Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Discover Taraba through Wikimedia:Awareness, Training, and Knowledge Sharing (ID: 23543610)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Yahuzaishat
- 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.
Discover Taraba through Wikimedia: Awareness, Training, and Knowledge Sharing
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-11-01 - 2025-12-30
- 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)
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)
The change we want to bring is to make Wikimedia projects known and active in Taraba State, especially in Jalingo and nearby areas like Wukari, Gassol, Zing and Gembu. Right now, very few people in this part of Nigeria know about Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects, and there are only a handful of active editors. This means that the culture, history, people, and unique places of Taraba are not well represented online.
The main challenges we are trying to solve are:
- Low awareness: Many students, teachers, and young people in Jalingo and Taraba State do not know that Wikimedia projects exist or that they can take part in them.
- Lack of skills: There are almost no structured opportunities for people here to learn how to edit or contribute to Wikimedia projects.
- Knowledge gap: Important knowledge about Taraba, such as the Mambilla Plateau, tea plantations, the cold weather of Gembu, and the culture of the local people, is missing on Wikimedia platforms.
Our strategies to solve these challenges are:
- Awareness creation: We will organize outreach programs in Jalingo town, the Federal University Wukari, and other higher institutions to introduce people to Wikimedia projects.
- Capacity building: We will run practical training sessions and edit-a-thons where new editors will learn step-by-step how to edit and contribute.
- Cultural documentation: We will go on a tour to Gembu to collect information, photos, and knowledge about the Mambilla hills, tea plantations, and local culture so that they can be documented on Wikimedia projects.
We believe these approaches will work because they mix both awareness and hands-on practice. In Nigeria, Wikimedia communities have grown successfully using this same method, and by focusing on students and institutions we will create a group of young contributors who can keep editing even after the project ends. The cultural tour will also give participants the chance to apply what they learn immediately by contributing new and original content.
This proposal is important because it will give young people in Taraba digital skills, create new editors for Wikimedia, and help the world to know more about the culture, history, and people of Taraba State.
- 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 main activities we are planning for this project are:
- Awareness Campaign in Jalingo:
We will hold a physical outreach session in Jalingo town to introduce Wikimedia projects to the general public. This will help us raise awareness and show people why Wikimedia is important for knowledge sharing.
- Campus Engagements:
We will organize awareness and training sessions in the Federal University Wukari, the Taraba State University Jalingo, and other higher institutions in Jalingo. Students and lecturers will be introduced to Wikimedia projects and shown how they can take part.
- Edit-a-thon and Training Workshops:
We will conduct hands-on training and edit-a-thons where participants will learn practical editing skills. They will be guided step-by-step on how to create and improve articles, upload images, and contribute meaningfully to Wikimedia projects.
- Cultural Documentation Tour in Gembu (Sardauna LGA):
We will organize a tour to Gembu, the coldest city in Nigeria, to collect information and photos of the Mambilla hills, tea plantations, local cultures, and traditions. This content will be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons and used to improve related Wikipedia articles.
- Mentorship and Follow-up:
After the main events, we will provide follow-up mentorship and online support to the new editors. This will ensure that participants continue to edit and grow as part of the Wikimedia community.
- Partnerships:
We will partner with local higher institutions (Taraba State University Jalingo and Federal University Wukari) for venues, mobilization of students, and support for awareness creation. We will also work with experienced Wikimedians from other parts of Nigeria who will serve as facilitators and mentors during the training sessions.
These activities are chosen because they directly address the challenges we identified: awareness, skills, and content gaps. By combining outreach, training, and cultural documentation, we create a program that not only teaches people but also produces immediate contributions to Wikimedia projects.
- 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 project will be led by Yahuzaishat, who is a student at the Taraba State University and a Wikimedian based in Jalingo. He will serve as the Project Lead, coordinating all activities, liaising with partners, and ensuring the smooth implementation of the project.
The facilitators include:
- Smshika – an experienced Wikimedian and event organizer who will provide training support and mentorship during the edit-a-thon and workshops.
