Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Empowering Voices from Gorom Resettlement Camp (ID: 23585202)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Jacob Awity
- Organization
Dusoma Foundation
- 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)
Other
- Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)
Board member: Kathryn Born(@KarthryBorn) - kathryn71@gmail.com Program Officer: Jacob Awity (@JacobAwity) - amisraelawity@gmail.com Research Assistant: Mark Osoro - markosoro0@gmail.com Trainer: User:Zanahary
Main Proposal
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.
Empowering Voices from Gorom Resettlement Camp
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2026-02-05 - 2026-05-05
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Regional (more than one country in the same continent or region) Kenya South Sudan
- 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)
LGBTQ refugees living in Gorom Refugee Camp Settlement (South Sudan) have bravely taken pictures and documented their conditions at great personal risk. Building on this courage, we have created the first Wikipedia article about Gorom Resettlement Camp. Despite the risks, the Gorom Pride 10, a group of young queer activists living in the camp, have continued to advocate for food, clean water, humanitarian relief, and resettlement to a safer area. They continue to provide photographs and information about frequent murders, contaminated water, and the total absence of healthcare. Several community members have explained that even taking these photographs could get them killed (see sources: Time Magazine and National Geographic). With limited humanitarian access to the Gorom camp, the only people able to capture these realities are residents with phones and the internet. This project seeks to expand and strengthen Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons content related to the Gorom camp and its surrounding context. In addition to improving the article on Gorom Resettlement Camp, the team will work on related articles covering the geography, history, and culture of the region, as well as the broader humanitarian situation in South Sudan. By uploading and properly licensing original photographs on Wikimedia Commons, the Gorom Pride 10 will contribute to the global record while ensuring copyright and credit (or anonymity when necessary) are respected. Importantly, this project will include training sessions for Gorom Pride 10 and other community members on how to edit Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. This will build local capacity for ongoing contributions, ensuring that underrepresented voices, particularly queer refugees, can document their own stories directly. This is especially significant given the current lack of visibility of LGBTQ refugees on Wikimedia platforms. The intended impact is to improve visibility of the double jeopardy of being both queer and stateless, while equipping the community to use Wikimedia tools for self-representation. Our Nairobi-based researcher, Jacob, will also investigate the 20 organizations that claim to financially support Gorom camp, with the findings shared and cited in relevant articles. Wikimedia emergency funding will also be used to keep the Gorom Pride 10 team safe by equipping them with phones, tablets, and internet access (which is very expensive). These resources will directly enable contributions to Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, ensuring that content is verifiable, original, and globally accessible. This may be the first Wikipedia article about a refugee camp written by people currently living there. By centering on their lived experiences, this project aligns with Wikimedia’s mission of free and equitable knowledge, while honoring the risks contributors take to show the world this fluid, chaotic situation.
- 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.
Research and source collection on Gorom Resettlement Camp and its humanitarian context. Community engagement and workshops involving Gorom Pride 10 and other LGBTQ+ refugees. Drafting and expanding Wikipedia articles about Gorom camp, South Sudan geography, history, LGBTQ rights, and refugee conditions. Peer review and editing of Wikipedia content to ensure quality and neutrality. Publishing Wikipedia articles and uploading verified original photographs to Wikimedia Commons. Training sessions (Edithorn training) for sustainability on Wikipedia editing, Commons uploads, copyright, and licensing. Equipping Gorom Pride 10 with safe digital tools (phones, tablets, internet) to enable content creation. Collaborations with journalists and humanitarian advocates for fact verification and citation.
- 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 team includes 7 organizers with the following roles: Project manager(1) Trainers(1) Facilitators(2) Researchers(2) Wikimedia experts(1)
Key named members in the document are Kathryn Born, User:Zanahary, Mark Osoro, and Jacob Awity. The team comprises volunteers and experts, some possibly salaried/contracted.
