Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Digitizing and Voicing Knowledge with multiple Wikiprojects (ID: 22895219)

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Applicant Details

Main Wikimedia username. (required)

Mounir Neddi

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

1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.

Digitizing and Voicing Knowledge with multiple Wikiprojects

2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.

2025-02-07 - 2025-04-30

4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

Morocco

5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)

Not applicable

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)

There is a significant lack of spoken content across Arabic Wikimedia platforms, particularly for articles, poems, and vocabularies. This gap limits accessibility for individuals with visual impairments, literacy challenges, or those who prefer auditory learning. Furthermore, the absence of audio formats restricts the ability to preserve oral cultural traditions and hinders inclusivity in the dissemination of knowledge. This challenge is particularly pronounced in Moroccan content, where cultural heritage and linguistic diversity remain underrepresented in both written and spoken formats. Every year, books enter the public domain, paving the way for them to become available for research and reading on Wikisource and its sister projects, especially Wikipedia, which lacks reliable, searchable, and verifiable sources. However, these books face several obstacles and challenges: 1. Weak growth of editors capable of incorporating these books into Wikisource. 2. Limited follow-up on Moroccan books that have entered the public domain. 3. A lack of understanding of the needs, interests, and diversity of project readers. 4. A gap in directing organizations interested in free knowledge, who share Wikimedia's vision and mission, to the areas of deficiency that Wikimedia projects can address. Main approaches to overcome these challenges: We will digitize more Moroccan content, train contributors to become adept at Wikisource processes, and produce audio files for key articles, thereby ensuring broader access to knowledge for a more equitable and informed community. The changes we aim to bring with this project and its approach: By leveraging the cultural expertise and linguistic skills of the Reading Network Association in Morocco, we will focus on enriching Wikisource with public domain books from Morocco. This will help address the current scarcity of Moroccan content on the platform, making it more accessible to researchers, Wikipedia editors, and the general public. Increase the number of skilled contributors in Wikisource, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to digitize and validate content effectively. This capacity-building effort will create a sustainable pool of contributors who can continue expanding Wikisource’s content. A significant enhancement in the availability and accessibility of knowledge about Morocco, both in written and spoken formats, on Wikimedia platforms. By producing spoken versions of Wikipedia and Wiktionary articles, we aim to promote inclusivity and enhance access to information for illiterate individuals and people with disabilities. This approach aligns with the right to access information, ensuring that knowledge is not only digitized but also made accessible in diverse formats for wider audiences. This will foster a more equitable and informed 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.

The first part of the project includes the following activities: Partnership with the “Reading Network Association” in Morocco. Agreeing on the book or books to be worked on as part of the training. Organizing 3 online training sessions on how to contribute on Wikisouce. Holding an in-person workshop to complete the digitization of the book(s) on Wikisource. These sources will be utilized to enrich some wikipedia articles. The second part of the project includes the following activities: Selecting the Wikipedia and Wiktionary and Wikiquote pages to be recorded. Selecting a group of volunteers for the recording. Contracting with a professional studio to record the articles. Editing files produced by a montage program. Uploading the recorded files to Wikimedia Commons and integrating them into the relevant pages on Wikimedia projects. Our partners: The Reading Network in Morocco: is an influential association dedicated to promoting a culture of reading across the country. By engaging a wide range of communities, including schools, libraries, and cultural institutions, the association fosters a love of books and reading, while also raising awareness about the importance of literacy. This initiative plays a vital role in shaping Morocco’s educational landscape and encouraging more individuals to access and appreciate diverse knowledge sources. Since 2021, the Reading Network has become an active and essential partner in various Wikimedia projects within Morocco. One of its most significant roles has been as a fiscal sponsor of the Wikimedia Morocco user group, helping to sustain and expand Wikimedia’s presence in the region. This partnership is not just limited to financial backing; it also encompasses a shared vision of increasing access to open knowledge and supporting the global mission of Wikimedia to freely share information. "Sala Al-Mustaqbal Association": is a Moroccan organization concerned with local affairs in the city of Salé, focusing its work on disability and the inclusion of people with disabilities. We will collaborate with them by providing spoken articles for the benefit of individuals with special needs.

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.

