Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/General Support Fund/Annual Grant of the UAE User Group 2024/Final Report
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Part 1: Understanding your work
[edit]Per the recent update on the Wikimedia Foundation Affiliates Strategy process, Wikimedia Affiliates that are General Support Fund grantees will fulfill their affiliate reporting requirements through their final or yearly grantee report.
If you are a Wikimedia Affiliate, you will use this form for your affiliate reporting and to address the affiliate health criteria. You do not need to submit a separate report to AffCom. Follow the guidance in the green boxes to report on how you met the corresponding affiliate health criteria.
If you are not a Wikimedia Affiliate, aligning your responses with the affiliate criteria is optional and not required.
1. Please share to what extent your programs, approaches, and strategies contributed to addressing the challenges you shared in your proposal. If they did not contribute as you believed they would, please share what obstacles you faced and what, if anything, you learned from them? (required)
For affiliates, use this space (Question 1.) to address Affiliate Health Criterion 1.1 (Goal delivery). Describe how you actively delivered on mission goals, e.g. content creation.
Our programs, approaches, and strategies have yielded significant progress in addressing the challenges outlined in our proposal. However, we encountered some obstacles that provided valuable learning experiences.
1. Education and Digital Literacy
- Success: Our focus on partnerships proved highly effective. We strengthened our relationship with the Emirates Literature Foundation (ELF), deepened our engagement within the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (EAFoL), and forged a new partnership with Jahzeen, leading to successful collaboration on WikiArabia Oman. Our collaborations with universities like the American University of Dubai and the University of Sharjah continue to thrive, fostering Wikimedia engagement among students. The translation internship program with Jeddah University expanded our reach and provided valuable contributions to Arabic Wikimedia projects.
- Challenges: While we maintain strong relationships with key entities in the GCC and MENA regions, expanding our partnerships remains a focus area for future growth.
2. Community Building & Outreach:
- Successes: The Omani youth program successfully trained 25 newcomers, providing them with valuable skills and connections within the Wikimedia community. Expanding our edit-a-thon offerings, including events like Emirati Women's Day Edit-a-thon, SheSaid Campaign, and 1Editor1Reference, fostered community engagement and content creation. Competitions like Wiki Loves Earth - UAE Edition further energized our community.
- Challenges: The growth of newcomers in our community led to an increase in content violations, requiring us to adapt our monitoring and training strategies. We also recognized the need to refine our approach to organizing edit-a-thons and competitions to ensure alignment with community expectations and avoid any unintended friction.
3. UAE Identity Projects:
- Success: We successfully organized Wiki Loves Earth - UAE edition and UAE in Lens, promoting the UAE's natural and cultural heritage. We also supported a community member in organizing Wiki Loves Monuments - UAE.
- Challenges: Securing permissions for photography competitions in the UAE remains a challenge due to restrictions on freedom of panorama. Collaborating with governmental institutions for initiatives like QR code implementation proved to be time-consuming.
Overall Challenges:
QR Codes: Streamlining the process of obtaining approvals for QR code projects from governmental institutions is crucial for timely implementation.
Photography Competitions: We will continue to explore strategies to navigate the challenges posed by restrictions on photography in the UAE.
Physical Events: We acknowledge the growing preference for online events and will adapt our approach to cater to the evolving needs of our community.
Team Capacity: Expanding our team's capacity is essential to effectively support the growing community and manage the increasing number of activities. Continued collaboration with experienced community members from the MENA region will be vital in addressing this challenge.
Key Learnings:
- Collaboration is Key: Strong partnerships and community collaboration are essential for the success of our programs.
- Adaptability is Crucial: We must remain adaptable and responsive to the evolving needs of our community and the challenges we face.
- Community Engagement: Open communication and active engagement with the community are crucial for addressing concerns and ensuring alignment.
