Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Building Sustainability for Kenyan Wikipedia Editors at the University of Nairobi (ID: 23641713)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
RosPost
- Organization
Women in Religion User Group
- 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.
Building Sustainability for Kenyan Wikipedia Editors at the University of Nairobi
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2026-01-20 - 2026-05-25
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Kenya
- 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)
We are leading a vital effort in Kenya’s digital knowledge landscape to expand and retain Wikipedia editors. Our goal is to promote inclusivity and to address directly the systemic content and gender gaps on Wikipedia by creating knowledge in underrepresented areas, such as women in religion and other marginalized groups. The change we are making is three-fold:
Representational Change: We ensure that Kenyan women’s perspectives and scholarship in religion, currently underrepresented on Wikipedia, are accurately and comprehensively represented by creating well-sourced new articles, improving existing ones and uploading photos.
Infrastructural Change: We are establishing a thriving, self-sustaining community of Wikipedia editors, anchored at the University of Nairobi (UoN). This Hub will be more than a physical space; it will be the central engine for this movement. It will empower a new generation of editors within the academic setting, effectively bridging the gap between the vast knowledge generated in universities and its visibility and impact on Wikipedia.
Transformational editing culture: Furnishing the University of Nairobi Wikipedia hub will nurture and transform the editing culture from one-off participation to a consistent and sustainable community of editors through regular coaching and mentorship, reducing editor burnout, fatigue, and drop-out. This will nurture a generation of editors who view Wikipedia not merely as a platform, but as a movement for knowledge equity, digital empowerment and a space to document and archive lives, voices, and contributions of underrepresented groups. This transformed editing culture will contribute to high-quality and locally relevant content to Wikipedia and related Wikimedia projects.
Nairobi Strategic Partners: Better understand the resources in Nairobi that are in the Wikiverse and might be interested in the Wikiverse
In essence, the change is a virtuous cycle: a dedicated Wiki-editing community (the Hub) produces targeted, equitable knowledge of women in religion and other marginalized groups, which in turn attracts and retains more editors, creating a permanent and growing force for knowledge equity in Kenya.
What are the main challenges or problems we are trying to solve?
Our initiative confronts three core challenges that stifle the growth and sustainability of the Wikipedia community in Kenya.
First, a critical content and gender gap persists, where topics vital to Kenyan notable women figures are missing or poorly represented.
Second, editor isolation and attrition are major problems. The absence of a dedicated physical hub means potential contributors lack a space to collaborate, receive mentorship, and build a supportive community, leading to high dropout rates.
Third, significant barriers to entry exist. Many students and staff–potential Wikipedia editors–are not familiar with Wikipedia, often due to a lack of consistent access to reliable internet and to academic resources needed for credible sourcing. Together, these challenges create a cycle that hinders both the quantity and quality of local content, as well as the retention of a robust editing community.
What are the main approaches to achieving ?
To overcome these challenges and create the desired change, we will employ a multi-faceted approach centered on the furnishing of the University of Nairobi Wikipedia Hub:
1. Furnish the donated Physical Hub at the University of Nairobi
Approach: We have had trouble using the space we were offered because it was not dedicated and didn’t have enough equipment. We will furnish a dedicated space at the University of Nairobi with a booster to create consistent high-speed internet, more computers, and collaborative workstations. This will serve as the physical editing space for the Kenyan Wikimedia community, offering a professional, resourceful, and conducive environment for editing and training events.
Outcome: A central, convenient, and accessible base that reduces isolation, fosters collaboration, and provides the necessary tools for high-quality content creation. 2. Implement a Structured Capacity Building and Mentorship Program:
Approach: We will run a continuous cycle of workshops, "edit-a-thons," and training sessions focused on basic and advanced editing and sourcing of resources. This program will pair new editors with experienced mentors to provide continuous coaching, mentorship, training, guidance, and support, drastically improving retention rates.
Outcome: growth of confident, skilled, and motivated editors who can contribute effectively and sustainably to Wikipedia.
3. Foster Strategic Partnerships and Content Creation Campaigns:
Approach: We will explore partnerships with 1. five university departments; 2. resources outside of the university; and, 3. local Wikipedia editing groups. We will map local Wikipedia editors and interested parties to identify key content gaps, explore overlapping issues, and collaboratively plan future "content campaigns" to create and improve articles on specific themes in the next grant.
Outcome: Strategic and definable increase in partnerships, both within and outside the University. An understanding of the interests of participants and new members. A strategic plan to address content gaps based on the interests of the participants.