- Abdulmuddalib Iabrahim Salisu – an experienced Wikimedian who will also serve as a facilitator, supporting the training of new editors and sharing best practices.
- Marwan Bello – a resident of Jalingo and an active Wikimedian who will assist with local mobilization, logistics, and facilitation during the project.
- Salma kyari – a Wikimedian and resident of Jalingo who will support local outreach, awareness creation, and facilitation during the activities.
All members of the team are volunteers. The team includes both local Wikimedians from Jalingo, who bring community knowledge and local presence, and experienced Wikimedians from outside Jalingo, who provide technical expertise and mentoring. This combination will ensure strong local participation while maintaining quality Wikimedia training and project delivery.
All team members are aware of their involvement in this proposal and are committed to supporting the success of the project.
- 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)
Our target participants are mainly students and lecturers from the Taraba State University, the Federal University Wukari, and other higher institutions in Jalingo. The organizer, Yahuzaishat, who is a student at Taraba State University, will play a central role in leading and coordinating this project. We will also engage young people and professionals in Jalingo town who are interested in digital skills, knowledge sharing, and open access to information. In addition, local community members who have knowledge about the culture, history, and unique features of Taraba State, especially those from Gembu and the Mambilla Plateau, will form part of the participants.
Before the activities, we will create awareness using posters, flyers, and social media platforms to announce the events. We will also work with student associations and university clubs to mobilize participants, and we will reach out to lecturers and faculty heads to invite their students and generate interest.
During the activities, we will provide simple and practical training that participants can easily follow step by step. Experienced Wikimedians and event organizers will serve as facilitators and mentors, guiding participants through hands-on editing sessions so that they can immediately apply what they learn.
After the activities, we will continue engaging participants by creating a WhatsApp group (and Telegram if needed) where they can stay connected with facilitators. We will provide online mentorship, answer questions, and organize small follow-up sessions to track contributions, encourage participants, and celebrate achievements. Active contributors will also be linked to the larger Wikimedia Nigeria community so that they can join future events and continue their Wikimedia journey.
This approach will ensure that participants are not only introduced to Wikimedia projects but are also supported and motivated to keep contributing even after the project ends.
- 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.
Before completing the project proposal, I consulted a range of stakeholders to validate the concept and confirm its consistency with existing efforts. The process involved:
- Team Deliberations: I organized sessions with my project team to exchange ideas, evaluate feasibility, and test the project’s relevance. These conversations helped sharpen our objectives and strategies so they matched the broader mission of strengthening digital literacy and fostering greater involvement in the Wikimedia movement.
- Engagement with Hausa Wikimedians User Group: To encourage collaboration and prevent overlap, we highlighted the initiative by listing it on the campaign community event table on [Wiki]. This step broadened awareness, encouraged participation, and opened channels for partnership across the Wikimedia community.
Through these joint efforts, we were able to shape a proposal that is informed by community input, aligned with shared priorities, and designed to advance digital literacy and human rights awareness in Northern Nigeria.
- 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)
Culture, heritage or GLAM
- 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)
Increase the Sustainability of Our Movement
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
From this project, we hope to learn through the following guiding questions:
- How effective are Wikimedia outreach sessions in raising awareness among students and lecturers in Taraba higher institutions?
- What training methods during edit-a-thons and workshops best address the initial skills gaps of new editors, and how can mentorship improve long-term retention?
- How can cultural documentation in Gembu be designed to responsibly capture heritage, traditions, and environmental assets, while effectively filling the content gaps on Wikimedia projects?
- What forms of partnerships with universities and cultural stakeholders are most sustainable for supporting ongoing Wikimedia activities in Taraba State?
- How can the quality, usage, and global visibility of the articles improved and images uploaded help us assess the real impact of this project on bridging knowledge gaps?
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 50 | Total number of participants |
| Number of editors | 35 | Total number of editors |
| Number of organizers | 5 | Total number of organizers |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 1000 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 200 |
| Wikidata | 100 |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | |
| 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)
I will use Wikimedia's Outreach Dashboard tool.
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)
2765000 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.
1833.77 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).