2. Is there a plan to build on the key successes you had? If yes, please describe the plan and if no, please share the limitations to do so. For instance, did the activities lead to any new priorities, ideas for activities, or goals for the future? (required)
Yes, we have a comprehensive plan to build on our key successes and address the evolving needs of our community.
Plan to Build on Successes:
- Strengthening Partnerships: We will continue to nurture our existing partnerships with universities, cultural institutions, and organizations like ELF and Jahzeen. We will also actively seek new collaborations to expand our reach and impact. This includes exploring potential partnerships with governmental institutions to streamline processes like QR code implementation.
- Community Engagement and Support: We are committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for all community members. This includes:
- Improving communication channels and ensuring transparent decision-making processes.
- Developing mentorship programs to connect experienced Wikimedians with newcomers.
- Organizing regular training sessions and workshops to enhance community members' skills across various Wikimedia projects.
- Expanding Regional Collaboration: We recognize the value of collaborating with experienced Wikimedians and affiliates in the MENA region. We will continue to actively participate in regional initiatives, share best practices, and seek opportunities for joint projects.
- Adapting to Community Needs: We will prioritize online events and activities to cater to the preferences and needs of our community members. We will also explore hybrid event formats to provide flexible participation options.
- Empowering Newcomers: We will provide comprehensive training and support to newcomers, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to Wikimedia projects. This includes offering pre-campaign training sessions and creating opportunities for mentorship and guidance.
New Priorities, Ideas, and Goals:
- Capacity Building: Expanding our team's capacity is crucial to effectively support the growing community and manage the increasing number of activities. We will explore strategies for recruiting and training new volunteers and securing resources to support their involvement.
- Content Quality and Accuracy: We will implement measures to improve content quality and address the issue of content violations.
- This includes:
- Organizing workshops on combating misinformation and ensuring accuracy.
- Strengthening our monitoring and review processes.
- Diversity and Inclusion: We will strive to create a more inclusive and diverse community by actively reaching out to underrepresented groups and promoting participation from all segments of society in the UAE and GCC.
3. Please provide a link to reports that detail the activities that took place in the last year. This can include an annual report, Meta pages, and websites. If there are no links available, briefly describe the implemented activities and programs below or upload any files. (required)
For affiliates, use this space (Question 3.) to address Affiliate Health Criteria 2.1 (Affiliate health & resilience), 4.1 (Internal engagement), 4.2 (Community connection), and 4.3 (Partnerships and collaboration):
- Describe your activities engaging new users, new members for your decision-making body(ies), and developing leaders and organizers (2.1).
- Describe your activities creating or hosting spaces to encourage greater collaboration and engagement among your members (4.1).
- Describe how you engage with the contributing community that you serve and/or support (4.2).
- Describe your partnerships with other affiliates or with non-Wikimedia entities (4.3).
Link to the Meta page: Activity Reports 2024
2.1 Engaging New Users, Members, and Developing Leaders:
- Community Input: The Wikimedians of UAE User Group relies heavily on community feedback to shape its activities and decisions. We utilize registration forms, pre- and post-activity surveys, and community meetup to gather input and ensure that our initiatives align with the needs and interests of our members.
- Empowering Community Members: We actively encourage community members to take on leadership roles and responsibilities within our activities. This includes opportunities to manage volunteers, contribute to social media content, participate in organizing teams, assist with data analysis, reach out to potential partners, and support content creation.
- Developing Leaders and Organizers: By providing opportunities for community members to take ownership of various aspects of our programs, we foster the development of leadership skills and encourage a sense of ownership within the community.
4.1 Creating Spaces for Collaboration and Engagement:
- Wiki AE Club: This program serves as a welcoming space for newcomers, fostering connections and encouraging participation in Wikimedia projects. It also provides a platform for experienced Wikimedians to share their knowledge and mentor new members.
- In-Person Meetups and Events: We organize in-person meetups and gatherings to strengthen community bonds and facilitate collaboration. This includes attending conferences like EAFoL, ADIBF, DILC, and WikiArabia, where our members can connect with other Wikimedians and engage in knowledge sharing.
