Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Amplifying African Voices Online Audio Storytelling Training for the African Wikimedia Community (ID: 23520326)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
ItzAbdullahi
- 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)
Main Proposal
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.
Amplifying African Voices Online Audio Storytelling Training for the African Wikimedia Community
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-11-03 - 2026-01-31
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Regional (more than one country in the same continent or region) This proposal will be implemented regionally across Africa, with direct participation from Wikimedia communities in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Cameroon. The online format allows for broad, inclusive access across Anglophone and Francophone African countries, ensuring a diverse representation of voices and storytelling perspectives. The training will engage both new and existing editors and contributors interested in using audio storytelling to enrich Wikimedia Commons and other related projects.
- 5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)
Wiki Loves Africa
- 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 Wikimedia movement is rich in visual and written content but remains underutilized in audio storytelling, especially within the African context. Despite the widespread use of audio as a communication tool across the continent through oral traditions, radio, and podcasts there is a gap in skills and access to tools that limits community members from contributing immersive audio content to Wikimedia Commons and other platforms.
The change we want to bring is to empower underserved Wikimedia communities with the creative and technical skills to produce culturally relevant audio stories. This not only diversifies content on Commons but also makes Wikimedia platforms more inclusive and accessible, especially for oral cultures and audio-first learners.
Main Challenges: Lack of technical skills in sound recording, editing, and storytelling structures Limited access to equipment like soundcards, microphones, and laptops. Low representation of African voices and narratives in Wikimedia’s audio repository. Limited awareness of Wikimedia Commons as a platform for publishing freely licensed audio content.
Main Approaches to Address These Challenges: Capacity Building through Virtual Training: We will run a 6-week online training series teaching the fundamentals of sound design, storytelling, and audio production using free or open-source tools. This will focus on practical, community-led examples and how to upload to Wikimedia Commons.
Access to Tools and Mentorship: The project will be equipped with basic facilitation tools (laptops, soundcards, internet access) to ensure smooth delivery and allow participants to interactively learn and practice during sessions.
Use of African-Centered Audio Examples: We will draw from real projects previously created by the facilitator (e.g., Change Immersion 2023 and African Anthem 2024) as reference points, showing how storytelling can be used to amplify community knowledge, climate challenges, and cultural heritage.
Follow-Up and Community Integration:
A mentorship channel and follow-up support (via Telegram or Wikimedia talk pages) will guide participants to contribute their own audio works to Commons and potentially develop them into wiki-based educational tools or campaigns.
Why These Approaches? These methods are community-based, context-driven, and tech-accessible. They’re informed by real field experience working with grassroots storytellers. Audio is scalable and flexible participants can work on their stories even with mobile devices and open-source tools.
These strategies allow a low-barrier entry into Wikimedia contribution, while respecting diverse ways of learning and expression. By the end of this project, we aim to increase African audio contributions to Wikimedia Commons, build a small cohort of audio-literate Wiki contributors, and raise awareness about the importance of sound in the open knowledge ecosystem.
- 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.
Planned Activities This project will unfold over a 6-week online training program, focused on building skills in audio storytelling for Wikimedia Commons. The following are the key activities aligned with our strategic approaches:
1. Outreach and Community Mobilization (Week 1)
Promote the training through Wikimedia user groups, WikiAfrica, and social media channels.
Host a virtual info session to introduce the project and encourage sign-ups.
Share registration forms and finalize participant lists (target: 15–20 participants).
Why this works: Early engagement sets expectations and attracts participants already active in or adjacent to the Wikimedia ecosystem. We aim to create excitement and align shared values around open audio content.
2. Online Training Series (Weeks 2–5) Total: 4 Sessions (1 per week)
Week 1 Focus: Introduction to Audio as Knowledge. Sound Recording Techniques Tools/Skills: Audio storytelling, oral knowledge in Wikimedia. Field recording, microphone types, mobile audio
Week 2 Focus: Audio Editing Basics. Building a Narrative Tools/Skills: Open-source tools (Audacity, Hindenburg trial). Story structure, scriptwriting, cultural nuance
Week 3 Focus:Sound Design & Ambience Tools/Skills: SFX, music, foley for immersive sound
Week 4 Focus:Upload to Wikimedia Commons Tools/Skills: Licensing, metadata, categorizing uploads
Why this works: This structure mirrors successful storytelling workshops conducted by the facilitator and ensures a gradual, hands-on learning process. It provides both theoretical and technical grounding to enable confident audio contributions.
