Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Conference Fund/Latin America Wikimedia Conference 2026 - Conferencia Wikimedia de América Latina 2026 - Conferência Wikimedia da América Latina 2026
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Applicant details
[edit]- A. Are you applying as a(n)
Wikimedia Affiliate (chapter, thematic org., or user group)
- B. Full name of organization presenting the proposal.
Wikimedistas de Bolivia
- F. Do you have an account on a Wikimedia project?
Yes
- F1. Please provide your main Wikimedia Username.
Caleidoscopic
- F2. Please provide the Usernames of people related to this proposal.
Caleidoscopic Carlillasa Wawitasny nah_omy LaCris Edward wong IV
- G. Are you legally registered?
No
If you are applying as an individual or your group is not a legally registered nonprofit in your country, we require that you have a fiscal sponsor.
- I. Fiscal organization name.
Centro Afroboliviano para el Desarrollo Integral y Comunitario
Objectives and Strategy
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal.
Latin America Wikimedia Conference 2026 - Conferencia Wikimedia de América Latina 2026 - Conferência Wikimedia da América Latina 2026
- 2.1. When will the event begin? Please enter the event start date.
2026-11-19
- 2.2. When is the last day of your event?
2026-02-21
- 3.1. When will you begin preparing for your event?
2026-04-01T00:00:00Z
- 3.2. When will you expect to complete your last event payment?
2026-12-04T00:00:00Z
- 4. In which country will the conference take place?
Bolivia
- 4.1. In which city will the conference take place?
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
- 5. Is it a remote or in-person event?
In-person event
- 5.1. What will be the total number of participants at the event? (including scholarship recipients + organizing team + other guests + self funded guests) (required)
135
- 6. Please indicate whether your work will be focused on one country (local), more than one or several countries in your region (regional) or has a cross-regional (global) scope.
Regional
- 6.1. If you have answered regional, please write the country names and any other information that is useful for understanding your proposal.
This is a joint effort between Wikimedia Argentina, Wikimedistas de Bolivia, Wikimedia Brasil, Wikimedia Chile, Wikimedia Colombia, Wikimedia México, WikiAcción Perú and Wikimedistas de Uruguay. We will invite other smaller affiliates and groups from the region to participate in the different committees (programs, scholarships, tech, etc.), according to their capacity. Wikimedia community members from countries where there are no formal or informal groups will be invited to apply for scholarships
- 7. If you would like, please share any websites or social media accounts that your group or organization has.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wikimedistasdebolivia/ Twitter: https://x.com/wikimedia_bo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wikimedistas_bo Web: https://wikimedia.org.bo
- 8. Do you work with any thematic or regional platforms such as WISCom, CEE, Iberocoop, etc.
Yes
- 8.1. Please describe what platforms and your work with them.
Latin American Executive Directors Group Working Group on Climate Justice & Wikimedia Projects
- 9. Please describe the target participants for this event.
The event will bring a mix of experienced editors, newcomers, organizers, users with extended rights and technical community. The goal is to create a healthy balance of people with different skillsets and levels that can collaborate and get inspiration from each other. “Newcomers” are defined as people that have between 6 months to a year of being relatively active on a Wikimedia project. Their applications will be assessed based on their potential contributions to the movement, not necessarily on their edit count.
- 10. Please provide the link to the event's page if you already have one.
We don't have the event page yet.
The following questions (11-14) will refer to the Community Engagement Survey which is required in order to submit a proposal. Here is the survey form that you can copy and use (if the link does not work): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ieEI8EFf2vxjD9wN_h8-srYeRCp4fhSp7_1_wiR2jh8/edit. This survey is required to access a Conference grant.
- 11. How many people did you send the community engagement survey to?
200
- 11.1. When did you conduct the survey, and for how long?
The first one from August 2-September 2, 2025, 31 days. The second one from October 25-November 30, 2025, 36 days.The surveys was tailored to the technical community and users with extended rights
- 12. How many people responded to the survey?
53
- 13. What are the main objectives of the event?
Based on both survey’s responses and the assessment of the organizer groups, the main objectives are: Foster a stronger regional community, encouraging peer collaboration, trust, and shared responsibility. Exchange knowledge between experienced users, including users with extended rights, newcomers and organizers. Improve pathways for participation and renewal within Wikimedia communities in Latin America. Address key challenges on Wikimedia projects from Latin America, such as exclusionary community dynamics, the lack of generational renewal, and unclear policies and processes that widen the gap for participation of Latin American communities on Wikimedia projects.
