One of the most wonderful times of the year has started, and I couldnโt be more excited! ๐
Applications for the AWS Community Builders program opened for the 2026 intake on January 7, and to help you craft an outstanding application, a group of incredible AWS Community Builders held sessions around the globe, andโฆ in multiple languages! ๐ฅฐ
Why become an AWS Community Builder?
As an AWS Community Builder, youโll have access to some truly amazing benefits, including:
๐ซ Exclusive learning opportunities with AWS experts, plus resources to supercharge your content creation
๐ซ AWS credits for personal projects, certification vouchers, and, of course, some epic swag
๐ซ And the best part: a global community of 3,000+ builders, AWS Heroes and AWS superstars โ including Jason Dunn, Farrah Campbell, Elizabeth Fuentes Leone, Shafraz Rahim, Nelly Andrade, Carol Milanez, Carolina Araujo, Derek Bingham ๐ฅ, Mouna Neelakanta, Ridhima Kapoor, Corey Strausman, Gunnar Grosch, Mike Chambers, Darko Mesaroลก, Aaron Hunter, Alejandra Bricio, Hazel Saenz, Brooke Jamieson, Jeff Barr, Maish Saidel-Keesing, Uliana Cรกceres ๐บ๐ฆ, Natalia Stones**, and many more โ all united by one goal: your success! ๐
What is the program?
The AWS Community Builders Program is a global initiative designed to empower AWS enthusiasts to connect, learn, and share knowledge with the wider technical community.
Who can apply?
The program is open to technical content creators (18+) of all experience levels, backgrounds, and technical areas.
You donโt need to be an AWS expert or a senior professional (I applied when I was a graduate)!
You should definitely consider applying if you are someone who:
- Learns and builds on AWS (or is eager to start)
- Already shares knowledge through articles, blogs, videos, podcasts, talks, or open-source contributions (especially during 2025)
- Actively contributes to a tech community
๐ If this sounds like you, your place is here with us!
Helpful resources before you apply
Iโm not going to reinvent the wheel here. At the end of this article, youโll find:
- Recordings of all the sessions we hosted worldwide (many in local languages)
- Links to my favorite articles about the program
Everything you need to feel confident and prepared to apply and join us as an AWS Community Builder! ๐ก
And finallyโฆ my golden advice ๐
โจ Take the time you need to craft a stellar application โจ
Applications opened on January 7 and typically remain open for about two weeks.
This is not about who submits first. It's about who submits best.
๐ Focus on strong, thoughtful answers. Use the STAR method to structure your responses.
Tell your story: who you are, why you contribute to the community, how you make an impact, and donโt be afraid to show your passion for helping others.
๐ Choose impactful examples. Ask mentors, mentees, or role models for guidance to identify your most meaningful and well-produced content.
Submitting examples is a crucial step. Donโt skip it!
AWS looks closely at quality, accuracy, consistency, and impact, so choose wisely.
Wrapping up ๐
Take your time, prepare your application with care (and love ๐), and explore the resources below to craft a remarkable submission.
๐ And when you are ready to apply... Click here!
I canโt wait to see you joining us soon in the AWS Community Builders channel as one of the new members! ๐๐ซ๐คฉ๐
๐ Live sessions about the AWS Community Builders
(And a dream team of AWS Community Builders role models you definitely should follow and connect with!**)
๐ค In English:
๐ Africa - Thelma Laryea, Fatima Aruna, Endah Bongo-Awah, Omshree Butani, and me. ๐ Review the announcement here!
๐ Europe - Darya Petrashka, Endah Bongo-Awah, ๐Anda-Catalina Giraud, Elizabeth Adรฉgbajรบ, Nagaswetha Mudunuri, Anton Antanovich, and me. ๐ Watch it here!
๐ India - Abinaya S V, Jeevitha Murugan, Omshree Butani, Poonam Pratik Patel, Pooja Ranjan, Varsha Verma โ๏ธ, and me. ๐ Watch it here!
๐ NAMER - Bansi Delwadia, Jenn Bergstrom, Amelia Hough-Ross, Darya Petrashka, Joanne Skiles, PhD, Margaret Valtierra, and me. ๐ Watch it here!
๐ Oceania - Dale Orders, Olga Shabalina, Christina Chen, Natalia Nam, Mai Nishitani, Stephen Sennett, and me. ๐ Watch it here!
๐ In multiple languages:
๐ Brazil (Portuguese) - Amanda Silva de Souza, Lays Rodrigues, Amaury Borges Souza, Flรกvio Pimenta, Felipe (KiKo) de Freitas Campos, Dan Rezende, and me. ๐ Watch it here!
๐ LATAM (Spanish) - Verรณnica Rivera, Sary Libreros, Brenda Galicia, and Carolina Herrera Monteza . ๐ Watch it here!
๐ China (Chinese) - XIAOFEI LI, RURU Cheng, ZHITONG LIU and Christina Chen. ๐ Watch it here!
๐ Israel (Hebrew) - Eyal Estrin โ, Orel Bello, Rotem Levi โ๏ธ, Yedidya Schwartz, and Ophir Zahavi. ๐ Watch it here!
๐ Egypt - UAE (Arabic) - Asmaa Elalfy, Abdelrahman Ahmed ๐ต๐ธ, Mahmoud Abdelrahman, Noureldin Ehab and Mohamed Rizk. ๐ Watch it here!
๐ Some of my favorite articles:
- What Is The AWS Community Builders Program And How To Apply - Bhavesh Gohel
- Future AWS Community Builder Step by Step Guide ๐ - Shafraz Rahim
- Becoming an AWS Community Builder: End-to-End Guide - Omshree Butani
- 2026 AWS Community Builders - How to fill in the application form - Darya Petrashka
You can also find this article on my LinkedIn articles session, where all the incredible AWS Community Builders and AWS employees mentioned here are tagged**.
This article was originally published on my blog, suzanamelo.com, where I write about cloud, AWS, AI, and what it actually takes to change careers in tech.
