Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Expanding and Retaining Wikipedia Editors in Kenya, Phase 2 (ID: 22934184)/Final Report
Application type: Standard application
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)
Rapid Grant 2: Expanding and Retaining Wikipedia Editors in Kenya was implemented between May 15th and September 30th, 2025, covering a period of four and a half months of intensive activity. The implementation followed a structured plan, with early focus on recruitment and planning, followed by active editing, skills development, and collaboration. The key activities included 1. recruiting, 2. editing, 3. securing a space for a physical hub at the University of Nairobi, 4. conducting editathons, 5. sourcing photographs, 6. participating in the Wikimania Conference 2025, 7. holding training meetings, and 8. finding credible sources.
1. Recruiting Recruitment was a critical starting point for the project. New editors were invited, and experienced editors were re-engaged to provide mentorship. All 11 recruited editors actively participated throughout the grant period. The recruitment strategy successfully balanced bringing in fresh participants with retaining a core team that ensured continuity.
Result: A cohesive editorial community was formed, composed of both new and experienced editors, ensuring stability and peer support throughout the grant cycle.
2. Editing The editing phase was central to the project’s objectives. Editors were trained in Wikipedia editing skills such as creating sandboxes, writing and formatting articles, adding citations: auto, manual and repeating, adding headers, linking internally and externally, and uploading images to Wikimedia Commons. Through this hands-on process, editors produced significant outputs: 6 new articles created on Circle matriarchs/clergy. 32 existing articles were improved with more reliable sources, repaired orphan articles, i improved grammar, and better formatting. Improved 4 photos uploaded for the Circle Matriarchs who didn’t have photos and 28 photos uploaded from the University of Nairobi physical editathon events Updates made to the Circle Wikipedia page. Wikidata entries created for 14 articles
In addition to content creation, editors developed technical confidence in using talk pages, infoboxes, banners, and templates. While creating content, editors debated notability standards for Africa, learned to edit and add content. They learned how to add categories to an article and how to assess an article’s quality and importance level, ensuring that their contributions aligned with Wikipedia standards.
Result: Editors produced high-quality Wikipedia content while developing sustainable editing skills and confidence in collaborative online knowledge creation.
3. Securing a physical training space Recognizing that internet access is a major barrier for editors in Kenya, the project prioritized securing a reliable physical space for editing and training at the University of Nairobi. This space anticipates stable internet connectivity, a room for group collaboration, and a supportive learning environment.
Result: Dr. Telesia Musili, head of the Wikipedia Woman in Religion Project in Kenya and member of the Religious Studies faculty, University of Nairobi, and Drs. Colleen Hartung and Rosalind Hinton of the Wiki Women in Religion Project met with Dean Jack Anselm Odhiambo, University of Nairobi and Dr. John Oredo, of the Department of Library and Information Sciences to discuss the future of Wikipedia at the University of Nairobi. A secure space was established in the Department of Library and Information Sciences and became a hub for teamwork and possible expansion, where editors work side by side, receive immediate feedback, and strengthen bonds as a community of practice. It will also reduce editor dropout rates, since participants can count on a conducive work environment and reliable internetDean Odhiambo, and Dr. John Oredo see this project as centering Wikipedia and Information Technology as important resources for the future of the largest university in Kenya.
4. Editathons Three in-person editathons were held in July, August, and September, each lasting eight hours. These gatherings served as training sessions that taught editors how to compile research determine standards for stubs and full articles, determine U.S. copyright standards for uploading personal and third party photos assess notability standards, research articles, link orphan articles, create and use talk pages, create user home page and personal talk page, use drop down menus to adjust settings and assess contributions, create and edit in source mode on the Wikipedia:WikiProject: Kenya Circle of Concerned African Women page, add editor names and create lists on this page. New editors received coaching and mentorship in real time, while experienced editors refined content and guided the teams, developing their own leadership skills for teaching Wikipedia.. The editathons also created an energizing environment that encouraged editors to stay engaged, motivated, and confident. Drs Colleen Hartung, Rosalind Hinton and Telesia Musili co-led an 8.5 hour training session during Wikimania 2025. Three members of the U.S. team helped prepare two Kenyan editors for the Wikimania Poster session and lightning round session. Three editors in Kenya and two editors in the U.S. participated in Wikimania 2025.
