CEE/Newsletter/October 2025
| CEE Newsletter |
|---|
| Subscribe |
| About |
| Volume 5 (2025) |
| Volume 4 (2024) |
| Volume 3 (2023) |
| Volume 2 (2018) |
| Volume 1 (2017) |
Editorial: Milestones, Meetings, and Movement in CEE
As the summer fades and autumn arrives, the CEE region continues to show remarkable energy and creativity.
This issue highlights the successful CEE Meeting 2025 in Thessaloniki, where Wikimedians came together to share knowledge and build friendships. We also learned the Steering Committee election results and the location of the next CEE Meeting. We celebrate two milestones in this issue: 10 years of the Albanian User Group and Wiki Loves Earth surpassing one million uploaded images.
We are happy to announce a new feature to the CEE Newletter: the Learning Corner, where articles marked as “learning” highlight case studies and best practices. This month we bring two inspiring examples:
- “Let’s GLAM Together” – a reflection on how a family archive grew into one of the largest GLAM projects in Russia.
- “Wikipedia Press Handbook” – a collaborative effort to create a newsroom primer on ethical journalism, with plans for localization across the CEE region.
If you have learnings or good case practices to share, whether inspired by CEEM talks or your own hands-on experience, try out the new Learning Corner by choosing “learning” as your article type.
This summer, Wikimedia Armenia hosted their signature WikiCamps and launched new projects like “Interesting Wiki” and “Wikipedia for Freedom.” In Albania and Kosovo, edit-a-thons, collaborations with cultural institutions, and the WPWP campaign enriched content and strengthened ties with youth groups. Meanwhile, Macedonia and Serbia continued their active programs with new expeditions, GLAM partnerships, and educational initiatives.
The first international edition of Wiki Loves Film 2025, supported by the CEE Hub, brought cinema heritage to Wikipedia, engaging dozens of participants in creating and improving hundreds of articles and uploading film-related photos.
Happy reading!
Jan Beránek
editor of the CEE Newsleter
- Thank you, CEE Meeting 2025 in Thessaloniki!
We were thrilled to finally see many of you at the CEE Meeting 2025 in Thessaloniki, Greece! The conference was packed with engaging sessions, and the CEE Hub was excited to host several discussions, including:
- State of the CEE region, an analysis of the Wikimedia CEE trends.
- CEE Spring discussions to plan for the next edition.
- CEE Hub Year 4 workshop to ensure your feedback is included in our next year plan.
- A tools overview session prepared by the Hub's Technical Advancement Group.
- A discussion panel about Rapid Grants, as the CEE Hub is now officially in charge of this project.
- The What's next for the CEE region session which featured an introduction to the Hub’s Year 4 focus areas and announcement of the new Steering Committee members.
- New Steering Committee elected!
We are excited to announce the results of the Steering Committee elections! The new team of the CEE Hub governing body is made of the following individuals:
- Toni Sant - Chair (Malta)
- Başak Tosun - Vice-chair (Türkiye)
- Klára Joklová (Wikimedia Czech Republic)
- Strainu (Wikimedians of Romania and Moldova User Group)
- Iglika Ivanova (Bulgaria)
- Gorana Gomirac (Wikimedia Serbia)
- Shahen Araboghlian (Wikimedians of Western Armenian Language User Group)
- Vera Pelhan (Wikipedians of Slovenia User Group)
- Armen Mirzoyan (Armenia)
- Mārtiņš Bruņenieks (Wikimedians of Latvia User Group)
Read more about the Steering Committee composition and responsibilities: Wikimedia CEE Hub/Steering Committee.
- Where are we travelling for the CEE Meetings 2026 & 2027?
We are delighted to announce the CEEM 2026 & 2027 hosts, which were revealed during the CEE Meeting 2025:
- CEE Meeting 2026 will be hosted in Cluj-Napoca,
Romania, organized by the Wikimedians of Romania and Moldova User Group - CEE Meeting 2027 will be hosted in Gdańsk,
Poland, organized by Wikimedia Polska
Congratulations to the winning teams, and CEE you in Cluj-Napoca!
Read more about the CEEM 2026 & 2027 bidding process: Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2026 & 2027 bidding process.
- CEE Youth Group autumn gathering
The most active members of the CEE Youth Group will be having their annual in-person meeting in the second half of November! This year, the gathering will be hosted by Wikimedia Armenia in Yerevan, Armenia. We're working on the program to ensure the meeting is a successful kick-off for exciting youth-led initiatives in the upcoming year.
- Supporting community initiatives
- Microgrants: The Microgrants programme funded a Filling the Gaps: Western Armenian Wikipedia Edit-a-thon project of Wikimedians of Western Armenian Language User Group, as well as Northern Cyprus team of members initiative Cyprus Museums: Preserving Heritage, Sharing Knowledge.
- Sofia Information Integrity Forum 2025: We continue supporting the Bulgarian community in organizing a Wikimedia session track for the upcoming Sofia Information Integrity Forum in November, focusing on agenda content and logistics.
- Russian Language Events: We supported organising an online session on AI in Wikimedia on September 1, and the recording is as always available at the bottom of the project page. We are currently preparing a survey to better understand the needs of the Russian-speaking community to plan future sessions, with the next meeting scheduled for November 4.
- New to newsletter – the Learning Corner
Together with the CEE Newsletter Editor-in-Chief, Jan Beránek we are introducing a new category for community-submitted articles: the Learning Corner. This dedicated section will feature articles sharing good practices, case studies, and experiences regarding events, contests, and partnerships, aiming to encourage knowledge and experience exchange across the region.
- Stay updated
As always, you can follow CEE Hub news and important updates on:
.svg)
Curious to hear more about the CEE Hub staff updates? Follow our News & Updates page, where we share our monthly highlights!
Hosted for the first time in Greece by the Wikimedia Community User Group Greece, the conference brought energy and enthusiasm to every corner of the venue. The programme included engaging sessions on strategy, community growth, and technical projects, but just as important were the countless conversations in hallways, coffee breaks, and evening walks through Thessaloniki. These informal moments sparked new ideas, new partnerships, and renewed motivation to keep building free knowledge together.
The spirit of the CEE community shone brightly: people shared not only their successes but also their challenges, supporting each other with advice, encouragement, and solidarity. By the end of the meeting, participants left with concrete plans, fresh perspectives, and stronger ties within the network. During the meeting it was announced that the next Wikimedia CEE Meeting, will take place in Cluj Napoca, Romania, and also the next CEE Hub Steering Committee.
We are grateful to everyone who joined us in Thessaloniki—your voices, your stories, and your commitment made this event truly special. The CEE Meeting 2025 reminded us once again that while each of us works locally, we are united in a regional and global movement that thrives on collaboration and trust.
