"When passionate contributors come together, the sky is not the limit—it's the launchpad."

Today marks the launch of Djangonaut Space Session 3, and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate. This time, we received 92 applications from all across the globe, out of which we’ve selected 14 exceptional Djangonauts to join our mission to make sustainable and impactful contributions to Django and other third-party packages! 🥳🥳

Our program continues with its key focus areas:

🚀 Increase sustainable and regular contributions to Django.

🚀 Provide an accessible and inclusive space for developing Djangonauts.

🚀 Empower emerging leaders to sustain and grow Django’s development.

To achieve these goals, we rely on four key pillars: Accountability, Connection, Sponsorship, and Inclusivity. These are the fuel that propels our Djangonaut Space rocket:

✨ Accountability: Our weekly catch-ups provide a space for Djangonauts to share progress, celebrate milestones, and address blockers. It’s not just about personal growth—it's about collective success.

✨ Connection: Behind every line of code is a real person, learning, evolving, and striving. By recognizing this, we foster a sense of empathy and support within the community. Empowering emerging leaders by connecting them with experienced contributors helps strengthen Django’s legacy.

✨ Sponsorship: By shining a light on the accomplishments of our Djangonauts, we connect them with experienced professionals in Django and Python. Whether it’s organizing talks, sharing resources, or nudging someone toward submitting a talk to a conference, our sponsorship is about creating opportunities in an emotionally safe space.

✨ Inclusivity: Creating a space is just the first step. Active inclusion means extending invitations, making people comfortable, and ensuring their voices are heard. By offering direct opportunities that align with people’s skills and passions, we ensure contributions flow naturally.

The application process for the Djangonaut Space program is structured to ensure a strong, capable community. Navigators, who are senior-level maintainers and experienced contributors to the Django framework, are selected through interviews conducted by the organizers.

In Session 3, Captains were chosen based on their active participation in the previous two seasons, demonstrating the potential to lead and mentor others. The Djangonauts go through an extensive application process that remains open for two weeks, during which they are evaluated based on criteria such as community involvement, resilience, code contributions, overall open-source engagement, experience with Django/Python, availability for at least 5 hours a week, and other parameters. This year, we received 92 applications and selected 14 candidates! YAYYY!! 💫

Once selected, 3 or 4 Djangonauts are then matched to 1 Navigator and 1 Captain, ensuring that each group aligns based on time zones and project interests.

To know more about Djangonaut shortlisting, please refer here.

Every great journey requires a skilled crew, and in our Djangonaut Space Session 3, we are excited to introduce the dedicated individuals steering this initiative. With their diverse backgrounds and shared passion for Django, our session organizers are committed to fostering an inclusive and empowering environment for all Djangonauts. Each one brings a unique set of skills and experiences to the table, ensuring that our Djangonauts receive the guidance and support they need to thrive. Let’s introduce the team behind the scenes: