Code of Conduct

Building a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful community for everyone

Last updated: January 2025

Our Commitment

LOSL-C is committed to providing a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for all community members, regardless of their background, identity, or experience level. We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our community and advance our mission of promoting Linux and Open-Source technologies across Africa.

This Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for all community members and provides guidelines for creating a positive and productive environment for learning and collaboration.

Our Values

🤝 Inclusivity

We welcome people of all backgrounds, skill levels, and perspectives

🎓 Learning

We foster an environment where everyone can learn and grow together

💙 Respect

We treat each other with dignity, kindness, and understanding

🤲 Collaboration

We work together to achieve common goals and support each other

Expected Behavior

All community members are expected to:

  • Be respectful and kind: Treat others with courtesy and empathy, even when disagreeing
  • Use inclusive language: Choose words that welcome and include all community members
  • Help newcomers: Welcome new members and help them navigate the community
  • Share knowledge freely: Contribute to discussions and help others learn
  • Respect different perspectives: Value diverse viewpoints and approaches to problem-solving
  • Give constructive feedback: Provide helpful, specific, and actionable feedback
  • Respect privacy: Don't share personal information without consent
Unacceptable Behavior

The following behaviors are not tolerated in our community:

  • Harassment and discrimination: Based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, age, disability, or any other characteristic
  • Offensive or inappropriate content: Including sexual, violent, or discriminatory language and imagery
  • Personal attacks: Insults, trolling, or deliberately inflammatory comments
  • Spam and self-promotion: Excessive self-promotion, advertising, or off-topic content
  • Doxxing and privacy violations: Sharing someone's private information without permission
  • Intellectual property violations: Sharing copyrighted material without proper authorization
  • Disruptive behavior: Deliberately disrupting discussions, events, or community activities
Reporting and Enforcement

How to Report

If you experience or witness behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, please report it immediately:

  • Email: conduct@loslc.tech (monitored by community moderators)
  • Contact any community administrator or moderator directly
  • Use the report function on our platforms where available

What to Include

When reporting, please include:

  • Description of the incident
  • Where and when it occurred
  • Screenshots or evidence if available
  • Names of people involved (if known)
  • Any additional context that might be helpful

Our Response

All reports will be reviewed promptly and confidentially. We are committed to creating a safe environment and will take appropriate action, which may include warnings, temporary suspension, or permanent removal from the community.

Consequences

Violations of this Code of Conduct may result in:

1
Warning: Private discussion about the behavior and expectations
2
Temporary suspension: Temporary removal from community activities and platforms
3
Permanent ban: Permanent removal from all community services and events

The severity of consequences depends on the nature and frequency of violations. We may skip steps for serious violations that threaten the safety or well-being of community members.

Scope

This Code of Conduct applies to all LOSL-C community spaces, including:

  • Online forums, chat platforms, and social media
  • In-person events, workshops, and meetups
  • Project collaboration spaces
  • Email communications and private messages between community members
  • Any other space where you represent or interact with the LOSL-C community
Appeals Process

If you believe you have been unfairly sanctioned under this Code of Conduct, you may appeal by:

  • Sending an email to support@loslc.tech within 30 days of the decision
  • Including a detailed explanation of why you believe the decision was unfair
  • Providing any additional evidence or context

Appeals will be reviewed by community leaders who were not involved in the original decision.

Questions and Feedback

We welcome questions and feedback about this Code of Conduct. If you have suggestions for improvement or need clarification on any point, please reach out:

Email: support@loslc.tech

Community Discussion: Start a conversation in our forums

Acknowledgments

This Code of Conduct is inspired by and adapted from the Contributor Covenant, Django Code of Conduct, and other open-source community guidelines. We thank these communities for their pioneering work in creating inclusive and welcoming spaces for collaboration.