Result: Skills developed were accelerated through practice. Editors not only improved their editing techniques but also produced tangible contributions in the form of articles, stubs, and revisions during each session. Experienced editors are developing teaching skills.Participation in Wikimania 2025 stimulated new ideas for instagram and other online presence, and mounting Wikipedia campaigns and challenges.
5. Training meetings Regular training meetings ensured accountability, progress tracking, and continuous learning. These included: 12 online editing meetings with the U.S. team for cross-continental collaboration. 8 online group meetings in Kenya focused on progress review and collaborative editing. 15 one-on-one online editing sessions for individualized mentorship were scheduled. Setting up teams to compile and revise specific articles One Wikimedia User Group Kenya meeting, where an overview of the project was shared and lessons were exchanged. The Kenyan team had weekly follow-ups and consultations, and regular collaboration with the U.S.-based editors. The U.S. team provided mentorship, editorial reviews, and feedback on talk pages, which improved article neutrality and adherence to Wikipedia standards.
Result: Meetings created a structure that ensured active participation of the team members throughout the project. They ensured knowledge transfer between experienced and new editors and strengthened the link between the Kenyan and U.S. teams.
Overall Results By the end of the grant cycle, the project had achieved: Recruitment and retention of 11 active editors and 8 returning editors and 3 U.S. editors for a total of 22 editors . Creation of 6 new articles, improvement of 46 existing articles. Uploaded rour photos of the matriarchs to Wikicommons and uploaded 28 additional photos documenting University of Nairobi activities and Wikipedia communities for a total of 32 photos uploaded. Developed strong editorial skills, including research, formatting, citation, photo uploading, and introduced editors to Wikidata. Created 14 wikidata entries Strengthened collaboration between Kenyan and U.S. editors through blended mentorship. Created greater sustainability of editing efforts through the provision of internet access and a dedicated physical workspace. Effective Approaches Several approaches were especially effective in supporting the project’s success: Team-based editing: The editors worked in groups of four in one sandbox for one matriarch. This approach enabled constant review of the state and progress of the drafted articles. It helped overcome the hesitancy of editors. Coaching and mentorship: Pairing new editors with experienced ones created a supportive learning environment and accelerated skills transfer. Secured a physical workspace: Provision of a dedicated space with stable internet for physical meetings enhanced the editors’ participation and individualised mentorship. Blended learning methods: The combination of online mentorship, in-person editathons, one-on-one sessions and group meetings offered multiple avenues for learning and engagement. Support for connectivity: Provision of data packages ensured editors were consistently engaged and had a reliable internet connection. Cross-continental collaboration: The consistent mentorship and feedback from more experienced editors based in the U.S. ensured quality control, improved neutrality, and built partnerships with other Wikipedia editors around the globe.
Total Edits from Rapid Grant: 12,123
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
Improved Project Page: Wikipedia: Wikiproject Kenyan Circle of Concerned African Women with addition of 1. Rapid Grant 2: Expanding and Retaining Wikipedia Editors in Kenya ) 2. Additional names on lists of African and African Diaspora Notable Names for Wikipedia and their Wikidata status and VIAF numbers; 3) The banner template; 4) a list of continuing and new editors; 5 )additional training information.
