Colombia: Cali Organises Its Third Barcamp · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

[All links lead to Spanish language websites unless otherwise noted]
On Monday, December 17, 2012 the third edition of Barcamp Cali, a Free Culture event organised in the city of Cali, Colombia, by DELM Cali and the Universidad Autónoma de Occidente will take place, with the participation of communities such as Fosschix Colombia, Fundación Casa del Bosque, PrimeCom and Trueque Digital. Here is an extract from the invitation made via the event's blog:
Se preguntarán ustedes que es un “Barcamp” es muy sencillo, es un espacio en el cual se comparte conocimiento de manera libre, abierta y participativa, en temas relacionados con las TIC a través de charlas voluntarias llamadas “desconferencias” […] lo que hay es gente dispuesta a compartir lo que sabe y también dispuesta a escuchar lo que uno sabe.
You may be wondering what a ‘Barcamp’ is; it's very simple, it's a place where knowledge can be shared freely, openly and in a participatory way, on topics related with ICTs [Information and Communication Technologies, en] across voluntary presentations called ‘unconferences'… there are people willing to share what they know and also willing to listen to what others know.
The event has created a buzz among netizens in Cali, who have been tweeting about it, like Luis RoDevia (@luisrodevia):
@luisrodevia: Me encantan estas iniciativas #barcampcali3 @barcampcalico http://barcampcali.co/blog/  #Cali
@luisrodevia: I love these initiatives #barcampcali3 @barcampcalico http://barcampcali.co/blog/ #Cali
Barcamp Cali, 2nd Edition (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Nelson Adrián Franco (@NelsonAdrianF), one of the organisers, pointed out:
@NelsonAdrianF:  A los que les gusta compartir software, arte y contenidos culturales no se puede perder #Barcampcali3 cc @barcampcalico
@NelsonAdrianF:  Those who like sharing software, art and cultural content can't miss #Barcampcali3 cc @barcampcalico
While Lina María (@LinaMaO) commented:
@LinaMaO:  Oye que cool va el Profe Julio a @barcampcalico http://barcampcali.co/2012/el-profe-julio-presente-en-el-3er-barcamp-cali/ … jeje no se imaginan las clases de calculo que le he visto xD
@LinaMaO: Hey, how cool is it that Prof Julio will go to @barcampcalico http://barcampcali.co/2012/el-profe-julio-presente-en-el-3er-barcamp-cali/ … hehe you can't imagine the calculus classes that I have seen xD
She is referring to the teacher and engineer from Cali, Julio Alberto Ríos Gallego, better known as ‘Profe Julio’ on YouTube, where he is very popular (almost a kind of star); and what is unusual is that he has done it in fields like physics and maths, ones that are so unattractive at first sight for users of that platform. The Barcamp's blog explains [es]:
Lo que comenzó en el 2009 como una opción para complementar las clases que dictaba un colegio, en poco tiempo se convirtió en todo un fenómeno en internet, el canal de Youtube julioprofe tiene 82,673 suscriptores, siendo el tercer canal más popular del país de la plataforma de videos. Sus videos han sido reproducidos más de 35 millones de veces, la comunidad atrás del ‘Profe Julio’ la integran usuarios de los 5 continentes.
What started in 2009 as an option to complement the classes that a school delivered became an Internet phenomenon in no time at all; YouTube channel julioprofe has 82,673 subscribers, being the third-most popular channel in the country on the video-sharing website. His videos have been played more than 35 million times, with users from five continents making up the community behind ‘Profe Julio’.
Barcamp Cali, 2nd Edition (CC BY-SA 3.0)
As was previously mentioned, the free software female community Fosschix Colombia will actively participate in the event, and one of its members, Liz García, will give an ‘unconference’ about the empowerment of free software and gender. The Barcamp's blog writes the following about Fosschix:
Esta comunidad viene trabajando desde hace 3 años en motivar a las mujeres para que participen y se inicien en el mundo del software libre ya sea en el desarrollo, investigación o difusión y hagan parte activa de la Cultura Libre. Hace poco organizaron con éxito en Bogotá el I Congreso Nacional de Mujeres, Tecnología y Cultura Libre.
This community has been working for three years to motivate women so that they participate and get started in the world of free software, whether it be in development, investigation or dissemination, and that they become actively engaged with Free Culture. Not long ago they successfully organised the first National Congress of Women, Technology and Free Culture in Bogotá.
It is worth pointing out that about 100 people attended the first edition of Barcamp Cali, while some 300 attended the second. The attendance this year is expected to be the same or greater. You can follow news about Barcamp Cali on Facebook, on its Twitter account (@barcampcalico), or under the hashtag #barcampcali3.