More than 820 photos and videos have been already uploaded to Commons (Category:Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2025). For participants, the Wikimedia Commons app may be useful for you to upload your cee meeting images and videos effortlessly. We are particularly interested in videos and photos from moments other than the actual session: gatherings of Wikimedians, collaboration, fun, moments of relaxation. If you want to share your videos and photos but not on Commons, send them to our email: wmceem2025@wikimedia.gr.
As we keep telling people, the organizers’ work doesn’t end when the conference does—it just mutates into its final form: endless emails, reports, and spreadsheets. Basically, the afterparty nobody asked for. :-) It would make us especially happy if you made a small personal video clip of 20-60 seconds where you would tell us your impressions of the meeting. You can do it right now!
Until we meet again—thank you for being part of this journey!
- Contests in October & November 2025
- September ― October: Wiki Loves Monuments ― The world's largest photo competition focused on cultural heritage and historical sites is running until the end of the month! This is your last chance to contribute images of national monuments and help document global history.
- November ― December: Wiki Science Competition (WSC) ― Get your cameras ready for science! This competition encourages the contribution of scientific media, including photos, videos, and graphics across categories like People in Science, Microscopy, and Nature.
- Upcoming meetings & conferences in October & November 2025
- October 11 – 12, Kyiv, Wikiconference 2025 – The 15th Ukrainian conference on Wikipedia, wiki projects, and free knowledge, organized by Wikimedia Ukraine. The conference included online sessions on October 4 – 5. Both the online days and Kyiv conference are streamed live on Wikimedia Ukraine’s YouTube channel.
- October 31 – November 2, online: WikidataCon 2025 – The main conference for all things Wikidata is back! This event brings together data enthusiasts, reusers, and community builders, with a hybrid in-person and online format.
- Looking Ahead to 2026
- Wikimania 2026 – Mark your calendars! The 21st annual international conference is set for July 21–25, 2026, in Paris, France, and will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of Wikipedia.
- Past meetings & conferences
- Wikimania 2025 – 20th Wikimedia conference hosted in Nairobi, Kenya between August 6–9, connected with celebration of Wikimania's 20th anniversary.
Media related to Wikimania 2025 at Wikimedia Commons - Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2025 – an annual conference centered on Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia and other related projects) in countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The 2025 meeting was organised by Wikimedia UG Greece in Thessaloniki, Greece on September 26–28. Media related to CEE Meeting 2025 at Wikimedia Commons
- From webinars to conferences: Wikimedia Ukraine’s approach to events for educators, August 2025, Wikimedia Ukraine
- Scientific Contribution from Serbia: Wikipedia in Education Research Published in a Prestigious Journal, August 2025, Wikimedia Serbia
- Various programmes up and rolling with Charles University Prague, July 2025, Wikimedia Czech Republic
- Celebrating a month of Albanian cultural heritage and GLAM collaborations, August 2025, Wikimedians of Albanian Language User Group
- Creative challenges and new partnerships: Highlights from Wikimedia MKD, August 2025, Wikimedia MKD
- Wikimedia Poland continues the work with GLAM and Education partners, August 2025, Wikimedia Poland
- GLAM activities: Collaboration with libraries in Albania, July 2025, Wikimedians of Albanian Language User Group
- Digitalizing cultural heritage and promoting the Serbian language on Wikisource, July 2025, Wikimedia Serbia
- New Wikimedia chapter – Welcome, Wikimedia Georgia!
We are excited to celebrate the official recognition of Wikimedia Georgia as the newest Wikimedia Chapter! This article details their inspiring journey from the CEE Meeting 2014 to achieving Chapter status, highlighting their community-building efforts through WikiCamps and strategic partnerships. This is a fantastic success story from our own region!
- AI and human rights – A new assessment
The Wikimedia Foundation has published a Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) on the interaction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) with Wikimedia projects. This critical deep-dive explores the potential human rights risks and opportunities of these technologies, ensuring that AI serves people and that knowledge remains human.
- Wikimania 2025 – A celebration of people and connections (CEE perspective)
Travel with Mari, a Wikimedian from Armenia for a powerful, personal reflection on the Nairobi conference. The author shares inspiring stories of meeting Wikimedians from around the world and what CEE communities can learn from the vibrant youth engagement showcased by African communities.
- The Wikimedia Foundation's latest transparency report
Staying informed about policy and advocacy is important for all communities. This post offers the latest updates from the Wikimedia Foundation's Transparency Report, covering their work on public policy, advocacy, and legal challenges to protect the mission of free knowledge globally.
- Embracing openness in African libraries
This piece explores initiatives in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana focused on open licensing and digitization to connect African libraries with open knowledge. While focusing on Africa, the article offers excellent examples of GLAM/Library partnerships and practices that can inspire similar initiatives across the CEE region.
- Tech News – Updates for editors
Always stay updated on the technical changes impacting your editing experience! This edition of Tech News provides quick, essential summaries of the latest updates coming from the Wikimedia technical community, ensuring you know about important changes and new features.
- Read more: Tech News 2025, week 32
- [APPLY NOW] Wikimania 2026 Travel Scholarships open!
- The application period for a Wikimania Travel Scholarship to attend the 2026 conference in Paris is currently open.
- Deadline to apply: Friday, October 31, 2025
- APPLY HERE
- [OPEN CALL] Wikipedia 25 grants open for applications!
- As we approach Wikipedia's 25th anniversary, this grant program supports ambitious, high-impact projects that promote and expand the reach of Wikipedia globally. This is a unique opportunity to secure funding for innovative ideas.
- Deadline to apply: November 1, 2025
- APPLY AND FIND ALL DETAILS HERE
- [SURVEY] Help shape the future topicys of Russian Language Events
- The Russian Language Events initiative is a series of meetings covering topics relevant to Russian-language communities in Wikimedia CEE.
- Organizers want to hear from you: What topics are relevant to your Wikimedia work? What problems do you face? Share your needs and ideas for future meetings!
- FILL IN THE SURVEY HERE
- [REGISTER] Russian Language Event: "Big Brother is Watching You: Digital Security in Wikimedia"
- November 4, 18:00 CET - This webinar, held in Russian for Russian-language speakers, focuses on digital safety and security best practices for Wikimedians. Check the event page for the exact time and registration details.
- REGISTER AND FIND DETAILS HERE
- [CALL FOR INPUT] Help co-create the Wikipedia Press Handbook
- The Wikipedia Press Handbook: A Guide for Ethical Journalism is being developed for translation and distribution across the CEE region. It aims to tackle common misconceptions about Wikipedia in newsrooms. Your insights on local media landscapes are invaluable for making this guide effective!