Link to Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians article in Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_Concerned_African_Women_Theologians;
Generated articles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresia_Wairimu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Kiuna https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_Gitome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Mwaniki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary_Edet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Atieno_Ominde
Improved existing articles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damaris_Seleina_Parsitau; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Wamue_Ngare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philomena_Njeri_Mwaura https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Getui https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunice_Wanjiku_Kamaara https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Okeno https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Onyango https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyambura_Njoroge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Wangeci_Kinoti https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Mombo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Ong%27ayo_Ayanga https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Mhando https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Wanjiru https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9tis_in_Alberta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Graduate_School_of_Theology_(SALT) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Order_of_the_Blessed_Sacrament https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Order https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_of_Madagascar-related_articles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_Madagascar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilie_Townes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_D._Welch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland,_Oregon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Sisulu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Katherine_Grieb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudine_Michel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahtu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peeaysees_First_Nation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_feminism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresia_Mbari_Hinga https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyudmila_Putina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iftah_Ya_Simsim), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Good_article_reassessment/Iftah_Ya_Simsim/1 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesame_Park), (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Jespinama/sandbox/2), (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresia_Wairimu) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%87atalh%C3%B6y%C3%BCk) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_I_Know_Why_the_Caged_Bird_Sings_characters) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Women_in_Religion/Saints) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernadette_Soubirous) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zdislava_Berka) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedicta) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Women_in_Religion) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasia_of_Aegina) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft:Anindita_Balslev),
We included more Circle matriarchs and women clergy on the Circle page to enhance their visibility. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_Concerned_African_Women_Theologians
Improved Articles with uploaded photos: Total 4 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prof._Hazel_Ayanga.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Professor_Philomena_Njeri_Mwaura.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Esther_Moraa_Mombo.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Okeno#/media/File:Rose_Okeno.jpg
Wikimedia Commons uploaded photos, links and tags https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WikiProject_Women_in_Religion,_Meeting_at_the_University_of_Nairobi_with_the_Dean_of_Arts_and_Social_Sciences.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prof._Hazel_Ayanga.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosalind_and_Telesia.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abigael_Chelang%27at.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MERCY_NG%27ANG%27A.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MUENI_KIOKO.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carolyne_Chepng%27eno.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chepkoech_Mary.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wikimania_2025_-_Wadakuramon_18.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colleens_team.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Susan_Nyabena.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anne_Trizer.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Okelo_at_the_university_of_Nairobi_Towers.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tiffany_Mbugua.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ng%27ang%27a_Mercy.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mercy_Ng%27ang%27a.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VIRGINIA_KIOKO.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edit-a-thon,_Women_in_Religion,_Wikimania_2025,_University_of_Nairobi,_Students_taking_portraits.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IMG_Edit-a-thon,Wikimania_2025,_WikiProject_Women_in_Religion,_Nairobi_University.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php? https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abigail_at_wiki_Editathon_2025.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_at_University_of_Nairobi.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WikiProject_Kenyan_Circle_of_Concerned_African_Women,2024_Summer_02.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WikiProject_Kenyan_Circle_of_Concerned_African_Women,2024_Summer_01.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stephanie_Y._Mitchem.