Community Resources and Partnerships/India Rapid Project/Wikipedia 25th Birthday Celebration at Bolpur, Santiniketan
Applicant
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
ᱥᱟᱹᱜᱩᱱ ᱗
- Organization
N/A
- If you are a group or organization leader, board member, president, executive director, or staff member at any Wikimedia group, affiliate, or Wikimedia Foundation, you are required to self-identify and present all roles. (required)
N/A
- Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)
N/A
Project
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.
Wikipedia 25th Birthday Celebration at Bolpur, Santiniketan
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2026-06-01 - 2026-06-21
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
India
- 5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)
Wikipedia Birthday or Anniversary
- 6. What is the change you are trying to bring? What are the main challenges or problems you are trying to solve? Describe this change or challenges, as well as main approaches to achieve it. (required)
The Wikimedians of Santali Language User Group aims to strengthen community engagement and increase awareness of Wikipedia and its sister projects among Santali-speaking communities through the celebration of Wikipedia’s 25th anniversary. The goal is to build a more connected, motivated, and skilled group of volunteers who actively contribute to Santali-language content and support the growth of open knowledge.
One of the key challenges has been limited public awareness of Santali Wikipedia. Although efforts over the past few years have improved visibility, there is still a need to reach wider audiences. Another challenge is the low participation of new contributors, along with reduced interaction among existing community members due to changing priorities and professional commitments, especially after the pandemic.
To address these issues, the group plans to organize a community gathering to celebrate 25 years of Wikipedia. The event will include interactive sessions, sharing of experiences, training for new contributors, and discussions on future collaborations. This initiative will help strengthen community bonds, encourage new participation, and renew commitment toward the development of Wikimedia projects in the Santali language.
- 7. What are the planned activities? (required) Please provide a list of main activities. You can also add a link to the public page for your project where details about your project can be found. Alternatively, you can upload a timeline document. When the activities include partnerships, include details about your partners and planned partnerships.
The following activities are planned as part of the Wikipedia 25th Birthday Celebration by the Wikimedians of Santali Language User Group:
Online Edit-a-thon (1 - 20 June 2026):
A week-long online contribution campaign focused on expanding and improving content on Santali Wikipedia and related Wikimedia platforms.
The edit-a-thon will prioritize topics connected to Santali language, literature, indigenous knowledge, culture, history, and notable personalities from the community.
Both new and experienced contributors will be invited to participate, with continuous online support, mentoring, and coordination provided by community members.
In-person Meetup and Birthday Celebration (21 June 2026):
A community gathering to celebrate 25 years of Wikipedia with Santali Wikimedians.
The meetup will include sharing of community milestones, recognition of active contributors, open discussions on future plans, and collaborative ideas to strengthen the Santali Wikimedia movement.
There will also be an introductory session for new participants, along with a simple celebration to mark the occasion and encourage stronger community connections.
Project Documentation and Outreach:
A dedicated project page will be created on Santali Wikipedia and Meta-Wiki to document activities, share updates, and track contributions.
This will ensure transparency, encourage wider participation, and help connect Santali contributors with the broader Wikimedia movement.
- 8. Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required) Include more details of the team, including their roles, usernames, Wikimedia group, and whether they are salaried, volunteers, consultants/contractors, etc.
User:ᱥᱟᱹᱜᱩᱱ ᱗ – Meetup Organizer, Edit-a-thon Organizer and Communication manager
User:ᱢᱟᱨᱟᱝ – Meetup Co-organizer
User:ᱚᱨᱯᱤᱛᱟ ᱦᱮᱢᱵᱨᱚᱢ– Meetup Co-organizer
Abhijit Baskey– logistic services
- 9. Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities? (required)
The target participants are members of the Wikimedians of Santali Language User Group, including volunteers who actively contribute to Santali Wikipedia, Wikisource, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and other Wikimedia projects. The activities will also welcome new contributors, especially students, language enthusiasts, and individuals interested in preserving and promoting Santali knowledge.