- 14. Based on survey responses, what are the most important things your community should do at the conference to achieve these objectives?
Based on survey & assessment: People need spaces where they can meet and connect to discover common ground, disagree respectfully, and build trust. The event should create structured spaces for knowledge and skills exchange that advance the Wikimedia movement’s mission, support conflict resolution on wikis and inclusive participation. Participants should gain clarity about their own journeys within the Wikimedia movement. The conference should help surface concrete pathways for continued involvement. The conference will be designed so that people leave with a sense of accomplishment, new ideas and inspiration, and clarity on how they can engage after the event. Finally, the event needs to be enjoyable: people need to experience emotions together and have fun, which is key to building sustainable communities.
These needs will guide the committees’ design of the event, using deliberate formats and spaces to enable meaningful connections, skill-sharing, reflection, and shared experiences.
- 15. Please state if your proposal aims to work to bridge any of the identified CONTENT knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select up to THREE that most apply to your work.
Geography, Important Topics (topics considered to be of impact or important in the specific context), Cultural background, ethnicity, religion, racial
- 15.1. In a few sentences, explain how your work is specifically addressing this content gap (or Knowledge inequity) to ensure a greater representation of knowledge. (optional recommended).
By bringing together a mixed profile of participants, we expect that they can exchange skills, work and collaborate together to identify needs and lower participation barriers. The design of the event will try to match people with different levels of experience to address different needs that help bridge content gaps. In addition, we will invite participants’ to submit proposals for bridging content gaps.
- 16. Please state if your proposal includes any of these areas or THEMATIC focus. Select up to THREE that most apply to your work and explain the rationale for identifying these themes.
Education, Open Technology, Diversity, Other
- 17. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities?
Ethnic/racial/religious or cultural background, Linguistic / Language, Age
- 18. Do you intend to invite or engage with non-Wikimedian individuals or organizations? If so – can you explain your intention for this outreach?
Wikimedistas de Bolivia has been working strongly with partners and grassroots organizations in the country. In particular, we want to engage and invite the following audiences to be part of the event: Representatives of indigenous nations of Bolivia that have co-organized activities with us in the past; Activists of grassroots organizations working to promote digital rights and access to Internet in Bolivia; Cultural centers and GLAM spaces that have held activities in-person or online with us.
- 19. What will you do to make sure participants continue to engage in your activities after the event?
In order to ensure participation after the event: Sessions will be documented and made publicly available after the event. Where relevant, working groups or follow-up projects will be created, with shared decisions, clear next steps, and assigned responsibilities. Participants will be invited to join follow-up online meetings, mailing lists, or chat channels to maintain coordination and peer support.
This event will be conceived as a milestone on the road to Wikimania 2027. We will work with the Wikimania 2027 COT to ensure that both events are meaningfully connected, with aligned narratives, shared priorities, and continuity between them. We will identify key outcomes, and where appropriate, we will make sure they get integrated into Wikimania 2027.
- 20. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select a maximum of THREE options that most apply.
Increase the Sustainability of Our Movement, Ensure Equity in Decision-making, Invest in Skills and Leadership Development
Logistical Aspects
[edit]- 21. Do you have any proposed venue for the event?
Hotel Casa Real Hotel Cortez Hotel Los Tajibos Candidate hotels handle a similar range of costs and have the expertise to support the team and resolve logistical issues that may arise during the event ensuring attendee well-being and prompt attendance.The hotels are located a maximum of 40 minutes from the airport.
- 22. Is the event venue and hotel accessible for people with physical disabilities?
Yes
- 23. How many scholarships would you like to offer?
50 international scholarships 50 national scholarships
- 24. What expenses will the scholarship cover?
Transportation (aerial and ground modals), accommodation (hotel for 5 nights, 19-21 November) and food provided in the event. In some cases, we might just cover accommodation and food provided in the event, particularly for people from the interior of the country.
- 25. How will scholarship recipients be selected?