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosalind_Flynn_Hinton,_Banff_Canada.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosalind,university_of_Nairobi.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php? File:WikiProject Women in Religion, Meeting at the University of Nairobi with the Dean of Arts and Social Sciences.jpg Changed label, description and/or aliases in en, and other parts Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit 07:55, 7 August 2025 diff hist +863 N File:WikiProject Women in Religion, Meeting at the University of Nairobi with the Dean of Arts and Social Sciences.jpg Uploaded a work by Tamara Kreinin from Tamara Kreinin gave me this photo which she took at the meeting on August 6, 3025. with UploadWizard Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit 6 August 2025 11:58, 6 August 2025 diff hist +726 File:Wikimania 2025, WikiProject Women in Religion, Edit-a-thon.jpg Changed label, description and/or aliases in en, and other parts Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit 11:58, 6 August 2025 diff hist +261 N File:Wikimania 2025, WikiProject Women in Religion, Edit-a-thon.jpg Uploaded own work with UploadWizard Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit 11:46, 6 August 2025 diff hist +19 m File:Edit-a-thon, Women in Religion, Wikimania 2025, University of Nairobi, Students taking portraits.jpg added Category:Kenya Tags: HotCat Mobile edit Mobile web edit 11:41, 6 August 2025 diff hist +815 File:Edit-a-thon, Women in Religion, Wikimania 2025, University of Nairobi, Students taking portraits.jpg Changed label, description and/or aliases in en, and other parts Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit 11:41, 6 August 2025 diff hist +349 N File:Edit-a-thon, Women in Religion, Wikimania 2025, University of Nairobi, Students taking portraits.jpg Uploaded own work with UploadWizard Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit 10:53, 6 August 2025 diff hist +1,305 File:IMG Edit-a-thon,Wikimania 2025, WikiProject Women in Religion, Nairobi University.jpg Changed label, description and/or aliases in en, sw, and other parts Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit 10:52, 6 August 2025 diff hist +370 N File:IMG Edit-a-thon,Wikimania 2025, WikiProject Women in Religion, Nairobi University.jpg Uploaded own work with UploadWizard Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
Wikidata status and VIAF numbers: 14
Esther Mombo (Q105182856) Kenyan theologian 21 statements, 1 sitelink - 07:23, 9 August 2025
Mary N. Getui (Q112670513)
Kenyan theologian
23 statements, 2 sitelinks - 19:58, 15 August 2025
Nyambura Njoroge (Q105397611)
Kenyan ecumenical leader
24 statements, 3 sitelinks - 16:05, 15 August 2025
Philomena Njeri Mwaura (Q107099062)
Kenyan theologian
19 statements, 1 sitelink - 08:50, 9 August 2025
Damaris Seleina Parsitau (Q112670512)
Kenyan scholar
16 statements, 1 sitelink - 16:00, 15 August 2025
Emily Onyango (Q105319103)
Kenyan Anglican priest
15 statements, 1 sitelink - 00:10, 9 August 2025
Kathy Kiuna (Q135676804)
Kenyan pastor, co-founder of Jubilee Christian Church
5 statements, 1 sitelink - 19:04, 7 September 2025
Eunice Kamaara (Q92679861)
Kenyan religious studies scholar and ethicist
17 statements, 1 sitelink - 10:08, 16 August 2025
Josephine Gitome (Q136084441)
Kenyan academic researcher
6 statements, 1 sitelink - 14:24, 14 September 2025
Rose Okeno (Q111240592)
Kenyan Anglican bishop
5 statements, 1 sitelink - 08:04, 13 August 2025
Lydia M. Mwaniki (Q113731726)
Kenyan theologian
8 statements, 1 sitelink - 00:44, 11 September 2025
Anne Nasimiyu Wasike (Q96474815)
Ugandan Catholic theologian, religious sister, and author
19 statements, 4 sitelinks - 17:29, 25 August 2025
Margaret Gecaga (Q136324545)
Woman Academic
3 statements, 0 sitelinks - 10:37, 18 September 2025
Rosemary N. Edet (Q113795368)
Nigerian reverend sister and theologian (1935-1993)
11 statements, 1 sitelink - 08:29, 8 September 2025
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
We are sharing the Google files that include the following materials and resources, along with additional financial information requested later in this report.
Project implementation documents: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oeIQMqfBEzSyxVTfBlGr_sox-2zas88m?usp=drive_link
YouTube of American Academy of Religion Session: Wiki Women in Religion: Publicly Engaged Scholarship to Address Systemic Bias in Online Resources. On June 26, the AAR/SBL had a session of six scholars discussing aspects of the Women in Religion WikiProject, including the Kenyan Scholar and Wiki organizer Telesia Musili who presented the Rapid Grant:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzZcasHzvqw
Editathon training PowerPoint: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FNjr5kU_vqdTH0aGrXUmXTGM-QCFKSt9WklCGgAMFi8/edit?usp=sharing
Guide on mining sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:How_to_mine_a_source
User guide on how to create an Infobox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Infobox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr3Z-RSuDeg
Guideline about notability: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Notability
Guideline about reliable sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources
User guide for understanding a stub: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Stub
Citation user guide, a short course: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KVRcXncoOC7YG1nevmIgHxCVYgnYu2ymJELW3jYE2Uk/edit?usp=sharing Guide to wikipedia publishing policy- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Biography#Names Guide to use Suggest Bot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:SuggestBot/config
Wiki Commons https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SVtbz5GSXIxgrlxeeyRdlXqAEjnSJ9un?usp=drive_link
Librarian, Christine Larson shared a link to a Google docs page of notes for the Circle of Concerned
African Theologians related to Wikidata that will be useful when adding new articles. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n7ZhaVvDk_2NKdFjzU64_-johw_HP10Z/edit
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)
| 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) | Not Applicable |
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: What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal?