4.2 Engaging with the Contributing Community:
- Regular Communication and Feedback: We maintain consistent communication with our community through various channels, including online platforms, social media, and email. We actively solicit feedback through surveys and discussions to ensure that our activities are responsive to the needs and preferences of our members.
- Providing Opportunities for Contribution: We offer a wide range of opportunities for community members to contribute to Wikimedia projects, including edit-a-thons, competitions, training sessions, and outreach initiatives.
4.3 Partnerships with Affiliates and Non-Wikimedia Entities:
- Affiliate Collaboration: We actively collaborate with other Wikimedia affiliates in the MENA region, participating in joint projects, sharing best practices, and supporting each other's initiatives.
- Non-Wikimedia Partnerships: We have established strong partnerships with universities, cultural institutions, and organizations like ELF and Jahzeen. We continue to explore new collaborations with governmental institutions and other entities to expand our reach and impact.
4. Are you interested in sharing what you achieved or learned this year with the wider community through different peer learning programs (e.g. Let's Connect program, Diff)? (optional)
5. Did you collect feedback from your community or target groups on how the activities implemented impacted them? If yes, please attach/provide information on the results (e.g. community surveys, stories, impact booklets/reports, interviews with partner institutions, etc). Did you collect other impact-specific data? (required)
For affiliates, the response to Question 5. also partially addresses Affiliate Health Criteria 4.1 (Internal Engagement), 4.2 (Community Connection), or 4.3 (Partnerships & collaboration), where applicable.
- Volunteers testimonials
- Volunteers Testimonials 2
- SheSaid UOS - Testimonials:
- Below are some nice reflections students wrote about the “She Said” competition.
Reflection #1:
- I had briefly heard about the WikiMedian group prior to this workshop but I wasn't aware of the depth of the work they do on a daily basis. This being the first event I had taken part in, in the university, was a great introductory experience as to what the next few years have in store for me. I enjoyed the level of focus and motivation I developed during this novel task, knowing I was contributing to a larger platform. A few quotes I chose include: "اكتشفتُ أن حقوقي لا تتعدى حق الأكل والشرب والإنجاب والموت - Ghada Al-Samman", "Words are like gunpowder—they can ignite at any moment - Najwa Binshatwan", and "When you do something with your heart and it’s a passion, it’s not a sacrifice. - Elisabetta Dami". All these beautiful quotes struck a chord with me, so I truly appreciated the opportunity to amplify such remarkable voices.
Reflection #2:
- My experience with the "She Said" competition was one I would remember forever. It was my very first time attending an event held by my University, but hopefully not the last. The event was extremely fun and yet very knowledgeable, it was amazing how the two alumni students managed to orchestrate an event that was both enjoyable while also delivering a very important and significant message. The fact that so many various women with admirable actions and words go unnoticed by so many people all around the world is utterly heartbreaking. I'm very happy that I was shown during the event how to make a difference for them, no matter how small it is, and get to show off their quotes for all mankind. I'm beyond overjoyed that I got to partake in such a revolutionary movement. It was both an honour and a privilege to help amplify women's voices and stories for the world to see and I hope to have brought pride to all those strong female leading women.
Reflection #3:
- The SheSaid workshop was my first university department-specific event and it was both informative and amusing. I thoroughly enjoyed both participating and watching my peers approach the task given to us in our own unique ways. I can confidently say that I was able to sharpen both my writing skills as well as my computer skills whilst using the different tools needed for my articles. My performance in the competition was stellar as I managed to win first place and a cash prize to my own dismay. The most significant quote I selected was 'I'm never gonna put boundaries on myself ever again. I'm never gonna say I can't doit. I'm never gonna say 'maybe'. I'm never gonna say, 'I don't think I can.' I can and I will.' By Nadiya Hussein it inspired me as it came from an Arab Muslim woman living in the UK on her experiences on British television. Without a doubt I can say it was an extremely successful and enjoyable experience.
