ESEAP Strategy Summit 2025/Report/Elis (WMID)

Mabuhay!

I am Elis Fajariyati (User:Elis(WMID)). I participated in the ESEAP Strategy Summit 2025 as a representative of volunteer for the Javanese Wikipedia. I joined in my role as a research staff and engagement content from Wikimedia Indonesia Affiliate.

Things Learned at the ESEAP Strategy Summit

As a representative of Wikipedia in the Javanese language and a research staff and content engagement officer from Wikimedia Indonesia, I noted several key takeaways from the summit:

1. The Importance of Collaboration Between Affiliates and Countries
I learned about how affiliates and countries can connect and collaborate to achieve common goals.

2. Strategies for Building External Partnerships
A session on strategic tactics for building partnerships with external organizations to support the mission of the Wikimedia movement was particularly insightful.

3. Global Trends in the Wikimedia Movement
I participated in a workshop discussing global trends that impact the Wikimedia movement, including changes in reader and contributor behaviors.

4. Mapping Skills within the ESEAP Community
There was an activity aimed at mapping the skills of community members within the ESEAP region to enhance collaboration and capacity-building efforts.

Things the participant contributed or participated in or since the strategy summit

Pre-summit

As part of my preparation for the event, I read several research documents related to topics at the ESEAP SUMMIT, such as governance systems and the Theory of Change. These were things I thought could help me contribute ideas during the event. I had to learn many new things because this was my first time attending an event that seemed to be for a select group of people, unlike a conference. In between, I also joined a discussion event with some other volunteers to dive deeper into topics before attending the summit.

Day 1 (May 23, Friday)

Opening Session
HUB, Action! 🎬 Designing Governance and Strategy Together
Friday Prayer at Mecca Mosque
HUB, Action! 🎬 Designing Governance and Strategy Together
Finalizing: The Governance System
Affiliate Health Criteria

Day 2 (May 24, Saturday)

Connecting and Collaborating between Affiliates and Countries
Open Mic for Cross-border Collaboration
Strategic Tactics for Building External Partnerships
CEE Hub: Exchange and Learnings
Global Trends Workshop
Global Trends Workshop (Breakout 1: Readers and Contributors)
ESEAP Community Skills Mapping

Day 3 (May 25, Sunday)

GLAM-Wiki Meetup
Global Resource Distribution Committee Update
Move into Future Conference(s)
Closing Session
National Museum Tour

Post-summit

One thing I will never forget is walking 12.5 km through the city of Manila, from the hotel to the Mall of Asia after summit. I wandered through the city by walking, observing the culture and the people while doing a photowalk. Once I reached the Mall of Asia, I of course tried some local food at restaurants unique to Manila, like Chowking, and visited the Kultura store to buy some traditional Manila souvenirs.

Plans after the strategy summit (ESEAP 2025)

The summit provided valuable insights into understanding the challenges and opportunities within the ESEAP Hub. It was also clear how important in-depth, interactive discussions are for gaining a better understanding of these issues. Therefore, I plan to try becoming one of the liaisons from the Wikimedia Indonesia community to strengthen the relationship between Indonesia and the global community. Additionally, I aim to learn how to develop a sustainable community in Indonesia as the Community Coordinator for the Wikimedia Indonesia Affiliate.

Comments/ suggestions about the strategy summit

The ESEAP Strategy Summit was an incredibly valuable experience. One thing that stood out to me was the focus on deep, interactive discussions rather than just listening to lectures. It felt more like a collaborative environment, allowing participants to share ideas and perspectives in a way that truly advanced our understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the ESEAP Hub.

Overall, the summit was a great opportunity to learn and connect with others, and I look forward to applying the insights I gained.