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Meetup Formats That Work: How WordPress Nairobi turned a meetup into a hands-on workshop
This is the first post in MeetupMeetupMeetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook. Formats That Work, a series highlighting WordPress meetup groups that have experimented with new session formats, and what other organizers can learn from them. See the call for stories at the end of this post.
One of our big goals for 2026 is to help meetupsMeetupMeetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook. evolve beyond the traditional speaker-led session: adding more hands-on learning, active participation, and clearer pathways into contribution. That vision is already happening in communities around the world.
WordPress Nairobi is one of them.
About the group
WordPress Nairobi has been active since around 2016, when the community began forming ahead of the first WordCampWordCampWordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. Nairobi. They aim to meet at least once a month, and consistency has been central to their growth, especially after a difficult period during and after COVID, when attendance sometimes dropped to 10 people or fewer. Their most recent workshop brought in 41 attendees, and they’ve seen sessions with over 60.
That turnaround didn’t happen by accident. It happened because the organizers listened to their community and were willing to change how they run things.
The shift: from speaker sessions to workshops
The traditional speaker format was starting to feel repetitive. Attendance fluctuated, and participants expressed a desire for more interactive sessions. So WordPress Nairobi started experimenting.
Their UIUIUI is an acronym for User Interface - the layout of the page the user interacts with. Think ‘how are they doing that’ and less about what they are doing./UXUXUX is an acronym for User Experience - the way the user uses the UI. Think ‘what they are doing’ and less about how they do it. Mastery Workshop is a clear example of what that looks like in practice:
The session opened with a short presentation on WordPress design to set the foundation
Attendees were divided into four groups, each with at least one organizer embedded to support participants, especially beginners
Each group worked on a pre-prepared website with intentional design issues, tackling one specific area: typography, mobile responsiveness, call-to-actions, or visual hierarchy
Groups then presented their solutions, followed by a Q&A
The session closed with open networking time
Total attendees: 41. Energy level: noticeably higher than a typical speaker session.
“What stood out most was how naturally participants collaborated. Even beginners felt comfortable contributing, and the group setting encouraged discussion, problem-solving, and peer learning.” — Jesse, WordPress Nairobi organizer
What it took to prepare
Workshops require more preparation than regular meetups. For this one, the team needed:
A pre-designed website with intentional design flaws built in
Clear problem statements for each group
Coordination among organizers to know who was supporting which group
A structured event flow, from introduction to wrap-up
More intentional thinking about group composition and time management
One thing that helped: refreshments. Not always possible, but even occasional coffee and snacks made participants feel more comfortable and welcome.
What didn’t go as planned
Some groups moved faster than others, and a few participants needed more guidance than expected. Having organizers inside each group (rather than floating) made the difference. They could adapt in real time and make sure every group reached the finish line.
The lesson: flexibility during the session matters as much as preparation beforehand.
Beyond workshops: a broader format experiment
WordPress Nairobi hasn’t stopped at workshops. They’re also experimenting with:
Themed meetups: eCommerce-focused sessions, beginners-only sessions, design-focused sessions, targeting specific needs rather than trying to serve everyone at once
Outdoor community events: including a community hike at Karura Forest, which created space for organic networking in a relaxed setting (with another one planned for May, this time contributing photos to the WordPress Photo Directory)
The insight behind the themed approach is simple: people engage more when a session is directly relevant to them. Instead of general topics, focused formats improve both engagement and retention.
What you can take from this
If you’re thinking about running a hands-on session in your meetup, here’s what WordPress Nairobi would tell you:
Listen to your community first. Format changes work best when they respond to real feedback.
Embed organizers in groups, don’t just float. Mixed skill levels need active support, not just availability.
Prepare the materials, then stay flexible. The pre-built website with intentional issues was essential, but so was the ability to adapt mid-session.
Start with a focused theme. Trying to serve everyone at once is harder than designing a session for a specific audience.
Small touches matter. Refreshments, a clear structure, a good wrap-up… these signal that the organizers care about the experience.
Share your story
Have you tried a format that went beyond the traditional speaker session? A workshop, a hackathon, a themed meetup, an outdoor event, a contribution sprint… we want to hear about it.
This series exists to give other organizers real examples, not just theory. If your meetup has something worth sharing, get in touch with us. We’ll reach out with a few short questions and take it from there.
The more formats we document, the easier it gets for every organizer to try something new!
Props to Jesse Mwangi @aquila20 for sharing their experience (and photos!) and making this post possible. Jesse is a web designer and digital marketer based in Nairobi who has been part of the WordPress world since 2016, organizing meetups, speaking at WordCamps, and contributing to translation efforts in Kiswahili. Head over to his profile to learn more about his contributions.
