JUG-AFRICA at Googleplex in Mountain View !!

Last January I was invited by Google at Googleplex in Mountain View to meet with managers from Developer Relations Team to discuss about our annual event (JCertif 2011) and possible synergies between JUG-AFRICA and Google G-AFRICA. It was a great meeting with concrete collaboration agenda. Here is a summary :
Google Outreach efforts in Africa

• University courses (we think Google should give this opportunity to local experts);
• Local user groups;
• Technology barcamps;
• Competitions and coding challenges.
  

Working Together Possibilities (JUG-AFRICA - Google AFRICA)

• work together on University talks;
• Professional groups: look at joint meetings on Android, App Engine, GWT.

Concrete Next Steps (started!)

• Share calendar of future JUG-Africa events (JUG-Meeting) with G-AFRICA manager;
  
• Look for ways to collaborate on some of those events;
• Identify key Java community members that we can get more involved;
• Work together on University outreach.
  

We have conclude the day with a lunch that was disrupted a little bit by a fire alrme at the Googleplex' main cafeteria. Miam! miam!
Thanks Van Reper.