3. Practical Assignments + Feedback (Ongoing throughout weeks 2–5) Participants will develop one audio story each. They will receive guided peer and mentor feedback. Stories must reflect community, culture, or climate themes.
Why this works: Assignments promote retention and application. Feedback builds skill and community support, making contributions stronger and more relevant to Wikimedia’s goals.
4. Final Showcase & Commons Upload (Week 6) Participants present completed stories in a virtual listening session. All stories are published to Wikimedia Commons under open license. Celebration of participation and sharing Badges or certificate of completion.
Why this works: Celebrating their work promotes a sense of achievement, encourages future contributions, and introduces a repository of new, Africa-centered sound content to Commons.
5. Post-Training Support & Community Integration Launch a Telegram/WhatsApp group for ongoing support. Provide resources on Commons uploading, licensing, metadata, and creative reuse. Encourage participants to mentor future cohorts.
Why this works: Sustained learning and community reinforcement build lasting capacity and new leadership within the movement.
Partnerships Wiki Loves Africa & Wiki In Africa: Promotional collaboration and content sharing.
- 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. Team members involved in the grant application need to be aware of their involvement in the project.
This project will be led and facilitated by Abdullahi T.A. (Wikimedia Commons username: ItzAbdullahi), an award-winning audio-visual storyteller, photojournalist, and active contributor to Wikimedia Commons, particularly in the field of audio stories.
Role and Responsibilities Project Lead & Facilitator (Consultant/Contractor):
Designs curriculum and facilitates all training sessions
Provides technical and creative mentorship
Manages participant engagement, communications, and outreach
Oversees upload and licensing support on Wikimedia Commons
Coordinates post-training community integration and follow-up
This is a solo project with no salaried staff or partner organizations involved in the delivery. However, community collaborators, including previous Wiki Loves Africa contributors and audio storytelling peers, may offer light peer feedback or community engagement voluntarily.
- 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 Wikimedia Commons community in Africa, especially emerging audio contributors, multimedia editors, and local creatives interested in open knowledge and storytelling. This includes past participants from campaigns like Wiki Loves Africa, as well as new contributors from Wikimedia User Groups in Ghana, Nigeria, and other parts of Anglophone West Africa.
Participants will be primarily: Aspiring or emerging audio storytellers Wikimedia contributors curious about sound as a medium Community members working on climate, cultural, or urban issues through creative commons media
Engagement Strategy Before the Training; Outreach through Wikimedia affiliate groups, Commons mailing lists, and campaign networks (e.g., Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki In Africa, OFWA) A registration form and info pack shared publicly via Meta, WhatsApp groups, and Telegram channels A pre-training survey to assess participant experience, interests, and expectations
During the Training (6 weeks); Weekly live sessions on Zoom covering theory, editing, publishing, and licensing Asynchronous engagement on a shared learning platform (e.g., Google Classroom or Notion) Access to practical audio prompts and collaborative assignments Mentorship and peer review using Wikimedia Commons sandbox pages and upload tools
After the Training One-on-one follow-up with participants to support their first public audio upload on Commons Creation of a Telegram or WhatsApp group for alumni to share stories and opportunities Optional monthly “audio clinics” for Q&A and project feedback Compilation of stories in a shared Meta-Wiki learning page
The goal is to not only train but to retain and activate new contributors in the Wikimedia audio ecosystem, especially in underrepresented African languages and themes.
- 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.
After receiving the Wiki Loves Africa Best Audio Prize in both 2023 and 2024, both in 2023 and 2024 I was invited to conduct introductory audio storytelling sessions for the WikiAfrica community organized by Hilary Ogali and the Late Nelson Wilson. These experiences helped me understand the growing interest among Wikimedia contributors in using sound as a medium for open knowledge. In both sessions, participants expressed interest in more structured, hands-on training that could guide them from idea to final upload on Wikimedia Commons. This feedback shaped the proposal to build a focused, 6-week audio storytelling workshop, targeting African contributors looking to build technical skills and confidence in using sound.
