Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Cybersecurity Literacy Awareness Amongst Wikimedians (ID: 23645615)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
chukydyk
- 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)
I'm a group leader of an informal Wikimedia group.
- Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)
Olubusola Afolabi (Ifedohlapo) Communication Manager
Ubah Chisom Mercy (User: Mercyjamb123) Program Assistant – Oversees ongoing projects
Dike Chukwuma (User: chukydyk)- Project Lead: I am responsible for the overall implementation, evaluation, and reporting of the project.
Main Proposal
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.
Cybersecurity Literacy Awareness Amongst Wikimedians
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-10-25 - 2026-02-28
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Nigeria
- 5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)
Other (please specify) Digital Security
- 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)
This project aims to improve the cybersecurity literacy of Wikimedians by equipping them with the knowledge and practical skills needed to protect their digital identities, contributions, participation and improve their digital safety. Many contributors, particularly those who are new and based in emerging African communities, have limited experience with cybersecurity best practices. As a result, they face heightened risks such as account compromise, privacy breaches, online harassment, and targeted misinformation attacks. These threats can discourage participation, undermine trust, and ultimately weaken the long-term sustainability of Wikimedia projects.
The increasing sophistication of online manipulation, combined with low adoption of secure login methods such as Two-Factor Authentication, insufficient digital hygiene habits, and heavy reliance on mobile phones without adequate protection, further exposes volunteers and the movement to security vulnerabilities. In addition, there is a significant lack of localized cybersecurity education designed specifically for Wikimedians in these regions, meaning many contributors are unaware of the tools and support available within the movement.
Through this project, we seek to bring meaningful change by making cybersecurity education accessible, practical, and directly applicable to Wikimedia workflows. We will organize a focused training workshop where participants learn how to secure their accounts, safeguard their personal data, and recognize and respond to threats such as phishing attempts, misinformation, and malicious editing behaviors. The project will also produce a concise Cybersecurity Quick Guide tailored to Wikimedians, enabling ongoing reuse, translation, and knowledge transfer across communities.
By increasing the confidence and digital safety of contributors, the program will help create a more resilient and supportive environment for participation. The change we are working toward is a community where volunteers feel empowered to engage without fear of security threats, ensuring that both individuals and their contributions remain protected, and strengthening the continued growth and integrity of the Wikimedia movement in Africa.
- 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.
-The project will begin with community outreach and participant recruitment through Wikimedia channels, local user groups, and social media platforms to ensure inclusive engagement from both new and experienced Wikimedians.
- Following this, we will conduct a fully structured cybersecurity literacy workshop specifically designed to address the real security risks faced by contributors in the Digital Space. The workshop will include practical demonstrations such as activating Two-Factor Authentication, managing account security settings, identifying phishing attempts, and understanding how to safeguard editing activities when working on sensitive topics.
- Participants will receive hands-on guidance as they complete each security step, ensuring that what they learn is immediately applied to protect their digital presence. The training content will highlight how cybersecurity supports safe participation, community trust, and the integrity of Wikimedia projects.
- To make the impact sustainable beyond the live sessions, we will produce a concise Cybersecurity Quick Guide tailored for Wikimedians. The guide will provide step-by-step instructions, key safety tips, and links to Wikimedia’s Trust & Safety resources, and will be made freely available for community translation and reuse.
- We will also implement a post training support phase where participants can ask follow-up questions, troubleshoot technical issues, and share what they have learned with their home communities and affiliates.
- Throughout the project, we will collect feedback and monitor learning progress to understand participant needs and measure improvements in secure behavior. The goal is to not only train individuals but to build a small network of informed contributors who can continue to strengthen cybersecurity awareness across the Wikimedia movement in Africa.
- 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.
- Chukwuma Dike- (User: Chukydyk): Is a Google certified Cybersecurity Analyst and IT support specialist. An active Wikimedian who has organized several Wikimedia events successfully with deep experience on Wiki Commons and other Wikimedia projects. He is the Co-founder of Wiki Activate Africa
- Ubah Chisom Mercy (User: Mercyjamb123): She is the recipient of the 2024 Wikimedian of the Year Award, Nigeria. In her role, she is responsible for executing communication strategies and coordinating activities. She actively conducts training sessions, supports contest preparations, contributes to program development, and plays a key role in evaluating contests. A passionate and enthusiastic Wikipedia contributor, she brings a deep interest in organising Edith-a-thon, translations, and research. Her contributions span across content creation, precise editing, and thorough reference validation.
- Olubusola Afolabi - (User: Olubusola Afolabi) : Is a dedicated Librarian, Open GLAM Advocate and author who actively advocates for Open access to Information for all irrespective of gender, societal or economic status. She is passionate about empowering individuals and communities through access to information and knowledge. She has a background in Library science, experience in project management. She is experienced in Wikipedia, Wiki Commons, Wikiquote, Wikidata, Wikisource and Wikipedia.
- 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 primary target participants for this project are Wikimedians from emerging African communities, including new and existing contributors who may be unaware of or underprepared for cybersecurity risks associated with open digital participation.
To ensure strong participation and inclusion, we will actively engage communities before the workshop through coordinated outreach on Wikimedia community platforms, mailing lists, social media groups, and networks such as Wiki Activate Africa and local Wikimedia affiliates. Interested participants will be invited to register, allowing us to understand their needs, experience levels, and preferred support channels prior to the training. Pre-event communication will help familiarize them with the program goals and encourage early reflection on their digital safety practices.
During the workshop, participants will be fully supported through interactive learning, guided demonstrations, and opportunities to ask questions and practice each recommended security action.
Following the workshop, we will maintain engagement through a dedicated support group where participants can receive ongoing assistance, share progress, and report challenges they encounter as they apply cybersecurity measures in their daily editing activities.
- 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.
We have announced this project in the discussion page of the Nigerian Wikimedia User Group: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_User_Group_Nigeria#Cybersecurity_literacy_Awareness_Amongst_Wikimedians
We will also announce the project through various local communication channels like WhatsApp groups, Wikimedia Community platforms, WikiActivate members through our Telegram and WhatsApp groups. We also spread the idea of our project through the Africa Wikimedian Digest (Email list)
- 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)
Open Technology
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Digital Access
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Provide for Safety and Inclusion
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Through this project, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the specific cybersecurity challenges that Wikimedians in emerging African communities encounter in their daily contribution activities. While we recognize that threats such as phishing, account hacking, and online harassment exist, there is limited data on how these issues uniquely impact volunteers who rely predominantly on mobile devices and who may not have access to formal digital safety resources. By engaging participants directly, I aim to learn which security interventions are most effective, what barriers prevent contributors from adopting safe practices, and how localized training can better address community needs.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 20 | Number of expected participants |
| Number of editors | 10 | Number of editors who are expected to contribute |
| Number of organizers | 3 | This includes persons involved in implementing activities such as coordinators, trainers, advisors, facilitators, publicity leaders and speakers |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 50 |
| Wikimedia Commons | |
| Wikidata | |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | 100 |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
N/A
- 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)
We will use the Outreach Dashboard https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/ and we will also create a Table on the Event page to manually document contributions
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vY4VNn3JKbVNWhzhwCsDjE_DkTsUfbkCRntmZWDbVpo/edit?usp=sharing
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
3010000 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.
2067.29 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).