- REVIEW THE DOCUMENT AND CONTRIBUTE HERE
- [REGISTER] Join us at the next CEE Hub Office Hours:
- October 7, 18:00 CEST - REGISTER HERE
- November 5, 18:00 CET - REGISTER HERE
- [CONSULTATION] Share your thoughts on the future of Sister Projects
- The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking community input on the future strategy and support model for smaller Wikimedia projects (known as Sister Projects). This is a crucial consultation that will guide future resource allocation and support.
- READ THE RFC AND LEAVE YOUR INPUT HERE
- [OPEN CALL] Ongoing open call for CEE Hub Microgrants programme - APPLY HERE
- By: Lvova
146 reels of mixed-up film turned into images, mostly taken by my father, and I learned much more about what he was interested in and how he traveled. At first I thought he was traveling all the time and only to completely unknown places. At that stage I started working with https://pastvu.com/ — a photo archive that cares less about license purity (which allowed me to upload some archival pictures not suitable for Wikimedia Commons because of doubts about my father’s authorship or copyrighted sculptures in the frame), and more about coordinates and dates for each photo. The site is not really designed for such volumes, but in three weeks I more or less finished the upload there. Thanks to the site’s community of “photo detectives,” I was able to identify many new locations, refine dates for dozens of reels, and correct earlier mistakes (for example, I realized that about ten reels were in fact one long trip along the Volga — and I no longer had to envy a perpetually traveling Soviet man). Some examples of how these amazing people date photos include:
- “These containers were for MV-10 garbage trucks, produced until the mid-1950s, and were in use until about 1962.”
- “These lamps in the Kremlin appeared only in 1972–73, and already in 1977–78 they were replaced with shorter ones, also for fluorescent tubes. Before 1972 there were double white globes on the poles. I would date this photo 1973–75.”
- “May 1, 1965 was colder than May 1, 1964. The average temperature was +3°C, maximum +4.9°C. On May 1, 1964 the average was +9.6°C, maximum +13.9°C.”
Practically the whole archive ended up sorted into categories on Wikimedia Commons. To be honest, I was hoping that this could be done right away by Wikimedians outside the small community of North-West Russia Wiki-Historians User Group themselves, but since it wasn’t — I can recommend this site to other project participants who struggle with determining the locations and dates of photos taken before 2000.
The next step in reworking the archive is https://fleetphoto.ru/, an illustrated database of ships. My father was a ship designer and photographed vessels a lot. This database has already helped identify some pictures (if a ship’s name is visible, you can find its home port and then search for nearby buildings in surrounding photos), and I hope it will help with the rest — while I also contribute rare images to the project that has already helped me.
In addition, the material part of the archive grew with photographs of interesting documents and certificates. Many of these items will be donated to a museum, since they are not directly connected with my family, and I believe that’s the best way to honor the people whose belongings I inherited. And from the Wikimedia Commons point of view, photographing museum exhibits outside museum conditions (without glare and shadows) is more than convenient.
Even though much has been identified thanks to specialized communities, I still hope for help from Wikimedians, because categozisation is an infinitive task, and perhaps someone will want to help with processing documents, many of which are currently uploaded in draft quality with a color scale. The knowledge has already been made free — and now it depends on the community how clean and accessible it will become.
- By: Pelajanela (talk)
Its primary function is to draw a clear distinction between Wikipedia and commercial social media platforms with regard to who controls the content and between co-creating encyclopedia articles and journalistic practices under a top-down editorial policy. That distinction is crucial in an environment where the public's trust in online information is low.
The guide tackles common misconceptions and provides journalists with factual and nuanced information. That can prevent the publication of stories based on false premises, which generate unwarranted negative publicity. Although in some cases such episodes pass without serious consequences, in others, especially when the targets are more vulnerable communities (operating in conditions of acute deficits in media literacy, responsible journalism, and media freedom), such campaigns can cause serious real-world harm.
By showcasing Wikipedia’s model, the handbook offers a positive counter-narrative to the opaque, algorithm-driven world of social media and the toxic presence of media outlets that, instead of journalism in the public interest, serve political purposes. Accurate reporting on this model can help restore a degree of faith that collaborative, knowledge-building projects are possible and valuable.
The guide was presented at a discussion session during CEEM 2025 in Thessaloniki. Now, in the true spirit of Wikipedia, all members of the CEE communities are invited to review the document and contribute. Your insights on local media landscapes and specific regional challenges are invaluable for making this guide effective.
- By: Mari Avetisyan
Teens' Summer WikiCamp
On July 5-12, Wikimedia Armenia organized its long-awaited Teens’ Summer WikiCamp. There were 75 applicants for the WikiCamp; however, the participants were chosen based on their annual activity and the quality of articles; as a result, 45 teenagers were selected to take part in the WikiCamp.
The participants were divided into 5 groups, which were competing with each other through edits on Armenian Wikipedia, as well as sports, intellectual, and cultural games. Each group had its team leader (an adult), as well as a wiki assistant who was checking their articles and helping out with questions. The organizing team also included a doctor who was there for emergencies and first aid (if needed).
Throughout the seven days, 45 teenagers created articles from specific lists provided by Wikimedia Armenia. Overall, they translated 605 articles and contributed 14,308,344 bytes to Armenian Wikipedia.
As usual, WikiCamp was full of games: participants played dodgeball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, and “Fort Wiki”. A “Brain Ring” intellectual game was also organized for the participants. The groups prepared performances, and this time the task was to perform a scene from popular animated movies.
Hayk Freestyle, a famous Armenian sports blogger, paid a visit to the WikiCamp on the first day. He showed his unique ability to spin a ball on his finger, and he taught the participants how to do it. The best ones received a t-shirt as a gift, which was prepared by Hayk Freestyle. Afterwards, the campers, the team leads, and Hayk played a football game.
The winner of this year’s sports, intellectual, and cultural competitions was the second group, which received gift cards from the Sportsmaster shop. With edits on Wikipedia, the winner was the fourth group, which received gift cards from the Yerevan Mall shopping center. The best editor of the Teens’ Summer WikiCamp was Davit Gabrielyan, an editor from Kirants WikiClub in Tavush region, Armenia.
Summer Youth WikiCamp
On August 9-16, Wikimedia Armenia organized Youth Summer WikiCamp. This time 40 participants joined the WikiCamp, out of which 11 newcomers. The organizing team comprised 10 people, including a doctor.
As usual, before the WikiCamp, a special training course was organized for the newcomers. 81 newcomers applied to participate in WikiCamp, and 26 of them joined the training courses designed for them. To make the training courses more efficient, they were separated into groups. For each group three-day training was held. During the training, newcomers were introduced to Wikipedia, the five pillars, structure of articles, editing tools, registered and created their sandboxes. On the second day of the training participants created their first articles translating them from foreign languages. During the courses, all participants created 32 articles. Based on their performance and the quality of the created articles, 11 newcomers were selected to take part in the Summer Youth WikiCamp.