1. From the previous project, citation in Wikipedia and referencing posed a challenge, and it is one area we hope this project will polish. We will continue to familiarize ourselves with English Wikipedia writing conventions and become conversant and confident with Wikipedia editing and publishing.
2. We will continue to assess the most effective outreach and training methods for recruiting and retaining Wikipedia editors in Kenya and in Africa at large.
3. This project can also help us assess the feasibility of having a Wikipedia hub at the University of Nairobi and assess the possibility of incorporating Wikipedia education for African countries.
Describe the main things you would like to learn if you achieve the described change.
Through this grant, we would like to increase Wikipedia editors in Kenya and possibly create a ripple interest in other African countries where the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians network is, as well as increase the visibility of African women in Religion from Africa. We would therefore seek to answer the following questions: i. What are the most effective methods for recruiting and retaining active Wikipedia editors in Kenya? ii. What are the primary challenges preventing Kenyan students and professionals from contributing to Wikipedia? iii. How do digital literacy, internet access, and language barriers impact participation? iv. How does the project contribute to closing Wikipedia content gaps related to the inclusion of women in Religion from Kenya and Africa at large? v. How effective is the university setting as a hub for Wikipedia editing and knowledge production in enhancing the visibility of women in religion and other underrepresented groups? vi. What partnerships and institutional support are necessary to scale Kenya's Wikipedia training programs?
We did not use questions but wrote aspirational statements of what we hoped to learn. The aspirational statements are listed below with learnings and what we hope to take forward. Aspirational Statement #1 Building on the previous project, we hope to strengthen our skills in citation and referencing on Wikipedia. This grant will allow us to polish these skills, become more conversant with English Wikipedia conventions, and gain confidence in editing and publishing. Learnings #1 Through this grant we learnt how to reference and make citations on the articles manually, using APA style of referencing. Weekly meetings allowed us to check mistakes before they could get too far. Working in small groups helped the editors gain confidence. Mentorship between more experienced editors developed leadership and improved editing skills. Mentorship with U.S colleagues helped polish skills, review articles and correct mistakes. Editathons helped us review citations, notability and writing of first paragraphs in a communal setting, a learning we wish to carry on with. Future Aspirations #1 In order to improve skills and gain confidence, We will continue to implement these plans in the future: Organize focused training workshops on citation styles and reliable sources. Partner with university librarians to guide editors on locating secondary sources and navigating academic databases. Use peer review sessions during editathons where editors check one another’s citations, first paragraphs, and formatting. Implement mentorship programs
Aspirational Statement #2 2. We will continue to assess the most effective outreach and training methods for recruiting and retaining Wikipedia editors in Kenya and in Africa at large. Aspirational Learning #2 Through this grant, we increased the number and retention of active Wikipedia editors in Kenya and sparked broader interest in other African countries. We increased the visibility of African women in religion whose contributions remain underrepresented. Specifically, we aim to answer the following questions: Recruiting We mentored students within the university of Nairobi We obtained referrals from university colleagues of potential editors We identified people passionate and interested in writing about women in religion, theology, and gender studies, We reached out to students in social sciences and humanities from various universities by academics in the group We advertised through WhatsApp network groups (e.g.,Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians). We recruited additional people through a friend group. Retaining We have a structured schedule of meetings for training We implemented weekly training and mentorship meetings both in person and online We recruited librarians who supported in sourcing materials needed for referencing and citation We set up teams to enhance learning and sharing of skills We fed recruits at in-person meetings and editathons We established a Wikipedia hub at the University of Nairobi so that students could enjoy a secure space in which to meet and exchange ideas. Future Aspiration #2
Pilot peer-to-peer mentorship, pairing experienced editors with new ones.
Use theme-based editathons (e.g., Women in Religion, African women leaders) to attract editors with shared interests. Provide data packages and editing spaces to reduce barriers related to internet access. Celebrate milestones (e.g., articles published, stubs created) to motivate retention. Provide merchandise branded with the Wikipedia logo and wording. Collaborate with other Wikipedia editors in the country and continent. Learning how to upload WikiQuotes, Wikidata, and images of Women in Religion in Africa and beyond Expand regional partnerships and compile articles for Women in Religion in other countries apart from Kenya.
