Open data activists and experts shared their best open data failures in a “Fail Festival.” on February 23 in Kyiv.

Andrii Gazin, open data activist, mentioned that this format of a “stand up comedy” was chosen for the reason that when open data experts get together, they only report the success stories and implemented projects but never talk about what hasn’t worked out and why. Thus, if those who work with open data in Ukraine would share their negative experiences with the colleagues, these experiences could be turned into lessons to improve the work in the future.

Four speakers were talking about their open data misadventures: Vadym Gudyma, digital security trainer for journalists, former manager of “Open Data Portal of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine”, Ruslana Velychko-Tryfoniuk. coordinator of the “Dani mist” project by Civil Network OPORA and TechSoup, Olexii Sobolev, Project Leader at ProZorro. Продажі, advisor to Minister of infrastructure, Oleksii Vyskub, Deputy Head of State Agency for Electronic Governance.

Speakers told the audience about the real-life adventures with open data and started a discussion with the guests of the event. Such comic format of “My best open data failure” offered a possibility to look at own missteps ironically which in its turn will strengthen the open data community and will help learn from previous mistakes.

We invite you to watch the footage of the event on our YouTube channel – much good humor guaranteed!

This event was the first one of the series of public events, aimed at strengthening the open data society in Ukraine that we will hold together with “Data Journalism Agency” (Texty.org.ua). Stay tuned to our Facebook page and the website!