- AUD Testimonial (Female Student - Male Student)
6. During the fund period, did your efforts do any of the following? (required):
For affiliates, the response to Question 6. also partially addresses Affiliate Health Criterion 2.2 (Diversity balance).
- 6.1 Bring in participants from the following groups: women, young people, underrepresented geographical regions (ESEAP, LATAM, SSA, MENA, SA)
- 6.2 Develop content about the following underrepresented topics or groups of people: women, underrepresented geographical regions (ESEAP, LATAM, SSA, MENA, SA)
- 6.3 Support the retention of: Editors, Organizers, Partnerships
7. What, if any, effective tactics or approaches can you share that worked well when dealing with the programs under points 6.1-6.3 that you selected? (optional)
Optional
8. If you developed partnerships, which of the following factors most helped you to build partnerships? Please pick a MAXIMUM of the three most relevant factors (optional):
N/A
Part 2: Metrics
[edit]| Metrics name | Target | Result | Comments and tools used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of all participants | 200 | 413 | Registration Forms
Surveys Contributors List Event Dashboard |
| Number of all editors | 250 | 368 | - Data analysis sheet
|
| Number of new editors | 100 | 189 | |
| Number of retained editors | 50 | 49 | |
| Number of all organizers | 5 | 11 | This includes Professors from different universities who supported us in planning and liaising with their students. |
| Number of new organizers | 0 | 7 |
| Wikimedia project | Target - Number of created pages | Target - Number of improved pages | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 500 | 1000 | 920 | 200 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 2000 | 5017 | ||
| Wikidata | 2000 | 1000 | 92 | 7 |
| Wiktionary | ||||
| Wikisource | ||||
| Wikimedia Incubator | ||||
| Translatewiki | ||||
| MediaWiki | ||||
| Wikiquote | 190 | 0 | ||
| Wikivoyage | ||||
| Wikibooks | ||||
| Wikiversity | ||||
| Wikinews | ||||
| Wikispecies | ||||
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
11. Did you set other quantitative and qualitative targets for your project (other metrics)? (required): No
11.1. Other Metrics.
In your application, you outlined some other open metrics that you would like to measure. Please fill out the achieved results for each of the open metrics you defined.
| Other Metrics name | Metrics Description | Target | Result | Tools and comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Students through Wiki Club: | Metrics:
Number of students trained. Number of training sessions conducted. Quality of training materials and resources (participant feedback). |
200 | ||
| Contributions on Wikimedia Projects via WikiCollection: | Metrics:
Number of contributions made. Number of contributors involved. Quality assessment of contributions. |
5000 | ||
| Edit-a-thons: | Metrics:
Number of edit-a-thons conducted. Number of participants in each edit-a-thon. Quality assessment of edits made during edit-a-thons. |
4 | ||
| University Training Sessions: | Target: Conduct at least 5 training sessions in 3 main universities in the UAE.
Metrics: Number of training sessions conducted in each university. Number of students or participants in each session. Participant feedback on training effectiveness. |
5 | ||
| competition | Competitions:
Target: Organize at least two competitions. Metrics: Number of competitions conducted. Number of participants in each competition. Evaluation criteria and judging process for competitions. |
2 |
Part 3: Skill Development / Capacity Building
[edit]12. Reflecting on your programmatic (external) and organizational (internal) work, did your grant support you to undergo any skill development that made a difference to your success? If yes, what skill was developed, and how did it lead to success? (e.g. received coaching on public speaking, attended training on nonviolent communication, hosted professional development conversations on leadership, learned and used a new tool for project management, etc.)? Can you share any materials? (required)
For affiliates, use this space (Question 12.) to address Affiliate Health Criteria 2.2 (Diversity balance) and 3.1 (Diverse, Skilled, and Accountable Leadership):
- Describe actions taken to prioritize gender balance in affiliate leadership, as well as any areas of diversity relevant to your affiliate's context (2.2).