Steps Taken to Discuss with the Community I shared my intention to build on the Wiki Hour, meet the winners session also on earlier audio sessions to develop a more practical and accessible training space. Discussions were held with past participants and organizers of Wiki Loves Africa about how to support new and returning audio contributors beyond the contest. I also reached out to individuals in Wikimedia Commons and WikiAfrica Sounding Board to assess needs and collaboration opportunities.
On-Wiki Community Notification
A notification and invitation to discuss the project will be posted on:
The talk pages of Commons:Wiki Loves Africa
Commons:Village Pump
Relevant Meta-Wiki pages such as Wiki Loves Africa Meta portal
Open Foundation West Africa Meta portal
(Links will be provided once discussions are live.)
The training is intentionally designed to align with Wikimedia’s larger efforts to diversify media formats and engage African contributors in areas like climate, culture, and community storytelling. It also complements past and ongoing projects like Wiki Loves Africa, Sounds of Africa, and Africa Environment WikiFocus.
- 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)
Other Important Topics (topics considered to be of impact or important in the specific context)
- 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)
Geographic
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Innovate in Free Knowledge
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Through this project, I aim to explore the potential of audio as a storytelling tool within the Wikimedia ecosystem, especially among African contributors. If the project succeeds in creating meaningful change, I hope to answer the following learning questions:
Learning Questions
What challenges do African Wikimedians face in learning and using audio tools for storytelling and documentation?
→ Understanding this will help design better training materials, toolkits, and mentorship models for future programs.
How effective is online training in building technical capacity for audio storytelling among Wikimedia community members?
→ We will measure engagement, completion rates, and quality of final audio submissions to Wikimedia Commons.
What motivates participants to continue creating and uploading audio content after the training ends?
→ This insight can help build sustainable contributor engagement beyond short-term programs.
What kinds of stories and themes do African Wikimedians choose to document through audio?
→ Identifying emerging themes (climate, urban life, heritage, etc.) will guide future project collaborations and content strategy.
How can we improve support systems (technical, editorial, community) for African audio contributors on Wikimedia platforms?
→ This will guide recommendations for community-led peer support or integration with initiatives like Wiki Loves Africa and Wikimedia Commons.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 20 | (20 individuals) We aim to train 15 participants in an online audio storytelling program, selected from across Wikimedia communities in Africa. Participants will attend live sessions, join discussions, and complete practical assignments. |
| Number of editors | 10 | (10 editors) Out of the participants, at least 5 will either create new Wikimedia accounts or actively contribute to Wikimedia Commons and/or Wikipedia using audio content or related uploads (e.g., soundscapes, oral histories, interviews). |
| Number of organizers | 1 | (1 lead organizer/facilitator) The project will be led and facilitated solely by me, Abdullahi T.A., a two-time Wiki Loves Africa Best Audio Prize winner and experienced audio storyteller. I will coordinate all training, documentation, facilitation, and post-program follow-up. |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 50 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 50 |
| Wikidata | |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
(50+ new audio files) This includes sound-rich oral histories, interviews, ambient recordings, and climate or cultural field stories contributed by participants as part of their final assignments.
- 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)
To measure each target metric within the African regional scope, I will use the following Wikimedia tools:
Outreach Dashboard: To monitor participant engagement, media uploads, and content contributions across Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia, and Wikidata especially from African countries involved.
Hashtag Tool: To track edits and multimedia contributions using project-specific hashtags linked to African community activities.
GLAMorous Tool: To assess the usage and visibility of Africa-focused audio files uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.
Category Statistics: For evaluating the growth and impact of media within targeted Wikimedia Commons categories related to African themes.
Surveys and Feedback Forms (via Google Forms or LimeSurvey): To capture feedback from African participants and assess the effectiveness of training across different language communities and digital literacy levels.
These tools will enable community-specific evaluation and transparent reporting of the project's impact in Africa.
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
7945350 NGN
- 22.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done only to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD.
4935 USD
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
Yes
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).