Grants:Project/Rapid/Wikimedia Ghana User Group / Weekly training–editathons
gmail.com
Please see the sample Editathon/Training application before drafting your application.
Project Goals[edit]
Choose one or more of the following goals. You can add or delete goals as needed.
- The key goal is to recruit new editors and get them started on Wikipedia editing.
- The project will give existing editors who are motivated to edit through editathons/meet ups the opportunity to do so.
- Through the project, editors can create or improve Wikipedia articles especially those related to Ghanaian general election, 2016 coming up in December.
Project Plan[edit]
Activities[edit]
Tell us how you'll carry out your project. Be sure to answer the following questions:
1. Are you doing one editathon or training or a series of editathons or trainings?
This project will be carried out as a series of 2-hour combined training-editathons over 5 weeks – An hour of training and an hour of editing with a snack break in between.
The second hour of editing is the session which existing editors or repeat participants looking for motivation or improvement by asking questions or just looking to contribute can join.
2. How will you let your community know about the event? Please paste links below to where relevant communities have been notified of your proposal, and to any other relevant community discussions.
Relevant community invitations went out as early as May 2016 through the group's mailing list, Whatsapp group and social media platforms. Since May 2016, weekly meetings funded by individuals in the group have become nearly regular. The upcoming events will be announced in a similar manner.
This proposal will be shared with the targeted Ghanaian Wikimedia community wikimedia-gh@lists.wikimedia.org when it is out of draft status.
3. Do you have experienced Wikimedia editors to lead the event? Yes. Sandister Tei, an experienced editor since 2012 will volunteer to do the trainings along with another experienced editor Rexford Nkansah. Editor Mohammed Sadat has been invited to lead at least one session, which he has accepted.
4. Do participants have the equipment or skills needed to participate and contribute high-quality content? If not, how will you support them?
Participants will have to bring their own editing devices. The group is not budgeting to provide editing devices such as laptops and desktops.
Internet (which is also key) to hold events is donated by Broadcasting Board Of Governors (BBG) Office of Digital & Design Innovation of the Impact Hub Accra. They are also supplying us with the venue.
5. How will you engage participants after the event(s)?
Participants will be given the option to join the Wikimedia Ghana User Group which has regular meetings, and membership engagement through a Whatsapp group and mailing list.
Recruits are also not left by themselves. The standard practice has been for experienced editors to post how tos/ tips on the mailing list and Whatsapp group.
With the help of the multimedia messaging of Whatsapp, the community is able to help recruits edit and get assistance in real time, posting screenshots, voice notes, videos etc on how to get things done among other.
Global community announcements, especially from the Wikimedia Blog are also shared with recruits to help them get more insight on what the global community is about.
Members are allowed to take volunteer opportunities in the group based on their interests, plus represent group at local events.
6. Is there anything else you want to tell us about this project?
No
How will you know if the project is successful and you've met your goals? Please include the following targets:
- Number of events – 5
- Number of participants – 10 participants per event = (6 new editors per event + 4 existing members/repeat participants)
- Number of new editors – 6 new editors per event x 5 events = 30
- Number of articles created or improved – 5 per event x 8 events = 40
- Number of repeat participants (for projects that include a series of events) – The project will expect about 4 repeat participants each weekend.
NB. Trainers are excluded from the number of participants
We have also made it a standard practice for participants to download the Wikipedia app (It's really great right now). We are targeting about 5 app downloads per training (if participants have compatible phones)
Resources[edit]
What resources do you have? Include information on who is organizing the project, what they will do, and if you will receive support from anywhere else (in-kind donations or additional funding).
Resources have been listed below:
Volunteers: The project has Sandister Tei, Rexford Nkansah and Mohammed Sadat – two Wikipedians experienced both in editing and holding trainings and editathons to handle sessions.
The project also has Justice Okai-Allotey and Georgina Ofori-Dwumfuo who will take turns each weekend to handle food and drinks and social media.
Space: Space and internet to hold events is donated by Broadcasting Board Of Governors (BBG) Office of Digital & Design Innovation of the Impact Hub Accra
Awards: We are still in talks with a local sponsor to award the best participants at the end of the project.
MTN Ghana whose parent company has supported Wikipedia Zero from the global foundation level has also given the group 2 smartphones and an internet mi-fi as prizes for participants at the end of projects. That's lots of motivation.
What resources do you need? For your funding request, list bullet points for each expense and include a total amount.
- Food and drinks for 12 participants and trainers each week = GHC132
– GHC132 x 5 weekly events = GHC660 = $165
- Transport for 3 trainers/volunteers per event= GHC30 x 3 volunteer/trainer = GHC90
– GHC90 x 5 events = GHC450 = $112.5
- Internet for trainers and volunteers = GHS143 (for mi-fi device and data till end of program) x 3 = GHC429 = $107.25
Endorsements[edit]
Community members are encouraged to endorse your project request here!
- It's a great project which is going to help other readers find relevant information on Ghana's 2016 elections. – Owula kpakpo (talk) 14:17, 11 October 2016 (UTC)
- Project has good potential. —M@sssly✉ 13:40, 13 October 2016 (UTC)
- This will help get more editors in Ghana to contribute local contents to wikipedia. – Noahalorwu (talk) 13:21, 31 October 2016 (UTC)
- This project will be great for both newbies and experienced editors. Newbies will get first hand experience and old editors will refresh them selves if they have been busy of late. - Jaward
- I can say from experience that editathons are great ways to learn as a new editor. This project is going to be great for participants and the general public alike. - SitsofeOfori
- Help me gain deep insights into wikipedia and enable me create quality content. Desmond Tawiah (talk) 14:26, 1 November 2016 (UTC)
- It's a great project which is going to help other readers find relevant information on Ghana's 2016 elections. Owula kpakpo (talk) 16:20, 1 November 2016 (UTC)
- There is no other effective means to get hands-on edit lessons/experience as a beginner when skilled editors are with you in person. Maaddae (talk) 19:15, 1 November 2016 (UTC)
Participants[edit]
- Existing members who would like to participate can list their usernames below
- Volunteer Provide any assistance needed Desmond Tawiah (talk) 14:40, 1 November 2016 (UTC)
- Volunteer Buy the food and drinks and do social media updates and upload photos of events to Commons. I will also help participants in case they need editing guidance. Owula kpakpo (talk) 16:20, 1 November 2016 (UTC)