[Linux-aus] [Grant Application] Kids Tracks at BuzzConf

[Ben Dechrai]

Dear LA council and members,

You may have heard about BuzzConf <https://buzzconf.io/>. It's an annual
technology festival that's about to see its third event run from Dec 1st
to 3rd. Take liberal portions of tech conference, mix in a family
friendly atmosphere, a strong focus on diversity, and the party
atmosphere of a music festival, and you're on the right track.

This year, we've had a fantastic number of submissions to the kids track
<https://buzzconf.io/kids-track/>, and have enough to run two tracks for
them! Some of them require the supply of hardware, in particular:

> *Nightmare Light*
>
> In this workshop we will help you design, build and program a
> nightmare-light. We’ll have sensors available for those who want to
> detect ambient light for an extra challenge. The workshop is geared
> towards children but those young-at-heart are welcome to join too!
> Younger children can participate too if they have an overseeing parent
> to help them.
>
> Participation is $30 per person to cover hardware costs. Each person
> will get a kit with:
>
> 1 x Arduino (will need a USB cable for programming)
> 1 x Photo resistor
> 1 x LED light pack
> 1 x Battery
> 1 x Set of wires (for electrical connection)

Children attend BuzzConf for free and get their own educational track,
because we want to make events like these as accessible as possible to
families, especially single-parent families, who often can't get to
conferences.

In this spirit, we'd love to cover all workshop costs for children too.
We currently have 37 child tickets sold, with 13 more available. With an
anticipated 20-30 children making a nightmare light, the workshop
organiser will be supplying $600 - $900 worth of hardware.

CoderDojo Carlton are also running a number of workshops and, while they
will be bringing hardware from their pool, they anticipate incurring
costs of around $65 for the components that kids will be taking away
(conductive tape, and LEDs).

We are seeking funding to cover the cost to the organisers of running
the children's workshops, estimated at no more than $1,000. Would LA be
amenable to covering this cost? After the event, we would provide a
detailed itinerary and costs of hardware that was given to the kids (we
wouldn't expect workshop organisers to be reimbursed for hardware that
they don't give away), so that LA's contribution is only for those
costs. It may, in this scenario, be easier for this request to be that
the organisers are paid directly by LA, and that we are seeking funding
on their behalf.

In acknowledgement of this support, we would including LA's logo on our
website as a Festival Sponsor (a $1,000 value in our sponsor doc).

On the off-chance that LA would consider a larger investment, in order
to run the two tracks for children, we are needing to secure additional
facilities, such as tables, tents, power, and projection facilities. If
LA were to consider a $5,000 investment and become a Festival Partner,
we would prioritise these funds to ensure the children's workshop cost
outlined above are covered first and foremost. The remainder would help
us with the increased costs of additional facilities. The Festival
Partner support level also includes two festival tickets, which LA could
use as they wish. (You might want to send some representatives of LA, or
give them away to the community. We could help promote any activity
around making these available to others.)

Many thanks in advance for your consideration. I welcome any questions
for clarification.

Ben Dechrai
Co-founder, BuzzConf Technology Festival
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