During the WikiCamp, all participants were separated into four groups, as usual, competing with each other for edits on Armenian Wikipedia, and participated in sports, intellectual and cultural competitions.
Throughout the 7 days of the camp, participants concentrated on creating and improving articles from the list of vital articles. Each group had a wiki assistant who helped the group, answered their questions and checked their articles. Overall, 40 participants created 473 articles from the list of vital articles, making 19,654,358 bytes of contribution to Armenian Wikipedia.
Besides the editing hours which comprise the most important part of each day, participants also took part in different sports activities - dodgeball, table tennis, badminton. The groups competed in various contests: "The best cook", "Brain Ring", and performance. For "The best cook" contest, all groups were provided with the same ingredients and they prepared various dishes. The group which cooked the tastiest dish and served it in the most visually appealing way was the winner.
To make the camp fun and educational for young participants, a visit to Lake Sevan was organized. The "Altitude 1900" diving center hosted the participants and explained the nuances of diving and its purposes.
Even a modest initiative can make a big impact on the world of free knowledge. A great example is a recent microgrant awarded to Jan Polák, a dedicated member of our community, who set out on a documentation trip across the Vysočina region.
Jan took part in a gathering of Multicar vehicle owners near Komárovice. But his weekend adventure didn't stop there. He used the opportunity to photograph not only historic vehicles, but also dozens of locations and landmarks that had been missing from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.
His journey took him to the Tesla Museum in Třešť, the memorial to the traffic accident of Alexander Dubček, the Třešť railway station, and monuments in Luka nad Jihlavou. He even captured the scenic Řehoř Pond.
During the trip, I ended up taking a total of 468 photos for Wikipedia. — Jan Polák
Jan also documented notable graves in cemeteries in Humpolec and Luka nad Jihlavou, along with lesser-known features such as roadside crosses and an old telephone booth. All of his photographs are now available on Wikimedia Commons, enriching the visual content of our projects for all users.
In August–September, within the projects of the "Thematic Week" series, participants explored topics in Russian on Sweden, Cuba, Belize, Bali, Basra, Cabinda, Dordogne, Saratov, South Australia, Upper Egypt, Francoist Spain and Prémorska Charente. Some topics were not chosen for the first time, while a new project was created to focus on Australia and Oceania. Outside the "Thematic Weeks," work continued on writing articles about Iran as part of the Russia–Iran Wiki Collaboration (we tried to cover it in more detail on Diff) and on writing articles about streets — as a response to participants specializing in nominating street articles for deletion.
Interestingly, while Wikimedia conferences discuss ways to keep participants engaged in long-running and regular contests, the ruwiki community is more active in the project’s traditional events than in new ones (and, of course, participated in #WPWP and continues to participate in #WLM).
The morning part of the program introduced the work of Wikimedia Czech Republic, particularly the Seniors Write Wikipedia program and its connections with libraries, universities of the third age, and other partners. The presentation was led by Klára Joklová and Lucie Schubert.
After a joint lunch with the Wikimedia ČR team, lecturers, and senior editors, the group participated in an afternoon session in the format of a “living library.” Over tea and coffee, guests split into small groups and engaged in discussions with seniors, instructors, and Wikimedians in Residence from the National Library about their Wikipedia experiences.
The Taiwanese students were keen to learn how Czech seniors edit Wikipedia, what motivates them, and how they contribute to free knowledge. Simultaneous interpretation between English and Czech was available to help bridge the language barrier.
The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere and became a valuable moment of international exchange in the fields of education and community engagement.
- By: Gorana Gomirac
The Education Program wrapped up the Wikipedia in Schools project, prepared for the new academic year, and celebrated the publication of a scientific paper co-authored by program collaborators in the IJCRSEE journal. GLAM highlights included the GLAMorous Wikidata 3 campaign, a new partnership with the National Library “Vuk Karadžić". and preparations for the upcoming GLAM Wiki Conference in Lisbon. Within the Diversity Program, Wikimedia Serbia organized the Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos competition, the #WikiForHumanRights edit-a-thon, and prepared for new contests and the Wiki Loves Pride edit-a-thon.
Organizationally, quarterly project meetings and an Assembly session were also held.
At the global level, Wikimedia Serbia actively contributed to the Content Partnerships Hub strengthening its role in international collaboration and peer learning.
In addition, organizational changes took place: a new Office Manager joined the team, a call for a new Education Program Manager was launched, and a transition process for the Executive Director position was underway. The current Education Program Manager will move into the role of Program Manager for Culture and Science.
Education Program
- Wikimedia Serbia will participate at the Second International Congress “Wikimedia, Education and Digital Cultures”, which will be held in Mexico City in October. This congress is organized by Wikimedia Mexico and the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
- Wikipedia in Schools project was completed, in July, in all educational institutions with which Wikimedia Serbia had collaborated during the past school year. During the summer, activities included reviewing students’ and pupils’ contributions on Wikimedia projects, evaluating seminar papers from the current semester, calculating project metrics, and planning future activities starting in September 2025.
- In August, a scientific paper titled “Exploring Wikipedia Usage in Primary School Education: Students’ Experiences and Perspectives” was published in one of the leading international journals International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education (IJCRSEE). The authors of the paper are Wikimedia Serbia collaborators and participants in the Education Program: Đorđe Stakić, Marko Stanojević, Marija Tasić, and Aleksandar Damjanović. This contribution is especially significant as IJCRSEE is indexed in major international databases such as Web of Science and Scopus, and according to the categorization of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia, the paper belongs to category M22.
- An accredited seminar was held at the “Miloje Vasić” Secondary School in Veliko Gradište, where 28 teachers had the opportunity to learn about the possibilities of applying Wikimedia projects in teaching. Furthermore, continued cooperation was agreed with the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Belgrade within the framework of its internship program for master’s students.
GLAM Program
- In July, the GLAMorous Wikidata 3 campaign was held, dedicated to adding information about the cultural heritage of Serbia and the world to Wikidata. Participants added nearly 2,200 statements across 368 items and created 109 new items.
- A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed with the “Vuk Karadžić” National Library in Veliko Gradište, with a Wikipedian in residence project set to begin in September.
- Wikimedia Serbia received a scholarship to participate in the GLAM Wiki Conference in Lisbon, which will be held from October 30 to November 1.
- Wikimedia Serbia contributed on the application for the Content Partnerships Hub, and during Wikimania a presentation about the Hub was held in collaboration with Wikimedia Sweden.