Before the event, participants will be engaged through community communication channels such as mailing lists, WhatsApp groups, social media platforms, and announcements on village pump pages. These efforts will encourage wider participation in both the online edit-a-thon and the in-person meetup, while also reaching new audiences beyond the existing community.
During the activities, participants will collaborate through the edit-a-thon by creating and improving content, while the in-person gathering will include discussions, experience sharing, learning sessions, and community bonding activities. Special attention will be given to guiding new contributors and helping them become confident editors.
After the event, engagement will continue through regular community interactions such as online meetings, follow-up discussions, and progress tracking on Wikimedia platforms. This will help maintain momentum, strengthen collaboration, and support the long-term growth of the Santali Wikimedia community.
- 9.1. If your project includes in-person activities, are there any international participants travelling to India for them? (required)
- No
- 9.1.1. List all countries of participation. (required)
- 9.2. Will the project be transferring funds to any international participants? (required)
- No
- 9.2.1. List all international participants receiving funding and their countries. (required)
N/A
- 10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)
- No
- 10.1. Please provide a link to your Youth Safety Policy. (required) If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, you are required to outline compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provide a youth safety policy aligned with these laws. Read more here.
N/A
- 11. How did you discuss the idea of your project with your community members and/or any relevant groups? Please describe steps taken and provide links to any on-wiki community discussion(s) about the proposal. (required) You need to inform the community and/or group, discuss the project with them, and involve them in planning this proposal. You also need to align the activities with other projects happening in the planned area of implementation to ensure collaboration within the community.
The idea for this initiative emerged through early conversations among core community members (Shekhar, Ramjit, Aswani,Bodi, and Ramu). What began as a casual exchange of thoughts gradually developed into a more structured discussion, which was later continued in a dedicated group space to shape and finalize the plan collaboratively.
- 12. Does your proposal aim to work to bridge any of the content knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Language
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Education
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Linguistic / Language
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Invest in Skills and Leadership Development
Metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Through this the Wikimedians of Santali Language User Group aims to explore how community-led celebrations and collaborative activities can increase participation, strengthen relationships, and build long-term motivation among Santali Wikimedians. The initiative will also focus on identifying practical and sustainable ways to attract new contributors and support them in becoming confident, active members of the community.
Learning Questions:
How do celebration-based events influence participation, motivation, and community bonding among Santali Wikimedians?
What factors encourage contributors to remain active after initial engagement in events like edit-a-thons?
Which onboarding approaches are most effective for helping new editors learn and continue contributing?
How does a mix of online and in-person activities impact overall participation and collaboration?
What role does peer support and mentorship play in retaining new and existing contributors?
Which content themes (such as culture, language, or local knowledge) attract higher engagement during campaigns?
How can community events be designed to be more inclusive and accessible for diverse participants?
Expected Learning Outcomes:
Better understanding of community engagement patterns within the Santali Wikimedia ecosystem
Identification of effective strategies for contributor retention and skill development
Insights into improving event design for higher participation and impact
Strengthened methods for onboarding and mentoring new contributors
Clear direction for future outreach, partnerships, and community-building efforts
The learnings will be documented through participant feedback, contribution data, and community reflections. These insights will guide future planning, helping to build a more active, connected, and sustainable Santali Wikimedia community.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 30 | |
| Number of editors | 26 | |
| Number of organizers | 4 |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 100 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 50 |
| Wikidata | |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | 1 |
| Wikiquote | |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
N/A
- 19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)
No
| Main Open Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
- 20. What tools would you use to measure each metrics? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support. (required)
Fountain tools, outreach, recent change
Budget
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
- 22. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in Indian Rupees. (required)
182500 INR
- 22.1. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD. (required)
1933 USD
- By submitting this proposal request you agree with the Institutional Partner Privacy Policy, Application Privacy Statements, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
Yes
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