There will be an open call to apply for scholarships. The Scholarships committee will work on defining the criteria and selecting the scholars. The goal is to ensure a good mix of newcomers, long-term contributors, organizers and technical community & users with advanced roles. Special consideration will be given to participants from underrepresented linguistic communities and those facing economic barriers to participation. Selection will also consider applicants’ motivation to collaborate regionally and commit to post-event working groups and follow-up activities. The final cohort will aim for balance across geography, language, gender, and experience levels. Finally, we will have a criteria of a 3-1 ratio for volunteers and affiliates’ paid staff among scholarship recipients (one staff every three volunteers).
- 26. In which ways can Wikimedia Foundation staff support your event onsite?
We would like to have the support of the Travel Team to arrange for participants' travel and contracts with the hotel and use the Travel Team services. Due to currency restrictions, buying flights from Bolivia would add a significant burden and logistics to arrange travel. Payment for the hotel would be easier if made directly.
We will also like to have support from the WMF staff requested in facilitating some of the spaces and conversations that will take place at the event, particularly for the technical spaces and the users with extended rights conversations.
Some countries from Central America & the Caribbean might need a visa to attend the Conference, but we will make sure to prepare in advance for any visa requirements. All participants are required to have the yellow fever vaccination or have a medical certificate that justifies if they can’t get one.
- 26.2. Do you intend to invite any WMF staff members to your event? (please note that all WMF staff travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the foundation). Please indicate what is the limit number of WMF staff members you would like to welcome at your event.
Yes. We would like to request the presence of the following WMF staff: Bernadette Meehan, CEO, Wikimedia Foundation Brisa Ceccon, Regional Partnerships Manager Guilherme Rocca, Grant PO for Latin America Giselle Bordoy, Movement Comms Giovanna Fontenelle, Program Officer, Content Enablement Silvia Gutierrez de la Torre, Senior Program Officer, Libraries Melissa Guadalupe Huertas, Senior Learning and Capacity Strategist Two more WMF staff from the Hackathon and/or technical teams
We will also invite the following people in their institutional capacity, meaning they won’t need to apply to a scholarship:
Members of the GRDC: Lucas Piantá and Mónica Bonilla
Members of the PTAC: Éder Porto and Nicolás Giorgetti
Wikimania 2027 COT: Lucas Cristóbal Carrasco and Michelle Colipal Martínez
- 27. Please outline the roles and responsibilities of the organizing team for the conference.
General Coordinator and WMF Liaison: Responsible for overall coordination, cross-committee alignment, and liaison with the Wikimedia Foundation, overseeing program coherence, logistics, budget coordination, reporting, and evaluation.
Logistics Coordinator (contracted role): Responsible for operational logistics, including venue coordination, travel and on-site operations, vendor management, and logistical budget execution, in coordination with the General Coordinator and relevant committees.
Administrative and Committee Support (contracted role two persons one Spanish-speaking and one Portuguese-speaking)): Part-time support for coordination, scheduling, documentation, reporting support, and follow-up across committees, under the supervision of the General Coordinator.
Operational Committees: Volunteer-based committees with two co-leads (one Spanish-speaking and one Portuguese-speaking), responsible for implementation:
Program: program design, call, selection process, session formats.
Communications: outreach and documentation visibility.
Scholarships: call, criteria, and selection process.
Welcoming & Wellness: newcomer onboarding and Trust & Safety.
Tech & Advanced Roles: technical activities and advanced contributor inclusion.
Decision-making and coordination: Committees handle operational decisions; strategic decisions are coordinated between the General Coordinator and the Steering Committee, with the Logistics Coordinator responsible for execution.
- 28. Do you have plans to co-organize the event with other Wikimedia communities, groups or affiliates?
Yes
- 28.1. If yes, can you please explain how you are going to co-organize the event and what responsibilities each partner will have.
Wikimedia Argentina, Wikimedistas de Bolivia, Wikimedia Brasil, Wikimedia Chile, Wikimedia Colombia, Wikimedia México, WikiAcción Perú, and Wikimedistas de Uruguay will co-organize the event as members of the Steering Committee. In this role, they will contribute to strategic decision-making, ensure regional representation, and support cross-country coordination. Each partner organization will also support outreach to their local communities, helping to ensure broad and diverse participation across Latin America. In addition, partners may contribute to specific operational committees (such as program, communications, or scholarships), according to their capacities and areas of expertise, supporting the implementation of the event and its follow-up.
- 29. What kind of risks do you anticipate and how would you mitigate these?
