Speech by the Deputy Chairperson of the SayPro Royal Committee
SayPro 2001 Free and Open Source Software Month Celebration Event
Distinguished guests, fellow developers, technologists, open source champions, and members of the SayPro family:
Good [morning/afternoon], and welcome to this landmark celebration of SayPro Free and Open Source Software Month 2001!
It is a great honor for me, as the Deputy Chairperson of the SayPro Royal Committee, to address you today on an occasion that not only celebrates technological freedom and collaboration but reaffirms our commitment to innovation, transparency, and shared knowledge.
This month is more than a series of events. It is a movement. A movement that echoes across continents, communities, and codebases. It is a tribute to every developer who believed software should be accessible, every organization that chose openness over restriction, and every citizen who benefitted from tools made freely available to them.
Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present
In 2001, as SayPro continues to position itself as a beacon for progressive development and youth empowerment, we remember how free and open source software (FOSS) helped level the digital playing field. From enabling students in rural schools to access educational platforms, to helping government departments adopt more cost-effective digital solutions — FOSS has touched every corner of our society.
The values of open source — freedom, community, collaboration, and transparency — mirror the values we at SayPro live by every day.
Our Role and Responsibility
As the SayPro Royal Committee, our role is not only to guide and govern but to inspire and empower. This month, we reaffirm our support for:
- Open source education programs that train the next generation of developers.
- Community-led tech initiatives that solve local problems using shared code.
- Government and private sector partnerships that adopt and invest in open, ethical technology.
Let us be clear — open source is not just about code. It is about building a better, fairer future where access to technology is not a privilege, but a right.
A Salute to the Contributors
To the developers who work late into the night maintaining projects.
To the educators spreading knowledge about Linux, Python, LibreOffice, and beyond.
To the communities that support, document, translate, and promote open source tools in local languages.
We thank you. We see you. And we celebrate you.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward, let this month be a catalyst — for innovation, policy shifts, youth involvement, and cross-border collaboration. Let SayPro continue to lead by example, showing that African-led open source innovation is not only possible — it is essential.
We invite all of you — whether you’re writing your first line of code, launching a project, or advocating for digital rights — to join us in this celebration. Contribute. Collaborate. Create.
Together, let us build a future that is open by default, secure by design, and inclusive by intention.
Thank you. Viva SayPro. Viva Free Software. Viva the People.
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