- Describe the management, financial, or other leadership skills of your affiliate leaders. If you have a succession plan, please include it here (3.1).
- Describe any training or skill development (as outlined in the question above) (3.1).
- Incorporate into the annual report a disclosure of conflict of interests (if any) from the leadership (3.1).
The Wikimedians of UAE User Group is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within its leadership and membership. In the past year, we have taken the following actions to prioritize gender balance:
- We actively encouraged women to apply for leadership and organization positions within the user group through targeted outreach and by highlighting the contributions of women.
- Mentorship Program: We initiated a mentorship program to support and empower women editors and encourage their participation in future leadership roles and decision-making by enhancing capacity building programs and activities.
In addition to gender balance, we are mindful of other areas of diversity relevant to the UAE context. These include:
- Nationality: The UAE is a multicultural society with a large expatriate population. We strive to ensure representation from various nationalities within our leadership and membership.
- Age: We encourage participation from people of all ages, recognizing the value of intergenerational collaboration.
- Background and Expertise: We seek individuals with diverse professional backgrounds and skills.
3.1 Diverse, Skilled, and Accountable Leadership
Our user group organizers possess a range of skills crucial to the success of our initiatives:
- Management: good organizational and project management skills, demonstrated through successful planning and execution of events like edit-a-thons, workshops, and the WikiArabia conference.
- Financial: Experience in managing budgets and ensuring financial accountability in accordance with Wikimedia Foundation guidelines and local regulations. This is further strengthened by our partnership with the Emirates Literature Foundation, which acts as our fiscal sponsor.
- Communication: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, essential for effective outreach and collaboration with partners and community members.
- Research: focus on research on the community needs and analyzing data to ensure gender balance and curating programs catered to the needs of the members of the Wikimedia UAE.
Succession Planning:
We recognize the importance of leadership continuity and are developing a succession plan that includes:
- Identifying and mentoring potential future leaders: We provide opportunities for members to take on increasing responsibilities and develop their leadership skills.
- Documenting processes and knowledge: We maintain comprehensive records of our activities and procedures to ensure smooth transitions.
13. What is one capacity/skill area that you would like to focus on for the next year? And how do you plan to achieve this capacity? (required)
For the next year, the Wikimedians of UAE User Group will prioritize developing our capacity in partnership building and sponsorship.
We recognize that securing diverse and sustainable funding sources is crucial for the long-term growth and impact of our user group. While we deeply value the support from the Wikimedia Foundation and our fiscal sponsor, the Emirates Literature Foundation, we aim to broaden our resource base to ensure the continued success of our programs.
Plan to Achieve this Capacity:
1. Develop a Comprehensive Partnership Strategy:
- We will conduct a thorough analysis of potential partners, including corporations, foundations, government agencies, and other organizations aligned with our mission.
This strategy will outline clear goals, objectives, and approaches for building mutually beneficial partnerships.
2. Build Relationships with Potential Sponsors:
We will actively engage with potential sponsors through targeted outreach, networking events, and presentations showcasing the impact of our work.
We will cultivate strong relationships based on shared values and a clear understanding of the sponsor's philanthropic goals.
3. Enhance our Online Presence:
We will develop a compelling online presence that highlights our achievements, impact, and partnership opportunities.
This includes updating our website, creating engaging social media content, and producing high-quality promotional materials.
4. Collaborate with the Wikimedia Foundation:
- We will actively engage with the Wikimedia Foundation's partnership team to leverage their expertise and resources.
- This includes seeking guidance on best practices for partnership development and fundraising, as well as exploring potential collaborations with other Wikimedia affiliates.
14. If you have additional information or reflections that don’t fit into the above sections, please write them here. Use the space below to upload any additional documents that would be useful to understand your report.
For affiliates, also use this section (Question 14) to fulfill the Affiliate Health Criteria requirements.
