Benjamin Zekavica receives the Yoast Care fund for his contribution to the WordPress community

Meet Benjamin Zekavica, a valued member of the WordPress Core Team! JB Audras nominated him for the Yoast Care fund because of his commitment and valuable contributions to the community. Let’s learn more about this passionate WordPress enthusiast.

Nominator JB Audras: “After successfully completing the WordPress Core Mentoring Program, Benjamin, at just 26 years old, became one of three WordPress Core Team Representatives. His dedication to the team’s work is impressive, and he does valuable work to drive the daily life of the WordPress Core team. He also actively contributes to the development of the Gutenberg project and has already contributed to almost every WordPress contribution team, as evidenced by his profile page. Since Benjamin is not sponsored for his volunteer work in the WordPress project, I would like to recognize his dedication and nominate him for the Yoast Care Fund.”

Let’s get to know Benjamin Zekavica

Those are some lovely words by JB. Let’s get to know Benjamin a bit better and ask him some questions about his work and passion for WordPress:

Benjamin, how did you first discover WordPress, and why did you start contributing?

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been super creative. I loved crafting things and was fascinated by computers and the technology behind them. My brother was also very artistic and used to compose his own music on the computer using different programs. When I was around 11, I was amazed by what he was doing. I’d often watch him play around with Photoshop and a website builder, and that sparked my curiosity to explore the digital world myself. I started experimenting on his computer, though we often argued over whose turn it was. Luckily, he was kind enough to let me use it most of the time. I was especially drawn to animated websites and always wanted to learn how to recreate them. Thanks to the many tutorials available online at the time, I started learning HTML and CSS and built my first websites.

One day, I had the idea to create a game review site. But I quickly realized how annoying it was to constantly edit HTML files and copy them over. While doing research, I stumbled upon the concept of a Content Management System. At first, it was overwhelming, but the idea of managing dynamic websites from one place really excited me. I tried several CMS platforms, but as an 11-year-old, most of them were just too complicated; creating a single page felt like clicking through 10 different menus. Then I discovered WordPress. I was blown away by how user-friendly the backend was, plus all the free and premium themes and plugins. I started learning PHP and digging into how WordPress worked. Never did I imagine it would become such a big part of my life.

By the time I was 15, I knew WordPress inside and out. During internships, I worked on real client sites, and even professionals were impressed that I could hold my own in conversations with experienced developers. Eventually, I started noticing bugs in WordPress, and instead of just complaining in the forums, I decided to fix them myself. I loved the idea that anyone could contribute to this open-source software.

What continues to inspire me is the incredible WordPress community, with its wealth of documentation and support that makes contributing so accessible. The appreciation from fellow community members has kept me motivated to stay involved ever since.

What’s one WordPress-related goal you have for this year?

This year, I have the opportunity to learn and contribute as a Core Team Rep, and I’m truly excited about it. My goal is to better understand the workflows within the Core Team and the release process while getting more involved in Core contributions myself.

What matters most to me in this role is encouraging both new and existing contributors to take a more active part in shaping WordPress. I want to help strengthen the community and contribute to securing the future of WordPress together.

What advice would you give to someone just starting with WordPress?

Clear advice: join this amazing community! Engaging with other members not only helps you grow personally but also brings valuable experiences that will benefit you later in life. You can also make valuable connections that could lead to job offers and new career opportunities.

Participating in WordCamps and Meetups has personally advanced me in many ways. The Contributor Day, in particular, is a fantastic opportunity not only to work on the future of WordPress but also to exchange experiences with experienced developers and other community members.

I’m convinced that WordCamps offer far more effective training for employees in companies than expensive workshops. Here, you don’t just learn in a hands-on way, but you also have the chance to speak directly with Team Reps and experts during the Contributor Day and ask questions – a unique opportunity to learn from the best.

What’s your favorite WordPress memory or something you’re most proud of?

My highlight has definitely been last year and this year. I had the amazing opportunity to contribute as Design Lead for WordPress 6.5, and now, I’m excited to serve as a Core Team Rep alongside Francesca Marano and JB Audras.

I really value this responsibility and feel incredibly fortunate to have the chance to learn and grow in such an important role. I’m also looking forward to WordCamp Europe 2025 in Basel. It’s a thrilling opportunity to speak at such a major WordPress event and inspire others.

Where can people connect with you online, at WordCamps, or other meetups?

I’m always open to questions via Slack, my website, and LinkedIn. However, I find personal contact to be the most rewarding. I live in Aachen, Germany, I attend WordCamps within Germany whenever my schedule allows. WordCamp Europe, though, is a must-attend event for me, and I never miss it.

I’ll be attending again this year and am really looking forward to meeting many participants and reconnecting with friends and familiar faces.

Thank you for this interview, Benjamin, and all your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Benjamin Zekavica who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.