Aspirational Statement with Questions #3 3. This project can also help us assess the feasibility of having a Wikipedia hub at the University of Nairobi and assess the possibility of incorporating Wikipedia education for African countries. Describe the main things you would like to learn if you achieve the described change. Through this grant, we would like to increase Wikipedia editors in Kenya and possibly create a ripple interest in other African countries where the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians network is, as well as increase the visibility of African women in Religion from Africa. We would therefore seek to answer the following questions: i. What are the most effective methods for recruiting and retaining active Wikipedia editors in Kenya? ii. What are the primary challenges preventing Kenyan students and professionals from contributing to Wikipedia? iii. How do digital literacy, internet access, and language barriers impact participation? iv. How does the project contribute to closing Wikipedia content gaps related to the inclusion of women in Religion from Kenya and Africa at large? v. How effective is the university setting as a hub for Wikipedia editing and knowledge production in enhancing the visibility of women in religion and other underrepresented groups? vi. What partnerships and institutional support are necessary to scale Kenya's Wikipedia training programs?
Question # 3.ii ii. What are the primary challenges (e.g., digital literacy, internet costs, language barriers, notability standards) preventing Kenyan students and professionals from contributing to Wikipedia? Learnings #3.ii Meeting Wikipedia Notability standards on articles with scant resources Culturally divergent views on notability standards Sensitisation of Wikipedia editing among the professionals Limited access to credible sources according to Wikipedia standards Orality is not a recognized methodology Sensitization to address misconceptions about Power outages, unstable, and high cost of internet Meeting wikicommons copyright conventions on photographs The high quality of the six articles created in this Rapid Grant has set a standard for our group in understanding the details needed going forward for Notability in Wikipedia articles. Future training will work with stubs and improve stubs now that we have touch point articles for standards in Women in Religion in Africa. Future Aspirations #3,ii We carried forward many of the methods we developed in the first Rapid Grant and will, in the future, add new ideas gained at the Wikimania 2025 conference, for instance:
Pilot peer-to-peer mentorship, pairing experienced editors with new ones.
Use theme-based editathons and time limited challenges and events (e.g., Women in Religion, African women leaders) to attract editors with shared interests. Provide data packages and editing spaces to reduce barriers related to internet access. Celebrate milestones (e.g., articles published, stubs created) to motivate retention. Provide merchandise branded with the Wikipedia logo paired with our organization’s logo and event wording. and wording. Collaborate with other Wikipedia editors in this country and on the African continent. Learn about other Wikipedia Platforms to increase participation including how to upload WikiQuotes, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons images of Women in Religion in Africa and beyond. Expand regional partnerships and compile articles for Women in Religion in other countries apart from Kenya.
Question #3.iii
iii. How does internet access and language barriers shape participation and the quality of contributions?
Learnings: #3.iii Power outages and internet access affect the flow and effectiveness of publishing We learned more about Notability and found that three articles that we created could not be published because they did not meet notability standards according to Wikipedia's convention. In the future we will discuss the notability of each new subject, which often means simply citations and references available, not the person’s importance. Articles are subjected to higher levels of scrutiny on English Language Wikipedia without cultural sensitivity. We seek experienced U.S. editors to argue our case on Talk Pages as we learn to argue our cases on the internet. British conventions allow for passive voice,which is not the norm on English language Wikipedia that has a U.S. Standard. We are learning to write in a more neutral tone. Delete bots and reviewers with little cultural sensitivity flag articles in progress during training sessions. We seek experienced U.S. editors to argue our case on Talk Pages, as we learn to argue our cases on the internet. Oral sources and social media are not viewed as credible. We engage with Women in Religion to create secondary sources in their book projects. Future Aspirations #3.iii We have great hopes for the Hub after working two months in the space. For our future plans we will Partner with the University of Nairobi library and relevant departments (e.g., Religious Studies, African Studies) to host editing sessions. Run pilot events in the hub and other University spaces such as Pilot the hub by running regular editathons and hackathons and challenges in the University of Nairobi. Track participation to find best spaces and formats for increased participation. spaces and tracking participation. Engage university leadership to discuss the integration of Wikipedia education into the curriculum and co-curricular activities such as finding students to translate into Swahili Wikipedia to improve translation and writing skills. Enhance visibility by branding the hub and producing items with the Wikipedia Logo Create surety of access to Wikipedia editors and professionals
Question 3.iv iv. How does this project contribute to closing Wikipedia content gaps related to African women in religion, both in Kenya and across the continent? Learnings 3.iv We reviewed articles with mentors and in groups in the process of creating six high quality published articles. Editathons were an effective review of research and articles. We learned how to enhance the quality of existing articles through formattings and editing. We learned effective ways of outreach to procure photos, and upload them into existing articles on women in religion We highlighted the contributions of African women in religion, therefore addressing the persistent underrepresentation of African perspectives, histories, and knowledge systems on global platforms such as Wikipedia. Future Aspirations 3.iv Digital literacy on computers, internet access and cultural more than language barriers, barriers are an issue preventing participation. To answer these challenges we will
Provide advanced digital access on computers and have training in tandem with teaching alongside Wikipedia skills for new editors.