Diversity Program
- During July and August, Wikimedia Serbia organized the Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos competition, a global initiative aimed at adding images to Wikipedia articles that lack illustrations.
- Quarterly meetings were held with leaders of external projects and microgrants. In addition, on July 19, the Thirty-Fourth Extraordinary Assembly session was held, attended by 13 regular members. The agenda included the adoption of the minutes from the previous session, changes in membership status, a decision on the dismissal and appointment of the Association’s legal representative, and a discussion on amendments to the Statute.
- As part of the #WikiForHumanRights campaign, an edit-a-thon was organized to increase the visibility of content on human rights, with this year’s focus on the right to a healthy and sustainable environment.
- In August, preparations began for a competition on Wikipedia on a topic chosen by editors through a community survey. The competition will run on Serbian Wikipedia from September 8th to October 8th.
- Also in August, preparations were made for the ninth annual Wiki Loves Pride edit-a-thon, which will take place from September 1st to 7th. Participants will have the opportunity to create and expand articles about notable queer figures, culture, history, and events, as well as to enrich Wikimedia Commons with photos from EuroPride and other LGBT+ events.
- By: Красный
With colleagues from Central Asia. An author is Zisiadis Nikolaos
Historically, the North-West Russia Wiki-Historians User Group has been underrepresented in the community of Central and Eastern European Wikimedians for various reasons. But this year we finally managed to send another representative to CEEM, in addition to Anastasia, who had attended the conferences before. Following the overall theme of the conference, “Crossroads of Knowledge”, we decided to stick to the traditional principle of the Novgorod veche — “to see others and show ourselves” — and focused our efforts on building connections with other communities within the Movement. In addition, we decided to spend a few extra days in Thessaloniki and organize some semi-spontaneous photowalks around the city.
Before the main conference, we attended the Learning Day, where participants were introduced to library and other catalogues, Wikidata, and ways to interlink different systems of structured data. Despite the interesting topics and very accessible presentations, both Nikolai and Anastasia already have sufficient experience both in editing Wikidata (over 10,000 edits each) and in working with library and archival catalogues — something that is much supported by the constant search for sources for Wikipedia articles. Therefore, after sharing the received materials with other participants and having more specialized conversations with the speakers during breaks, we decided that it would be much more effective to go for a short walk around the city, especially since a small company of equally experienced colleagues from the Georgian and Old Belarusian communities gathered for this purpose..
We focused on photographing general street views, industrial objects (for example, manhole covers), as well as vehicles, plants, and animals. Of particular note was the freight railway station (the so-called “old station”), where Wiki-Historians were able to talk with the station staff, examine the historic station building, and photograph some rather rare rolling stock in various conditions.
But the main part of the event for us, of course, was the conference itself. We managed to talk personally with most of the delegates, which took a lot of time and efforts. Although our positions on the discussed issues did not always coincide, we are glad to note that in person all discussions always remained constructive and aimed at finding compromise solutions — which, in our opinion, is one of the strengths of the Wikimedia Community.
Anastasia participated in the conference program committee, and together we also helped organize some sessions, one of which was directly dedicated to the activities of our user group and the current situation it is in. In addition, Anastasia helped organize the discussion on CEE Spring, hosted the WikiWomenLunch, and gave a short presentation on microfeminism, while Nikolai spoke about the program committee of Central Asian WikiCon. Although we could not attend everything we wanted to, we did participate in roundtables — for example, in the one organized by Eva Martin about the future of the Movement and Wikimedia projects. Experienced photographer Nikolai listened with great interest to Wojciech Pędzich’s talk on methods and techniques in photography. Posters were not ignored either: with the author of one of them, dedicated to “WikiScience” competition, Ivo Kruusamägi — we had a very detailed conversation about the subtleties of organizing this event.
We came to the close of the conference satisfied but tired — especially since Anastasia did not feel well during the event (like some other participants) and, at the request of the medics, spent part of the time in her hotel room. But our adventures in Macedonia did not end there: we still had three days left to visit various locations for the benefit of both ourselves and Wikimedia projects.
We have noticed that while Thessaloniki itself is well represented on Wikimedia Commons, the rest of the province's settlements cannot boast of this: most of them had no photos at all, or at best were illustrated with historical shots from the 20th century. Therefore, in addition to the initially planned visits to several protected natural areas, it was decided to photograph as many small settlements as possible. In addition to two delegates from our user group, colleagues from the Polish and Old Belarusian communities participated in the expeditions, as well as our long-time friend from Berlin, who contributed their views to the planning of routes and the results of trips. The latter, after spending time with Wikimedians, now plans to start editing Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects herself. During these trips, about a thousand photos were taken, most of which are still awaiting processing and upload — both within thematic photo contests and outside them.
North-West Russia Wiki-Historians are looking forward to meeting their colleagues again, including at CEEM in Romania next year, and hope that they have left only positive impressions with the organizers and participants.
-
Angelochori -
Mihaniona -
Previously absolitely not illustrated place Scholari -
Previously absolitely not illustrated place Stivos -
Accepted quality photo of a manhole cover in Katerini -
A tractor in the village of Lagdadika; the photo was accepted as the QI -
A view of Mount Olympus from the town of Litochoro, about which local historians plan to write a guidebook on Wikivoyage -
Previously illustrated mainly with photographs from the first quarter of the 20th century, the Asvestohori village (and the local historians' car in it) -
The previously unillustrated village of Loutra Volvis, near the protected natural area of Lake Volvis, photographs of which local historians will upload during Wiki Loves Earth
- By: MagdaBarascu
A journey of discovery on two wheels
Gikü’s talk captivated attendees with the story of how cycling became a vehicle—literally and figuratively—for cultural exploration. The Bike Quest invites participants to traverse Moldova’s scenic routes, uncovering and photographing historical monuments along the way. These images are then uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, enriching the global repository of free knowledge.
But this isn’t just a photo contest. It’s a movement.
“The Bike Quest competition wants to transform the exploration of Moldova into a collaborative and free adventure.”
Why the project stood out
The initiative drew praise across the wikimedians' community and beyond for its:
- Innovation: Promoting heritage through movement and photography
- Community Engagement: Actively involving local youth and cycling enthusiasts
- Impact: Making meaningful contributions to Wikimedia platforms
By blending sustainability, education, and adventure, Bike Quest redefines how we interact with cultural heritage.
The challenge is on!
From June 1 to September 30, 2025, the Bike Quest rolled out across Moldova, inviting photographers and adventurers to join the ride. It served as a dynamic prelude to the Wiki Loves Monuments Moldova photo contest, which officially kicked off on September 1 and ended on September 30, too.
Notably, the contest welcomed photos of monuments, regardless of their protected status, thereby broadening the scope of participation and discovery.