Mounir Neddi: Certified Trainer for Education Projects and Certified Organizer at Wikimedia Foundation, Editor on Arabic Wikipedia, autopatrol on Wikimedia Commons. My role will be to coordinate the project, facilitate work, establish partnerships, ensure the project's success, and achieve its objectives, as well as handle all matters related to communication and technical expertise on Wikimedia. NANöR: Admin on Wikisource, with extensive experience in conducting training and workshops, Editor on Arabic Wikipedia, autopatroller, Upload Wizard campaign editor, autoconfirmed user on Wikimedia Commons, a project organizer on Arabic Wikitionary. My role will be to design and deliver effective training sessions, equipping participants with the skills needed to contribute to Wikisource. Responsibilities include preparing training materials, conducting online sessions, providing hands-on guidance, and offering post-training support to ensure participants can apply their learning. Managerial tasks include monitoring participant progress, documenting outcomes, and reporting to project managers. The trainer also collaborates with the team to address challenges, improve session content, and ensure alignment with project goals Nada.FA: Editor on Arabic Wikipedia, I am coordinating a voluntary project for a book (9 volumes) on Wikisource. With linguistic interest, I have organized a project on Arabic Wiktionary. My role will be volunteer support associate which includes assisting with the smooth execution of project activities. Responsibilities include managing logistical arrangements for workshops, helping participants with technical issues, and ensuring resources are available during training sessions.

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 and Community: The target participants include Moroccan students, teachers, and individuals interested in digital content and open educational projects and reading. They belong to educational and academic communities, reading networks in Morocco association, and those keen on contributing to Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. Engagement Before and after the Activities: Outreach: Invitations will be sent through social media, partner organizations, and local cultural and educational associations. Awareness: Clear information will be provided about the project’s objectives, activities, and significance. Registration: An online registration form will be used to collect participant details, including their background and specific needs. Preparation: Participants will receive introductory materials such as user guides or simple tutorials about Wikisource tools. We will organize online training sessions via Zoom and invite committed participants to an in-person workshop. We will create a WhatsApp group for communication and coordination with participants. We will prepare a document to organize the digitization of selected works, monitor participants' progress, and send reminders. We will ensure that participants master the articles they will record before the recording sessions. We will share a survey with the participants to evaluate their experience in this project.

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.

As a member of the Reading Network in Morocco, I was initially approached by NANöR to collaborate on a project for the Maghreb region “She Said” campaign 2024. This collaboration was highly productive and aligned with our mutual goals. Given the success of this partnership, I decided to discuss the idea of organizing a project around Wikisource, as it directly intersects with the goals of our association, which focuses on books and promoting reading. To ensure the project was well thought out, I engaged with fellow members of the Reading Network. During our discussions, it became clear that everyone was enthusiastic and supportive of the idea. We recognized that the project would not only support the digital preservation of books but also enhance the visibility of Moroccan literature and culture on global platforms. With this collective enthusiasm, I reached out to NANöR again to explore the possibility of collaboration and seek support for the initiative. By involving the Reading Network from the outset, we ensured that the project aligned with the association’s ongoing efforts to promote digital content and reading. Furthermore, this collaboration reflects our shared vision of increasing access to knowledge and fostering cultural exchange. This project, therefore, complements and strengthens our existing work, while also offering an opportunity for deeper engagement with digital knowledge platforms like Wikisource and Wikipedia

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)

Other

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)

Identify Topics for Impact

Learning and metrics

17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)

Integrate new features like spoken articles and words in the Arabic versions of the projects Applying advocacy methods for new initiatives by enhancing the ability to design and execute targeted initiatives, including defining objectives, managing timelines, and measuring impact. Identifying the best practices to identify Moroccan books that have entered the public domain and is eligible for Wikisource enrichment Enhancing volunteer recruitment based on cultural interest Reinforcing partnerships management by leveraging Wikimedia knowledge and mission for mutual improvement Gaining skills in digitizing and proofreading texts to ensure their quality and accuracy. Understanding how to connect Wikisource with Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons for integrated contributions. Assessing Wiki Reader's needs and how to approach them Strengthening collaborative work on projects like proofreading texts and creating audio content. Implementing strategies for promoting cultural narratives on Wikimedia projects, aligning with broader goals of diversity and inclusivity.

18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)

Number of participants, editors, and organizers
Other Metrics	Target	Optional description
Number of participants	20
Number of editors	15	10 will participate in the Wikisource project 5 will participate in the audio project
Number of organizers	5	3 Wikimedia organizers 1 organizer from partner 1, Reading Network Association in Morocco 1 organizer from partner 2, Sala Al Moustakbal Association (3 volunteer organization)

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project	Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia	20
Wikimedia Commons	60
Wikidata	30
Wiktionary	30
Wikisource	300
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote	10
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 Data
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)

surveys Categories Tags

Financial proposal

21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YSft0koC-SfbqozZqttASf3ofI5cQmhdscskmXLcJNQ/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)

37096.75 MAD

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.

3711.4 USD

We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

Endorsements and Feedback

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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).

Endorse