Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Empowering Wikimedia Bangladesh:Enhancing Capacity and Engagement Across Regions (ID: 22595411)/Final Report

Empowering Wikimedia Bangladesh: Enhancing Capacity and Engagement Across Regions

Rapid Fund Final Report

Report Status: Accepted

Due date: 30 January 2025

Funding program: Rapid Fund

Report type: Final

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General information

Applicant username: Tarunno
Organization name: N/A
Amount awarded: 5180
Amount spent: 874.65 USD, 107982

Part 1: Project and impact

1. Describe the implemented activities and results achieved. Additionally, share which approaches were most effective in supporting you to achieve the results. (required)

The grants successfully implemented a range of activities aimed at strengthening the Wikimedia community in Bangladesh. Key initiatives included hosting an in-person Wikisource workshop in Rajshahi—the first of its kind in Bangladesh—along with online edit-a-thons, virtual and in-person meetups, and photowalks. Additionally, we ensured the continuation of Wikimedia outreach through web hosting, domain renewals, and website updates.

These efforts led to increased participation from both new and returning Wikimedians, fostering greater collaboration within the community and enhancing content contributions across multiple Wikimedia projects.

A blended approach of structured mentorship and regional engagement proved most effective. Hands-on workshops and photowalks facilitated practical learning, while online sessions provided continuity and accessibility. Travel reimbursement support further enabled participation from diverse locations, promoting inclusivity. Through these efforts, the project successfully strengthened engagement, capacity building, and content enrichment within Wikimedia projects in Bangladesh.

2. Documentation of your impact. Please use space below to share links that help tell your story, impact, and evaluation. (required)

Share links to:

Project page on Meta-Wiki or any other Wikimedia project
Dashboards and tools that you used to track contributions
Some photos or videos from your event. Remember to share access.

You can also share links to:

Important social media posts
Surveys and their results
Infographics and sound files
Examples of content edited on Wikimedia projects

Chapter Report of Wikimedia Bangladesh: https://w.wiki/Cm9x

Additionally, share the materials and resources that you used in the implementation of your project. (required)

For example:

Training materials and guides
Presentations and slides
Work processes and plans
Any other materials your team has created or adapted and can be shared with others

Workshops: https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/3q5 https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/47s https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/407 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15L4NTkz-O0 https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0:Bangla_Wikipedia_good_article_review_Workshop_2024.pdf

Meetups: https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/47v https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/48g https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/46w https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/47o https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/47q https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/47h https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/47v https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/47o https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/2w8 https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/2w2 https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/304 https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/327 https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/325

Edit-a-thon: https://bn.wikipedia.org/s/tbsm https://bn.wikipedia.org/s/t3pf

Photowalks: https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/30f https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/3u7 https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/3tt https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/3tr

Organizers Guideline: https://bd.wikimedia.org/s/47b

3. To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding the work carried out with this Rapid Fund? You can choose “not applicable” if your work does not relate to these goals. Required. Select one option per question. (required)

Our efforts during the Fund period have helped to...
A. Bring in participants from underrepresented groups	Agree
B. Create a more inclusive and connected culture in our community	Agree
C. Develop content about underrepresented topics/groups	Agree
D. Develop content from underrepresented perspectives	Agree
E. Encourage the retention of editors	Agree
F. Encourage the retention of organizers	Agree
G. Increased participants' feelings of belonging and connection to the movement	Agree
F. Other (optional)

Part 2: Learning

4. In your application, you outlined some learning questions. What did you learn from these learning questions when you implemented your project? How do you hope to use this learnings in the future? You can recall these learning questions below. (required)

You can recall these learning questions below:

Effectiveness of Community Engagement Efforts: How effective are our community engagement activities, such as workshops, meetups, and edit-a-thons, in attracting and retaining participants?
Impact of Capacity Building Workshops: What is the impact of our capacity-building workshops on the skills development and leadership abilities of volunteers, and how does this contribute to their continued engagement with Wikimedia projects?
Regional Outreach and Participation: To what extent do our regional outreach efforts succeed in engaging participants from underrepresented cities and regions in Bangladesh, and what factors contribute to their participation?
Quality of Contributions: What is the quality of contributions made by participants during edit-a-thons and other collaborative editing sessions, and how does this contribute to the improvement of Wikimedia content?
Long-Term Engagement and Retention: How successful are we in fostering long-term engagement and retention of participants beyond individual events, and what strategies are most effective in sustaining their involvement with Wikimedia projects?
Partnership and Collaboration Impact: What is the impact of our partnerships and collaborations with educational institutions, local organizations, and community groups on the reach, diversity, and effectiveness of our community engagement efforts?
Resource Allocation and Sustainability: How effectively are we utilizing resources, such as staff salaries, web hosting, and domain renewals, to support our community engagement activities, and what adjustments may be needed to ensure long-term sustainability?

By addressing these learning questions, we aim to gain insights into the effectiveness of our efforts, identify areas for improvement, and inform future planning and decision-making processes to enhance the impact and reach of Wikimedia Bangladesh's community engagement initiatives.

Through the implementation of this grnats, we gained valuable insights into community engagement, capacity building, and the logistical challenges of organizing Wikimedia activities in Bangladesh. One key learning was the need for a flexible approach to event planning, as external factors like the July Revolution in Bangladesh impacted our ability to conduct in-person activities. Adapting to online formats allowed us to maintain continuity and broaden participation.