Gikü’s presentation at Wikimania was more than a showcase—it was a call to action. A reminder that heritage isn’t just something we preserve; it’s something we experience, share, and celebrate. And sometimes, the best way to do that is on two wheels.
Moldova awaits. Will you ride?
Wikivoyage editathon in Peshkopia, Albania
On September 20 2025, in collaboration with the Youth Center of Peshkopia, part of the municipality of Dibër, Albania, the Wikimedians of Albanian Language User Group organized a local Wikivoyage editathon. The idea was simple: we wanted to invite young people to explore Wikivoyage.
In the editathon, 13 young people from the Youth Center participated in editing Wikivoyage. They updated travel information on destinations in Albania, adding details on transportation, what to see, where to go, cultural points of interest, uploading pictures, and adding practical advice for visitors.
Why develop this editathon with the youth center in the northeastern city of Peshkopi?
By working on Wikivoyage with this youth center, we aimed to demonstrate how important it is to share not only history and culture, but also travel information that helps people discover this part of Albania. Doing the event with the local youth center made it more special, because it showed how Wikimedia projects can fit into places where young people already meet, bond, and socialize.
This collaboration shows how important it is to connect Wikimedia activities with youth in the community. It also shows that Wikivoyage can be a good way for new editors to share travel information about Albania. We plan to continue this work in the long run.
.jpg)
Wikipedia editathon at the Skampa Theater in Elbasan, Albania
On September 22, 2025, the stage of the Skampa Theater in Elbasan became, for one day, the space for editing and sharing knowledge on Wikipedia.
In collaboration with the Skampa Theater, Wikimedians of Albanian Language User Group organized an editathon dedicated to documenting the culture, art, and artists of Skampa Theater since its opening and early performance shows.
Within a day the local community created 13 articles and edited 44 articles about actors, performances, and the theater’s history, making sure that this cultural legacy of Elbasan is represented on Wikipedia. Participants came from different backgrounds, including students, theater’s employers, librarians, and theater’s spectators, and had the chance to learn how Wikipedia works, gaining skills to continue learning on their own in the future.
Once again, the collaborations with cultural institutions tell us the importance of preserving the collective memory.
.jpg)
Social media
- We have a public channel on WhatsApp of Albanian Language if you want to join and discuss Wikimedia projects.
If you want to see more about our activities, you canː
- Like our Facebook page, follow us on formerly Twitter or X or Instagram.
- By: Velkovski.b
This report highlights several key events and collaborations held in July and August 2025, including the "Film" edit-a-thon as part of the global #WikiLovesFilm initiative, a thematic editing session on "Lakes" with the Wiki Club Kumanovo, an impactful partnership with the MakeDox Creative Documentary Film Festival, participation in the Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos campaign, and a comprehensive Wikiexpedition to Struga and the Karaorman region.
Each activity brought together individuals of various ages, backgrounds, and experience levels — united by a shared commitment to expanding access to free and reliable knowledge in the Macedonian language.
Edit-a-thon "Film"
On August 18, 2025, an edit a thon on the topic of "Film" was organized, as part of the international initiative #WikiLovesFilm. This event was an opportunity for all lovers of film, culture and free knowledge to contribute their texts and help enrich the content of Wikipedia in the Macedonian language.
The event was open to all active (and new) editors, regardless of their experience. The goal was simple, but significant — to improve the coverage of topics in the field of film: feature and documentary films, prominent figures from the film industry, film festivals, history of cinematography and much more.
During the marathon, a total of 14 editors from different parts of the country joined the initiative, investing their time, knowledge and interest in creating new quality content. Thanks to their enthusiasm and dedication, 23 new articles were written, giving the Macedonian Wikipedia new pages dedicated to the art of cinema.
To encourage motivation and celebrate the contribution of the participants, a prize was planned. The winner was drawn at random on August 21, 2025, and was broadcast on the Wikimedia MKD Instagram account. The winner of the prize – a value voucher is Bojan9Spasovski , for his article “Jan Sverak”.
Edit-a-thon "Lakes"
On August 28, 2025, Wikimedia MKD organized an edit-a-thon on the topic of "Lakes" for members of the Wiki Club in Kumanovo. The event was part of the club’s regular program aimed at involving young students in the development of Macedonian-language content on Wikipedia while fostering research and digital skills.
The activity was led by the Wiki Club Kumanovo coordinator, Stojna Arsovska Donevska. A total of 11 students participated in the edit-a-thon. During the session, participants researched information about lakes worldwide and contributed by creating and editing Wikipedia articles in Macedonian.
As a result of the event, 22 new articles were created and edited. The students applied Wikipedia’s editorial guidelines, focused on reliable sources, and practiced the use of verifiable information.
Wikimedia MKD remains committed to supporting such initiatives and will continue to engage young contributors through similar educational programs aimed at long-term impact, both on individual learners and on the quality of freely available knowledge.
You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:
-
Editing on Wikipedia -
Editing on Wikipedia -
Editing on Wikipedia -
Editing on Wikipedia -
Editing on Wikipedia
Wiki Loves Film – Collaboration with MakeDox Film Festival
As part of the GLAM program of Wikimedia MKD, we joined the global initiative Wiki Loves Film by establishing a collaboration with the MakeDox Creative Documentary Film Festival in Skopje,Macedonia. This collaboration aimed to document an important cultural event in the field of film and to bring freely accessible knowledge about it to Wikimedia platforms. MakeDox is one of the most recognized and long-standing documentary film festivals in Macedonia, with international reach and an important role in promoting creative documentary filmmaking. This year the film festival was from 21 August till 28 August. Despite its relevance, information about the festival was either limited or missing on Wikimedia projects. Through this initiative, we aimed to address that gap and to enrich the coverage of contemporary cultural events from our country.
During the festival, Wikimedia Macedonia appointed a Wikipedian in Residence who actively participated in the initiative. As part of his activities:
- A new Wikipedia article dedicated to the MakeDox Film Festival was created and expanded on Macedonian Wikipedia, providing background information, historical context, and details about its cultural significance. This ensures that the festival is now documented in an encyclopedic and reliable way.
- A set of photographs from the festival was uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, capturing the atmosphere of the screenings, events, and guests. These images are now freely licensed and available for use in illustrating Wikipedia articles and other Wikimedia projects, as well as for the wider public.
- The collaboration served as an opportunity to raise awareness among festival organizers and participants about the mission of Wikimedia and the importance of free knowledge.
This activity proved to be a valuable step forward in strengthening our GLAM partnerships with cultural and artistic institutions. By participating in Wiki Loves Film, Wikimedia MKD not only contributed to the global documentation of film culture but also highlighted the richness of cultural life in Macedonia. We see this as a promising start and plan to continue expanding collaborations with cultural festivals in the future.
