I was asked to answer the following questions with the focus areas as context.
Are you already working on them (3 focus areas)? Do you see community growth opportunities there? How?
Yes, I’m currently working on two of the listed focus areas.
With respect to developer engagement, I’m involved in organizing hackathons (both theme based and bug fixing models) and facilitating workshops. In a theme based hackathon, developers are asked to create a working prototype of an application in the platform of their own chance. This gives a chance for the devs to be innovative and provides the platform to put their thoughts into action. In the bug fixing model (also known as a developer code sprint), there is a list of curated bugs that the participants can chose from and solve in an over-night effort. The bugs can be from one project or a collection of Mozilla’s project. Adequate care needs to be taken to ensure that the mentors of the bugs are informed before hand and the development setup needs to be provided to the participants. I see a wide community growth opportunity in this area, provided the host city has a well established developer community. (Example: Bangalore) Developers are receptive to changes in technology and are willing to put in the time and effort to build something new. We can tap in to this potential to engage existing developers with Mozilla’s projects & create pathways to fix bugs. Also, the learning curve isn’t much when we talk about popular concepts like web development. At the college level, I’ve conducted multiple workshops on topics like python, web dev, bugzilla, encryyption, etc. These have helped me build a network of like mined folk & get contributors for Mozilla’s front line projects. All my workshops have a connection with either one of Mozilla’s technologies or a specific project.
The other area I’ve worked significantly is on advocating for privacy and fair internet. Like minded communities like the FSMI, Save The Interet and others come together in times of crisis like the recently concluded debate on net neutrality in India. As a promoter of the open web, I’ve staged protests, written blog posts and given speeches about how violations in net neutrality could affect the entire internet ecosystem as we know it today to a mixed audience of FSAs, Mozillians and the general public. This is not something that can be achieved by an event on one day, it’s a work in progress as it involves changing the mindsets of people. I’ve seen huge receptions at the FSA level - taking the message to let their peers know at the college level. People who are moved by such issues end up taking the initiative to ask questions and help others around them realize the reality - especially in the under 25 age group. Like @n_srushtika mentioned, there is a growing trend towards people becoming data sensitive and as leaders, we can use it to spread awareness. Programs like TBTW can be influential, but there needs to be a consistent effort in this direction.
I guess most others will agree as well ! Lastly, I’ve also seen a growing interest in these people who not only want to know and understand the privacy aspects but also share it with others of their (professional/personal) community on a small scale, purely based on a knowledge-sharing criteria. I guess, that is what we, as volunteers (at Mozilla) are trying to achieve?