We also learned that structured mentorship and regional engagement play a crucial role in sustaining volunteer motivation and contribution levels. The success of the Wikisource workshop in Rajshahi demonstrated the demand for specialized training in underrepresented regions, emphasizing the need for more localized initiatives. Additionally, travel reimbursements significantly improved inclusivity by enabling participation from diverse locations.

Moving forward, we plan to integrate these learnings by developing a hybrid event model that combines in-person and virtual activities to ensure flexibility. We will also focus on expanding mentorship programs and regional workshops to empower new and existing contributors. Strengthening community feedback mechanisms will further help us refine our approach and sustain long-term engagement in Wikimedia projects.

5. Did anything unexpected or surprising happen when implementing your activities? This can include both positive and negative situations. What did you learn from those experiences? (required)

During the implementation of our activities, we encountered both challenges and unexpected positive outcomes. The most significant challenge was the impact of the July Revolution, which disrupted our initial plans for in-person events across the country. This unexpected situation required us to shift most of our activities online, demonstrating the importance of adaptability in project execution. Despite these challenges, we successfully maintained engagement through virtual meetups, edit-a-thons, photowalks, and an in-person Wikisource workshop, which was the first of its kind in Bangladesh.

On a positive note, we observed higher-than-expected participation in our online events, especially from regions where Wikimedia engagement had previously been low. This highlighted the potential of online platforms in reaching a wider audience and engaging contributors who may not have been able to attend in-person events due to logistical constraints.

One key learning from these experiences is the need for a hybrid approach that balances online and in-person activities. While in-person events are valuable for hands-on learning and networking, online engagement ensures broader accessibility and continuity, even in unforeseen circumstances. Moving forward, we plan to integrate this flexible model into our future initiatives to enhance participation and community resilience.

6. What is your plan to share your project learnings and results with other community members? If you have already done it, describe how. (required)

We plan to share our project learnings and results with the Wikimedia community through multiple channels. First, we will publish a detailed report on Meta, summarizing key activities, challenges, and outcomes. Additionally, we will present our findings in community meetups, both online and in person, to ensure direct engagement with community members.

We will also utilize social media platforms and mailing lists to reach a broader audience, highlighting key takeaways and success stories from the project. Furthermore, we will document our experiences in a learning report on Wikimedia Diff to provide insights for other Wikimedia affiliates and organizers. If opportunities arise, we will share our learnings in regional and global Wikimedia conferences, fostering knowledge exchange and best practices across communities.

Part 3: Metrics

7. Wikimedia Metrics results. (required)

In your application, you set some Wikimedia targets in numbers (Wikimedia metrics). In this section, you will describe the achieved results and provide links to the tools used.

	Target	Results	Comments and tools used
Number of participants	200	150	Around 150 participants we got from variety of activities. We could not meet the target due to difficulties arranging off line program.
Number of editors	100	100	We got more than 100 editors from online editathon, photowalks, workshops, etc.
Number of organizers	15	15	Successfully meet the target.

Wikimedia project	Target	Result - Number of created pages	Result - Number of improved pages
Wikipedia	50	118	60
Wikimedia Commons	250	1280	0
Wikidata	100	100	58
Wiktionary
Wikisource
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote
Wikivoyage
Wikibooks
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies
Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia

8. Other Metrics results.

In your proposal, you could also set Other Metrics targets. Please describe the achieved results and provide links to the tools used if you set Other Metrics in your application.

Other Metrics name	Metrics Description	Target
Participants of Wikicamp	We plan to organize in-person WikiCamps in two cities, expecting approximately 10 participants in each location.	20

9. Did you have any difficulties collecting data to measure your results? (required)

No

9.1. Please state what difficulties you had. How do you hope to overcome these challenges in the future? Do you have any recommendations for the Foundation to support you in addressing these challenges? (required)

Part 4: Financial reporting

10. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency. (required)

107982

11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)

874.65

12. Report the funds spent in the currency of your fund. (required)

Provide the link to the financial report https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qcGxubtCCNRm8oIt7yIkR2ErY8ZBXxyetMYrSoThKNo

12.2. If you have not already done so in your financial spending report, please provide information on changes in the budget in relation to your original proposal. (optional)

13. Do you have any unspent funds from the Fund?

Yes

13.1. Please list the amount and currency you did not use and explain why.

The total unexpended amount is approximately USD 4,000. Due to the recent July Revolution in Bangladesh, we were unable to carry out our planned in-person activities across the country, leading to necessary postponements. While we adapted by shifting many activities online, we also decided that it was not the right time to hire a staff member. As a result, the allocated budget for this position remained unused, accounting for a significant portion of the unexpensed funds.

13.2. What are you planning to do with the underspent funds?

B. Propose to use them to partially or fully fund a new/future request with PO approval

13.3. Please provide details of hope to spend these funds.

We intend to incorporate it into Wikimedia Bangladesh's next GSF application.

14.1. Are you in compliance with the terms outlined in the fund agreement?

Yes

14.2. Are you in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations as outlined in the grant agreement?

Yes

14.3. Are you in compliance with provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and with relevant tax laws and regulations restricting the use of the Funds as outlined in the grant agreement? In summary, this is to confirm that the funds were used in alignment with the WMF mission and for charitable/nonprofit/educational purposes.

Yes

15. If you have additional recommendations or reflections that don’t fit into the above sections, please write them here. (optional)

Review notes

Review notes from Program Officer:

N/A

Applicant's response to the review feedback.

N/A