You can see some of the photographs of the MakeDox film festival bellow:
-
The opening ceremony -
The film festival volunteers -
Photo exhibition of Kiro Urdin, Suli -
Make CoProDox Forum 2025, Presentation of awards -
Kurshumli An before the final festival screenings -
The team
Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos
Wikimedia MKD continues with campaigns aimed at enriching the content of Wikipedia, but also creating a well-written article, with well-introduced references and good illustrations. The lack of illustrations in the articles leaves room for further editing of the article, and that is exactly what we aimed for this time, that's why we are part of the international campaign "Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos".
The campaign ran from July 1, 2025 to August 31, 2025. The prizes were provided for the most prolific participants, who have added an illustration of at least 100 different articles on Wikipedia in the Macedonian language. Points were calculated according to the principle: one article one point for the illustrations, regardless of how many illustrations were placed in that article. It is important to note that illustrations were inserted on already existing articles, newly created articles for the purpose of inserting photos were not taken into account. There was no limit to the number of illustrations that could be used. The photo that was used had to be uploaded under a free license or in the public domain. Contributors also included the #WPWPMK entry on every save change when they added an illustration, and on every article they added an illustration to. So the award winners are:
- 1st prize - winner is Тиверполник: 758 valid illustrations
- II prize - the winners are the following users:
- Marco Mitrovich: 321 valid illustrations
- Chnitke: 296 valid illustrations
- P. Nedelkovski: 189 valid illustrations
- Bojan9Spasovski: 183 valid illustrations
In total 12 editors participated and 1985 illustrations were added to the existing articles.
Struga and Karaorman Wikiexpedition
After the official end of the summer activities within the framework of the Wikiexpeditions in August 2025, our team decided to use the weekend before the great holiday of the Great Virgin Mary (August 23-24) for the third Wikiexpedition for 2025, this time on the territory of Struga Field and the surrounding mountain villages of the Karaorman massif. This field expedition aimed to further explore the municipality of Struga, which was first visited as part of a Wikiexpedition in 2018. The team arrived in Struga on Friday, August 22.
Day one began with a revisit to Kalishta, now documented in more detail, including the Elen Kamen settlement and the cave church "St. Athanasius." The team then visited Radožda but couldn’t locate one of its churches. In Mali Vlaj, fewer churches were found than expected, and the absence of locals hindered research. Brief stops were made in Frangovo and Radolišta, where several key sites were documented, including an early Christian basilica. Visits followed to Šum, Zagračani, and Dolna Belica, where previously undocumented churches and a WWI-era Austro-Hungarian memorial were recorded.
The team continued to southern Struga Field, visiting Dobovjani, Tashmaruništa (cut short by rain), Gorno and Dolno Tateši, Poum, Džepin, and Korošišta, ending the day in Ramne as guests of “Pirustija Nedanoski.”
Day two started in Misleševo and continued through Moroishta, Draslajca, Livada (where an old tower-house was found), and Bidževo (where a drone misunderstanding was quickly resolved). In Ložani, the large number of religious sites required a longer stay. After a quick return to Bidževo, the team visited Novo Selo, completing work in Struga Field and moving on to the Karaorman villages.
The mountain portion began in the abandoned village of Toska, followed by Bogojci and Brčevo, where the mislocated church "St. Dimitrij" was eventually found. The new chapel "St. Petka" was also visited. The expedition continued through Mislodežda and Prisovjani, where three churches were photographed, including one with no prior visuals. Drone photography was also conducted. The final villages—Zbazhdi and Ržanovo—were accessed via a difficult dirt road and documented from the air. The expedition ended with dinner at “Kukata na Mijačite.”
In total, 27 new villages were documented and three revisited, with dozens of religious, cultural, and historical sites recorded. Over 600 km were covered, previously undocumented objects photographed, and existing data updated—making this a major contribution to the documentation of Struga Field and Karaorman. You can view all the photographic material from the Wikiexpedition here, but there are some pictures bellow:
-
A motorboat closely approaching the endemic plant species of Chara ohridana in Lake Ohrid near the village of Kališta -
A tower house in the village of Livada -
Remnants of an early Christian basilica from the end of the 5th or the first half of the 6th century near the village of Radolišta -
A mosaic depicting the Nativity of the Theotokos above the main entrance of the eponymous church in the Kališta Monastery Macedonia. -
Nativity of the Theotokos Church of the Kališta Monastery -
St. Athanasius Cave Church near the village of Kališta -
The bell tower and the dome of St. Nicholas Church in the village of Moroišta
- By: Olesia Lukaniuk
12 CEE region countries took part in the contest this year:
- Albania (343 images) – 41st place by the number of uploads
- Armenia (3,026 images) – 7th place by the number of uploads
- Azerbaijan (230 images) – 46th place by the number of uploads
- Croatia (226 images) – 47th place by the number of uploads
- Czech Republic (185 images) – 49th place by the number of uploads
- Greece (478 images) – 33rd place by the number of uploads
- Kazakhstan (942 images) – 21st place by the number of uploads
- Kosovo (96 images) – 53rd place by the number of uploads
- Malta (623 images) – 29th place by the number of uploads
- Serbia (2,387 images) – 10th place by the number of uploads
- Slovakia (435 images) – 36th place by the number of uploads
- Ukraine (7,440 images) – 3rd place by the number of uploads
Check the full list of participants here.
We are extremely glad to see these CEE countries on the list of participants; this region has an extensive and beautiful natural heritage that must be shown to the world! If your CEE country is still not on the list of participants, consider joining next year:)
What is next?
- The international core team has already gathered the full list of local winning images and videos, both for the main category and special ones (Video, Human Rights and Environment).
- The International jury team has started the main evaluation process, which will last till the end of October.
- We will be happy to announce the final results, which are the top 20 best images of this year’s contest, by the end of November.
Check all the local winners here, and stay tuned for the final results!
If you need any assistance or have questions, contact the International organizing team at wle-team@wikimedia.org.ua!
Follow the project on social media channels to see the jury introduction and the final results announcements: Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), website.
Wiki Loves Film 2025 (formerly Films on Wikipedia) is a Central European challenge dedicated to films, cinema, filmmakers of different professions. The challenge is aimed at improving and updating existing articles, creating new articles, uploading photos and videos related to films, film culture, history and practice. The initiative rose in the Czech Republic in 2024 spread across the CEE region including Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Romania, North Macedonia or Armenia.
The 2024 challenge attracted 59 participants from 5 countries, who created 404 new articles in six language versions of Wikipedia. In addition, 1,056 pages were edited (with a total of 1,416 edits). Photographers also got involved – 10 participants uploaded a total of 193 photos.