4. Begin building a Sustainable Community Model:
Approach: The Hub will be designed for long-term sustainability. We will cultivate a core leadership team from within the university community and integrate Wikipedia activities into relevant student projects. This ensures the initiative outlives the initial grant funding. Outcome: Learn how to create targeted social media content to announce campaigns. Develop a teaching curriculum about Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia for new editors. Learn how to make social media posters for campaigns. Learn how to track campaigns using Wikipedia tools. Continue to grow a self-sustaining leadership program that champions Wikipedia editing within the university and the larger community.
- 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.
Activities for Furnishing the Physical Hub
1. Equipment Procurement and Setup: Acquire and install a reliable high-speed internet connection, a projector, and a screen for training.
2. Hub launch event: Organize a high-profile opening ceremony to introduce the hub to the university community for sensitization and to generate initial excitement.
Activities for Capacity Building, Leadership & Mentorship
1. Mentorship Circle Program: Establish a structured program where experienced editors mentor small groups of new students, providing personalized guidance and building confidence.
2. Bi-Monthly Thematic Edit-a-thons: Organize dedicated editing events focused specifically on creating and improving articles about
3. Kenyan women's topics.
"Wiki-Women Tuesdays" Workshop Series: Host weekly, women-focused virtual training sessions on Wikipedia basics, covering policies, editing, and citation, creating a supportive entry point.
4. Advanced Sourcing Workshops: Conduct specialized training to library students on how to find credible sources for underrepresented topics in university library databases.
5. Phone Editing Workshop: Ask a skilled phone editor to help us learn skills on phones.
Activities for Strategic Partnerships & Content Creation
1. Outreach to potential partnerships within and outside the University to determine interest.
2. Catalogue interests, potential roles, and numbers in various groups both inside and outside of the University, especially those already working in the Wikiverse. Form a "Knowledge Partners Coalition": Officially partner with the Departments of Kiswahili, Religious Studies, Gender Studies, Library and Information Science, and History, as well as the University Library, to access expertise and archives.
3. Virtual Collaboration with Other Kenyan Wiki-Groups: After conducting ongoing outreach to potential partners, host a joint online meeting to discuss collaboration and roles, and set up dates for events and editathons in connection with a later grant that aims to foster a city-wide and nation-wide network.
4. Create a "Most Wanted Articles" List: Collaboratively with partners, develop and publish a prioritized list of missing articles on key Kenyan women and topics of interest, that will guide content generation.
5. Integrate African trainers into meet-ups and editathons.
Activities for Building a Sustainable Community
1. Continuous recruitment and training: Continuous training and official creation of a recruited students register (list of participants) within the Wikipedia project page and within the hub to ensure recognition and continuity beyond individual leaders.
2. Initiate discussions on Integrating Wikipedia activities in the University programs: Making Wikipedia editing part of academic study, research projects and skills training. For instance, working on translation to Wikipedia Swahili with the Kiswahili department, library students, and sociology students. This will ensure Wikipedia editing becomes an important academic and research skill thus enhancing sustainability through university support and resources; thus, Wikipedia will no longer be an isolated movement but part of academic scholarship. We would like to see the expansion of Wikiedu support systems to Africa.
3. Test Wikipedia-approved AI to improve the learning curve for editors: Facilitating editor engagement, such as syntax, Converso, and tone.
- 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.
The Kenyan Circle of Concerned African Women WikiProject creates, updates, and improves Wikimedia content pertaining to the lives of Kenyan and African cisgender and transgender women who are notable as scholars, activists, and practitioners in the world's religious, spiritual, and wisdom traditions, more specifically in Kenya and other African countries. We are an offshoot/daughter project of Women in Religion Wikipedia User Group. And work closely with them to reach our goals.
We are a team of dedicated volunteer editors who hope to expand topics on Women and other subjects as needed in Kenya. Attached is the link describing the group in detail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Wikipedia:WikiProject_Kenyan_Circle_of_Concerned_African_Women
Wikimedia User names for the team and their roles
Communista (Telesia Musili)- Team lead organizer Eleosyne (Josephine Kanyiva)- Editor Merwanga (Mercy Ng’ang’a)- Editor Magashy (Maureen Ong’ombe)- Editor Jespinama (Mary Chepkoech)- Editor Lakolake (Michael Okello)- Librarian Purose (Tiffany Mbugua)-Editor Oshotune (Virginiah Kioko)- Editor Wikedits2024 (Carolyne Chepng’eno)- Editor Giluwa (Lucy Gichane)-Editor Laggieleshmoh(Abigael Chelangat)- Editor
U.S. Team
The Women in Religion WikiProject is an initiative to create, update, and improve Wikimedia content pertaining to the lives of cisgender and transgender women who are notable as scholars, activists, and practitioners in the world's religious, spiritual, and wisdom traditions. As of October 2025, our project has created or improved more than 325 Wikipedia articles and biographies.
