWS enthusiast who wanted to bring something new and refreshing to his hometown community. The entire story about Evgeny’s efforts and Saint Petersburg IT community will be featured here soon, and until then all that I can say is “Kudos Evgeny! Keep up with the excellent work.”
I believe that my blog here will be filled with similar stories really soon. As a part of my personal support I will write a story about each AWS User group founder and the community where they are comming from to pay my respect to all of them. They are all my personal heroes!
What are my next moves?
So, now that you know what I want to do, I invite you to get in touch. Whether you:
- want to start a new AWS User Group in your local community,
- check if there is already one,
- to be one of our global supporters,
- or just to say “Hi!” I would love to hear from you.
Thank you for your time and hope to see you around :)