The results are published on the Wiki Loves Film page. Winners will be notified personally, and some of the prizes will be presented at the CEE Meeting in Thessaloniki. As a reward for participation, we have awarded every participant a film barnstar.
- By: MagdaBarascu
A campaign of impact beyond the numbers
Ioana Irinciuc, a Romanian librarian and one of the participants and winners of the 2025 edition, said, "For me, Wikipedia is more than an award. It is a community where I feel wonderful. Every article created or completed is for me a saved history, a discovered story and free access to information for anyone. I hope that more and more people will join us."
- 20 passionate contributors joined the mission
- 64 new articles were created, covering films, directors, actors, and festivals
- 599 total contributions enriched the encyclopaedic landscape
- 336 existing pages were improved with verified sources and fresh content
- 2 engaging events brought the community together
The campaign’s goal was clear: to enhance Wikipedia’s coverage of Romanian and Moldovan film culture, from legendary directors to emerging festivals. Participants dove into research, editing, and storytelling, ensuring that the region’s cinematic legacy is documented and accessible to a global audience.
Events that brought cinema to life
Two events anchored the campaign, offering spaces for collaboration, learning, and celebration. These gatherings not only fostered community spirit but also helped participants sharpen their editing skills and deepen their understanding of local film history.
Why it matters
Romania and Moldova have rich, often underrepresented film traditions. By improving Wikipedia’s coverage, the campaign helps preserve cultural memory, supports education, and amplifies voices from the region’s creative industries. It’s a testament to how volunteer-driven efforts can make a lasting impact on global knowledge platforms.
A standing ovation
Wiki Loves Film 2025 was more than a campaign—it was a celebration of storytelling, collaboration, and cultural pride. Wikimedians of Romania and Moldova have shown that when communities come together with purpose, even the most niche topics can shine on the world’s largest encyclopaedia. Lights out, edits in. The curtain may have closed on this year’s campaign, but its legacy will continue to inspire readers and editors alike.
- By: Mari Avetisyan
Wikimedia Armenia initiated a new project called “Interesting Wiki” to expand Wikipedia articles that showcase engaging and curious topics, while enriching the “Did you know…” section on the Main Page.
Why did we start this project? Because as exciting as Wikipedia is, finding fresh, fun facts for “Did you know…” can be a challenge. Our solution: prepare a list of interesting article topics and invite the community to create them. However, the editors are also free to suggest articles with interesting facts and, after approval, create them. All articles are later featured in the "Did you know..." section.
The first phase of “Interesting Wiki” launched in March 2025 on Armenian Wikipedia. In just 12 days, 12 editors created 66 articles, all of which appeared in “Did you know…”. Encouraged by the success, we ran a second phase in June–July. This time, 18 editors created 121 articles - and many are already featured on the Main Page, the remaining once are regularly added to the section.
What makes this project unique? It’s not limited to one language or community. In fact, after seeing interest from the Turkish community, who localized the project, we realized this can work everywhere.
So we decided to make a call to all Wikimedia communities and affiliates to localize the “Interesting Wiki” project for their Wikipedias. Together, we can make Wikipedia editing fun and the “Did you know…” section updated with fresh and fascinating facts.
- By: Mari Avetisyan
As a continuation of last year’s successful collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Wikimedia Armenia organized another project named “Wikipedia for Freedom”. The purpose of this project was to fill the content gap that exists in the Armenian Wikipedia related to human rights, various forms of freedom, and related topics, thereby enriching the free encyclopedia with high-quality, reliable information.
Project training sessions
The project was designed in a way that enabled the participation of both newcomers and experienced editors. For the newcomers, Wikimedia Armenia organized special Wikipedia training sessions from July 14 to 19. To make these sessions more inclusive for everyone, Wikimedia Armenia staff held both online and offline training. 170 people applied to be participants for the project, out of which 100 were newcomers. 37 registered newcomers took part in training sessions. During the training, they learned about Wikipedia and its editing tools, editing principles, citation best practices, and common mistakes that newcomers usually make.
Throughout the five days of the training sessions, both newcomers and experienced editors created articles from the lists provided by Wikimedia Armenia. There were six lists of articles available for the participants, overall 4716 articles that didn’t have their Armenian version. Throughout the courses, experienced editors created 124 articles with a volume of 3,319,440 bytes, and newcomers created 52 articles with a volume of 1,339,819 bytes. Overall, the contribution to Armenian Wikipedia during these courses amounted to 4,659,259 bytes and 176 articles.
Depending on the results, experienced editors and newcomers were selected to take part in the wiki gathering. Out of 37 newcomers, 17 were selected to participate in the wiki gathering, and out of 43 experienced editors, 18 were selected.
"Wikipedia for Freedom" wiki gathering
The “Wikipedia for Freedom” wiki gathering took place on 23-27 July in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. Overall, there were 35 participant-editors and 9 staff members for the gathering.
During the 4 days of the gathering, participants took part in various activities.
- editing workshops,
- “Brain Ring” intellectual game about human rights,
- movie night about freedom of the press - “The Post”
- game nights,
- an excursion to Goshavank and Lake Kari in Hovk, Tavush province
- visit to the Orbeli Brothers House Museum.
For the editing workshops, participants were separated into three groups, and each group had its experienced trainer who was responsible not only for helping the group members with Wikipedia editing tools but also for checking their articles and pointing out the mistakes.
For the wiki gathering, the list of articles included topics on:
- Freedom of information
- Symbols of freedom
- Free speech activists
- Freedom of religion
- Human rights violations
As a result of a four-day intensive wiki gathering, participants of the “Wikipedia for Freedom” project created 332 articles and made 10,640,482 bytes of contribution to Armenian Wikipedia.
At the end of the gathering, the best 10 editors received certificates of participation from Wikimedia Armenia and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. {{}}
On August 23, our community gathered online for a 3-hour editathon, and the contributors focused on adding photos and illustrating articles with images that reflected Albanian and Kosovar culture, natural heritage, people, etc. The photos we used came from the contributions of our community over the years through our contests like Wiki Loves Monuments, Wiki Loves Earth, Traditional Albanian Food Contests, and Photowalks organized locally.
By bringing these images into 136 Wikipedia articles, we helped make knowledge in Albanian more visual and accessible. This editathon highlighted the power of online collaboration within our community one more time. Even in a virtual format, participants shared knowledge, exchanged ideas, and worked together to make Albanian Wikipedia richer.
Social media
- We have a public channel on WhatsApp of Albanian Language if you want to join and discuss Wikimedia projects.
If you want to see more about our activities, you canː
- Like our Facebook page, follow us on formerly Twitter or X or Instagram.