RosPost (Rosalind Hinton- Organizer/Grant assistance/Trainer/Co-Founder of Women in Religion Colleen Hartung (Dzingle1): Organizer/Trainer/Founder of Women in Religion, Working since 2018 Christine Meyer (Figureskatingfan): Organizer/Trainer working on Wikipedia since 2077 Clifford Anderson (Clifford Anderson): Librarian, AI and tech advisor and strategist, and Wiki editor and trainer. Volunteer. Jere Odell: (Jaireeodel): Librarian and researcher, AI explorer, and Wikipedia trainer and editor.Volunteer. Winifred Whelan (Chitownacademic): Wikipedia editor and trainer, essayist for 2023 open source volume. Volunteer. Carole Sargent (Oh-Fortuna!) Director of the Office of Scholarly Publications; Georgetown University who creates Editathons Hilary Ward Schnadt (Engmaj): Wikipedia trainer and editor, co-editor of 2023 -25 open source volumes. volume, and minutes taker. Volunteer. Rosemary Stepenson GoodNight (Rosiestep): Strategist, Wiki editor, and advisor. Volunteer.
- 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)
Target Participants
Primary Target: Students and staff (academic and library) from the University of Nairobi with an interest in digital literacy, knowledge equity, gender studies and religion.
Secondary Target: Established Wikipedia editing groups and communities across Kenya (e.g., Wikimedia Community User Group Kenya).
Third Target: Begin to connect with the aspirational list of partners in Nairobi from the last grant report, September 30, 2025, including 1.The National Library and other libraries in the country that can collate resources needed for editing on a particular topic 2.The National Archives that can retrieve historical information and resources 3.Individuals we met at Wikimania 2025 who offered to help in training, Nairobi-based Wikipedia User groups, and editors who wish to explore potential collaboration opportunities. 4.Wikipedia Education staff to incorporate their education tools for Kenya and the University of Nairobi.
How will you engage participants before and during the activities?
Before activities: Students and staff - 1. Sensitize the university community on Wikipedia editing 2. Identify and recruit interested students and staff to become "WikiAmbassadors." 3. Create eye-catching posters and digital flyers in social media, focusing on the mission: "Help write Kenyan women back into history!" and circulate in the students’ socials. 4. Recruit a graphic arts student to create a brand for our group.
During Activities: Students and Staff 1. Create a Colorful, Welcoming, and Collaborative Environment: Explain why we are there and ensure mentors and facilitators are readily available to provide one-on-one help, thus creating a good working environment, thereby preventing frustration. 2. Focus on immediate achievement: Design activities so that every participant, especially beginners, can make tangible contributions (e.g., adding a citation, creating a stub article, uploading an image/photo, adding a Wikiquote, creating a Wikidata item) and see their work live on Wikipedia by the end of the session. 3. Provide snacks and food at events. 4. Provide inexpensive branded Wikipedia swag
AFTER Activities (The Follow-Up for Continuity): Student and Staff 1. Create a Persistent Communication Channel: Establish a "UoN Wikimedians" WhatsApp/Telegram group. This is low-barrier and perfect for quick questions, sharing achievements, and announcing impromptu "micro-meetups" at the hub
Before Activities: Other Wikipedia editing groups in Kenya 1. Outreach and introduction: Send a formal, respectful introductory email (also texts and phone calls) to other leaders and introduce the University-based hub, discuss issues of gender imbalance on Wikipedia, and highlight the need to learn from other, more experienced editors.
DURING Activities: Other Wikipedia editing groups in Kenya 1. Invite Experienced Wikipedia Editors as Trainers: Based on their expertise, invite members from other Wikipedia User groups to lead a virtual or in-person training session for the UoN community on a specific skill (e.g., Wiki quotes, increasing edit counts, talk pages, etc.). 2. Host a "Knowledge Sharing" Virtual Meeting: Share the project's focus and agree on areas of collaboration and learning. Strategize future joint events around issues of interest. 3. Attend others’ Wikipedia meet-ups and in-person and/or virtual events 4. Strategize Joint National Virtual Campaigns: Strategize collaborative, nationwide "Kenyan Women" edit-a-thon or any other relevant area of interest. 5. Provide food at in-person event(s)
AFTER Activities (The Follow-Up for Continuity): Other Wikipedia editing groups in Kenya 1. Create a Shared Communication Channel: a WhatsApp group for "Kenyan WikiGroup Coordinators" to share opportunities/ challenges and apply for resources together, as well as implement projects together and post events on each others’ Talk Pages. 2. Follow each other’s Instagrams and social media.
Before/During and After for Aspirational Groups in Kenya is similar to other external Wikipedia partners.
- 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.