- 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 for this project are primarily members of the Gorom Pride 10, a group of young LGBTQ+ refugees currently residing in the Gorom Refugee Camp in South Sudan. In addition to this core group, other LGBTQ+ community members living within the camp who express interest in advocacy and digital storytelling will also be engaged. The project focuses on this community to center the voices of queer refugees who face unique risks and marginalization, ensuring their experiences are authentically represented and documented. Engagement with participants will begin before the activities through careful, trust-based outreach facilitated by community leaders and the project team’s existing connections within Gorom. Potential participants will be informed about the project's goals, the risks involved, and the measures in place to protect their privacy and safety. Informed consent will be a priority, with participants fully understanding their roles and rights. During the training and content creation activities, participants will be actively involved in interactive workshops designed to be culturally sensitive and accessible despite challenging conditions like limited internet connectivity. Communication and support will be maintained through secure channels such as phone and messaging apps, allowing participants to receive guidance in real time while fostering a collaborative environment for content development. After the completion of the formal activities, the project will continue engagement with participants through regular follow-up via secure messaging and calls, ensuring ongoing technical support and encouragement for further Wikimedia contributions. A peer support network will be encouraged among trained community members to foster mentorship and knowledge sharing within the camp. Periodic refresher trainings will be organized remotely to sustain skills and motivation. Feedback will be actively gathered through surveys and interviews to monitor participant well-being, identify challenges, and celebrate progress. When necessary, the project team will coordinate with humanitarian and psychosocial services to support participants’ safety and mental health, ensuring a holistic and sustainable approach to community empowerment and documentation.
- 10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)
Yes
- 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.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_QwTA5AuHoNAgZkz9Rar1WS4oZ5E5rH5/view?usp=sharing
- 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 been having multiple community engagement meetings, both virtually and physically,ly with the LGBTQ community at the Gorom refugee camp, which first started by identifying the challenges they face on day to day basis and mapping existing humanitarian organization that led to the creation of our first article on Gorom refugee camp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorom_Refugee_Settlement
- 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)
Socioeconomic Status
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Human Rights
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Sexual Orientation
- 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)
The project aims to learn about: Effectiveness of training LGBTQ refugees (Gorom Pride 10) in sustainable Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons editing and contributions. The extent to which participants acquire and retain Wikimedia editing and media uploading skills. How actively and consistently trained contributors maintain and expand Wikimedia content over time. The impact of improved Wikipedia content on global visibility and awareness of LGBTQ refugees' conditions in Gorom camp. Influence of increased Wikipedia visibility on advocacy, humanitarian response, and policy engagement. Safety and security implications for contributors documenting sensitive issues under extreme risk. Effectiveness of protective measures minimizing harm to contributors. How access to technology (phones, tablets, internet) affects frequency, quality, and authenticity of contributions. Challenges and barriers participants face in documenting marginalized LGBTQ refugee experiences. Impact of documenting and sharing stories on participants' agency, empowerment, and psychosocial well-being. Lessons about collaboration between local communities, humanitarian organizations, and global Wikimedia platforms.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 25 | Approximately 25 community members directly engaged through training and activities, including Gorom Pride 10 and other LGBTQ+ residents. |
| Number of editors | 15 | At least 15 active editors emerging from training sessions contributing content related to Gorom camp and related topics. |
| Number of organizers | 7 | 7 organizers (project manager, trainers, facilitators, researchers, Wikimedia experts) providing coordination and support. |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 5 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 300 |
| Wikidata | 5 |
| 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)
Yes
| Main Open Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Creation and improvement of at least 5 new or expanded English-language articles on Gorom Resettlement Camp, South Sudan geography, LGBTQ rights, refugee conditions, and humanitarian issues. | 5 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Upload of 200-300 original, properly licensed photographs and multimedia documenting Gorom camp experiences. | 300 |
| Potential additional | Conduct 2 training workshops (remote and in-person) on Wikipedia editing, Wikimedia Commons uploads, copyright and licensing.
Publish at least 3 research reports/articles by the Nairobi-based researcher on organizations financially supporting the Gorom camp, with findings incorporated into Wikipedia articles. Reach an estimated 500 cumulative views across new or expanded Wikipedia articles within six months post-publication. Establish a peer-support network with at least 10 trained community members mentoring new editors for ongoing contributions. Provide internet access and digital equipment (phones/tablets) to at least 15 participants for sustained contributions. |
50 |
| 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)
Attendance records and participant registration forms to track numbers at training and activities. Wikimedia Analytics and related platforms to monitor active editor metrics, new accounts, edit counts, and sustained contributions. Project management tools or spreadsheets for documenting organizer roles, involvement, and time commitments. Wikimedia pageview and edit history tools for quantifying articles and media uploads. Feedback surveys and post-training evaluations to assess workshop quality and learning outcomes. Tracking publication counts and citation inclusion in Wikipedia articles for research outputs. Equipment logs and participant feedback for monitoring technology resource usage and contribution barriers. Combination of quantitative metrics and qualitative insights for comprehensive monitoring and reporting.
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)
550000 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.
4226.79 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).