Several external and internal risks have been identified, along with mitigation measures to address them. Economic and budget-related risks: Following the 2025 elections in Bolivia, there have been significant economic changes that may result in unexpected increases in the cost of goods and services. To mitigate this risk, key budget items such as accommodation and catering will be secured as early as possible, reducing exposure to sudden price fluctuations. Contextual and political risks: Bolivia faces ongoing social and political tensions linked to historical inequalities and the legacies of colonialism. However, Santa Cruz de la Sierra is a major economic hub with strong infrastructure, good flight connectivity across Latin America, and a low incidence of strikes or social unrest. Based on current assessments, we do not anticipate riots or major disruptions affecting the event in this location. Organizational and operational risks: This will be the first time Wikimedistas de Bolivia organizes an event of this scale, which may involve unforeseen operational challenges. This risk will be mitigated through close collaboration with experienced Wikimedia affiliates in the region, peer support across committees, and shared decision-making structures that allow for early identification and resolution of issues.Regarding the purchase of tickets for international trips, Wikimediistas de Bolivia will require the support of the WMF Travel Team, and if this is possible and economically feasible, the contracting of accommodations can also be delegated to the WMF. We believe this also reduces the number of tasks that the local team will need to manage. Contingency planning: If a risk assessment determines that the event cannot be held in Bolivia, Wikimedia Colombia has offered Medellín, Colombia as an alternative venue. Wikimedia Colombia has extensive experience organizing regional conferences (including Iberocoop 2023 and EduWiki 2025). In such a scenario, Wikimedistas de Bolivia would continue to lead the event’s programmatic design (program, scholarships, and community engagement), ensuring continuity and co-ownership of the Conference despite logistical changes. An extended detail has been shared in a extra link.
- 30. Friendly space policy - Please add the link to the friendly space policy that your community will be using for this event.
The Friendly space policy from the Wikimedia Foundation will be used: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Friendly_space_policies . Wikimedistas de Bolivia will adapt it to a culturally relevant perspective.
Learning, Sharing, and Evaluation
[edit]- 31. What do you hope to learn from your work organising this conference?
What are the priority issues for communities in the region regarding their participation in the Wikimedia movement, and what approaches do they consider most appropriate to address them? What obstacles have communities encountered when participating in Wikimedia projects, what strategies have they used to overcome them, and what changes do they propose at a regional level? What practices, methodologies, and forms of organization have fostered community permanence, mutual care, and the generation of free, community-based knowledge? How do participants understand and exercise their right to self-representation on the internet, and how compatible do they perceive Wikimedia projects to be with their cultural practices and knowledge systems? What role do participants believe the Wikimedia movement could play in supporting their communities and enabling the participation of other groups facing similar challenges?
- 32. Main open metrics
| Main Open Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Participants’ priority issues for the Wikimedia movement in the region | Instrument: Post-session survey (open-ended questions) and facilitated group discussions with written documentation.
|
1 |
| Perceived obstacles to participation in Wikimedia projects | Instrument: Survey with open-ended and multiple-choice questions; notes from thematic sessions.
Indicator: Types of barriers identified (technical, cultural, linguistic, governance, safety); number of participants reporting each type. |
50 |
| Strategies used by communities to overcome participation barriers | Instrument: Facilitated discussion sessions; session reports and collective note-taking.
|
1 |
| Grassroots practices and methodologies for sustaining community participation | Instrument: Thematic workshops and session documentation.
Indicator: Document that Identify methodologies and practices considered effective by participants; level of consensus across groups. |
1 |
| Perceived potential of the Wikimedia movement to support long-term participation and inclusion | Instrument: Post-event survey and closing plenary feedback.
Indicator: Number of participants expressing willingness to remain engaged or to invite other communities; qualitative descriptions of perceived opportunities. |
50 |
Financial Proposal
[edit]- 33. What is the amount you are requesting from Wikimedia Foundation? Please provide this amount in your local currency.
181293.75
- 34. Select your local currency.
USD
- 35. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it.
- 36. Do you expect to receive funding for this conference from other organizations to support your work?
No
- 36.1. If yes, what kind of resources are you expecting to get?
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
Yes
- Please use this optional space to upload any documents that you feel are important for further understanding your proposal.
- Other public document(s):
Endorsements and Feedback
[edit]Please add endorsements and feedback to the grant discussion page only. Endorsements added here will be removed automatically.
Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:
- Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
- Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
- Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
- Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
- Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).