- Describe and link to any public-facing documentation for affiliate governance, including affiliate leadership and membership with a breakdown of the demographics; how elections are conducted; how conflicts of interest are declared; and how decisions are made and communicated (2.2, 2.3, 3.1).
- Describe and link to any public-facing documentation for activities incorporating, promoting awareness about, or enforcing the Universal Code of Conduct in your affiliate's activities (3.3).
- Describe and link to any public-facing documentation for internal membership engagement, such as notes from your regular meetings and how you communicate to or involve your membership (4.1).
Bylaws etc.
- We do not have bylaws at this time. These will be developed and discussed during our September 2025 meetup, with the goal of finalizing them by December 2025. We have now reached a stable phase in our work, with active members, consistent programs, and activities aligned with our annual strategy. Therefore, we believe this is the right year to focus on creating bylaws collaboratively.
Meeting Minutes:
- In 2024, meeting minutes were stored internally. However, you can view some minutes (here), (here), and (here). For 2025, we’re publishing public summaries, which you can find one example (here).
- Anyone can become a member of the user group by filling out the public registration form (following the guidelines available (here)). After registering, members receive an invitation to the upcoming community meetup and the newsletter, which provides updates on ongoing activities and ways to contribute.
- The list of active team members is maintained on (this page) which is updated periodically based on member activity and the support needed for user group initiatives and operations.
UCoC Compliances
- We follow the WMF’s UCoC and Friendly Space Policies.
- In Q4 2024 and Q1-Q2 2025, we updated our Meta and community pages to explicitly state our compliance with the UCoC and the Friendly Space Policies.
- We created the email address info@uaewikimedian.com for community members to report any incident or concerns.
- We have not yet conducted formal UCoC or Friendly Space training, but we plan to explore this for some members in 2025.
Part 4: Financial reporting
[edit]For affiliates, also use this section (Part 4: Financial reporting) to address Affiliate Health Criterion 3.2 (Financial & Legal Compliance).
| Description | Planned / received budget for this category (AED) | Amount spent (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel costs | 22520 | 82718 |
| Operational costs | 299 | 32171 |
| Programmatic costs | 27480 | 68741 |
| Total General Support Fund | 183630 | 183630.01 |
| Other revenue | ||
| Remaining funds from General Support Fund | N/A |
15. Please state the total amount spent from this fund in your local currency. (required)
183630.01 AED
16. Please provide an overview of the amount spent from this fund in the following budget categories in your local currency. (required)
- Operational costs: 32171 AED
- Programmatic costs: 82718 AED
- Staff and contractor costs: 68741 AED
17. Did you have any other revenue sources (e.g. other funding, membership contributions, donations)? (required): No
- 17.1. Provide the total amount received from other revenue sources in your local currency. (required): AED
- 17.2. Provide the total amount spent from other revenue sources in your local currency. (required): AED
18. Provide a financial report document which will provide the details of funds received and spent in the currency of your fund. (required)
- Upload Documents, Templates, and Files.
- Report funds received and spent, if template not used.
18.2. If you have not already done so in your financial spending report, provide information on changes in the budget in relation to your original proposal. (optional)
N/A
19. Do you have any unspent funds from this funding?: No
20. Final confirmations (required)
- 20.1. Are you in compliance with the terms outlined in the fund agreement? You must be in compliance with relevant tax laws and regulations restricting the use of the Funds as outlined in the grant agreement. In summary, this is to confirm that the funds were used in alignment with the Wikimedia Foundation mission and for charitable/nonprofit/educational purposes.
- Yes
- 20.2. Are you in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations as outlined in the grant agreement?
- Yes
- 20.3. Are you in compliance with provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and with relevant tax laws and regulations restricting the use of the Funds as outlined in the grant agreement? In summary, this is to confirm that the funds were used in alignment with the WMF mission and for charitable/nonprofit/educational purposes.
- Yes
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