Wiki community discussions about the proposal:
1. Weekly online editor meetings: Held virtual meetings with current editors and envisioned the proposed project and planned activities. Approximately eleven editors at each of the three meetings. 2. Physical meeting: Had one in-person session with editors to brainstorm and engage on the proposal, in which thirteen people attended. 3. University coordinators, department heads, librarians, and staff: Held a discussion meeting with the academic and library staff from the University of Nairobi concerning the setting of the Wikipedia hub in the university. Wikimania 2025 Poster Event: We took part in the Wikimania Poster event and used our poster to share our proposed project plan and connect with other Wiki-groups and contributors to gain ideas on our future collaborations and events. Attached is the link to the poster: African_Circle_poster_Wikimania_2025.pdf 4. U.S. Women in Religion Wiki Project: Brainstormed ideas for future grants. 5. Wikimania 2025 - Met with Willy Buloso to strategize future grants. 6. Wikimania 2025 Women’s Session led by Rosie Stephenson Goodnight: Learned how other Wikipedia affiliates and user groups plan, function, and collaborate.
Here is a link to the Google folder with a few of the more formal meetings. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nuZIE8kq5AQwaDTak2YSZAUU6NvNtp2K?usp=sharing
- 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)
Cultural background, ethnicity, religion, racial
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Gender and diversity
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Ethnic/racial/religious or cultural background
- 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
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
The guiding learning question: 1. How can a university-based hub most effectively create a sustainable model for closing the systemic, gender and content gap on Wikipedia in Kenya? Measure - Compilation of other learning questions below.
2. What combination of physical space with fast wifi connectivity, mentorship, and community is most effective for converting a first-time editor into a committed, long-term contributor? Measure - Registration & Attendance Data: Track unique participants per event and repeat attendees over time.
3. How can the hub systematically overcome the significant barriers to creating high-quality content on marginalized topics? Measure - Note down the reported challenges by the new editors. Track any articles or edits made at the hub that are flagged for deletion or challenged, and analyze ways to improve future training.
4. What models of outreach and collaboration with other Wikimedia groups and external resources in Kenya yield the highest mutual benefit and amplify impact? Measure - Number of meetings with outside groups. Ability to integrate trainers into our workflow. A Catalogue of potential future issues, campaigns, and collaborative events. Number of accepted invitations to collaborate. Designated roles and responsibilities of new collaborations.
5. What models of outreach and collaboration within the UoN setting to ensure a steady flow of new editors?
Measure - Number of meetings with outside groups. Ability to integrate trainers into our workflow. A catalogue of potential future issues, campaigns, and collaborative events. Number of accepted invitations from within the university to collaborate. Designated roles and responsibilities of new university collaborations. Number of new editors and diversity of departments engaged.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 35 | At the actual hub, we hope to have at least 35 people attend meetings and events. Of course, outreach numbers will be different depending on the number of aspirational partners at libraries, University staff and students, and external Wikipedia stakeholders who would like to join our project or collaborate on future projects. |
| Number of editors | 18 | We hope to gain 8 new regular editors or team members managing various administrative and editing tasks. Fall off can be pretty intense because people show up out of curiosity and also to get themselves listed on Wikipedia. We hope to avoid a fall-off by working with departments and the Wikiverse. |
| Number of organizers | 6 | We hope to develop new leadership within the University of Nairobi, while maintaining the leadership base we have developed to date. |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 40 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 20 |
| Wikidata | |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | 10 |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
We have focused this grant on outreach and developing strategic partnerships. At the same time, a group of editors will meet regularly that mentor one another and recruit and train new editors for the Wikipedia movement. We will produce stubs, improve articles with edits, learn to upload and work on photos,edit on our phones, and learn how to edit on Wikiquotes. We will learn new AI tools. We will compile results for strategic partnerships. We will report before, during, and after strategies and results of a Wikipedia Campaign.
- 19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)
Yes
| Main Open Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Wiki Dashboard | For our campaigns, we would like to master the Wiki Dashboard to track people, edits, and creations. We have not used the Wiki dashboard, so there will be a learning curve, especially around reminding everyone to sign in on a regular basis when they are editing.. | 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)
Wiki Dashboard, edit counts, individual edits, number of stubs and photos uploaded, creation of one new campaign poster, creation of social media. Number of new editors, number of people attending meet-ups, editathons, and trainings. Use of new AI tools for syntax, grammar, and tone. Integration of suggestbot on talk pages.
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
Here is the link to the budget: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mJUTggUSnJDxaDgJH5zBGowbfe4AUg5F/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106382045803156735055&rtpof=true&sd=true
Timeline Information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kbHJRswZ-3qOS9E34L1N_rTsP0x1I0bg/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106382045803156735055&rtpof=true&sd=true
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
519867 KES
- 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.
4000 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).