Continue providing Secure stable internet access and shared physical spaces to minimize dropout rates. Offer training in sentence construction and grammar in English and Swahili editing, including creating small English language and translation tasks, to reduce language and cultural barriers. Collaborating with librarians to help mentor students in how to find eliable secondary sources. Purchase and find sourcing of quality laptops/desktops to enhance the ability to engage fully in articles’ creation and collaborative editing. Facilitate access to the Hub. Develop skills and provide workshops in editing on the phone.
Question 3.v v. How effective is the university setting as a hub for Wikipedia editing and knowledge production, particularly in enhancing the visibility of women in religion and other marginalized groups? Learnings 3.v The new hub is very effective for knowledge production. Below are some of the benefits that we have experienced so far that will allow for the expansion of resources in the future: The hub is in a central location, easily accessible The hub research space for knowledge generation on women in religion and other marginalised groups The university gave us internet access The university gives us access to library resources behind paywalls The hub has a physical space conducive to teamwork and sharing resources The hub Enables continuous recruitment, retention, and sustainability of editors The hubspace for sensitization of professionals The hub for the incorporation of professionals in Wikipedia editing Future Aspirations 3.v Content gaps are very difficult to close given the number of women and African content focused editors. We have a number of ways to continue working the the content gaps: Prioritize Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians' biographies and related topics. Develop articles on other Matriarchs of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians/ Women in Religion outside Kenya/Partner with other country chapters, and introduce them to Wikipedia editing. Partner with the Wiki Women in Religion Biography Series and Hear Our Voices publications to help create women-focused secondary sources in marginalized communities are available.Here is an example of one volume in the continuing series: https://parliamentofreligions.org/womens-dignity/women-advancing-knowledge-equity-2023/ Link orphan articles and cross-reference related topics to increase visibility.
Question 3.vi vi. What partnerships and institutional support (universities, libraries, professional associations, archives) are necessary to strengthen and scale Kenya’s Wikipedia training programs? Learnings 3.vi Creating partnerships is a long term vision. It is often difficult to onboard busy faculty and staff and make projects mutually beneficial. People are busy and often want to meet, but can’t. Wikimania 2025 was a resource for meeting people and hopefully developing long-term relationships. Future Aspirations 3.vi In the future, we will reach out to librarians, other Wikipedia User Groups, professional associations and local and African experienced trainers who have more experience to increase our productivity, develop joint projects, raise the level of quality in articles, develop editor expertise in working across Wikipedia platforms, and developing Wikipedia leadership. Below are ideas generated for future implementation: The National library and other libraries in the country will collate resources needed for editing on a particular topic The National archives can retrieve historical information and resources Partnering with external universities and libraries that have a subscription to resources beyond Partnering with other Wikipedia groups across Africa and on other continents Partnering with Wikipedia Education to incorporate their education tools in the classroom. Working with more experienced African editors whom we met at Wikimania. L
Aspirational Statement #3.vii Build partnerships and institutional support for scaling Wikipedia in Kenya Learnings #3.viii We achieved the partner relationships necessary in Rapid Grant 2 to create a hub at the University of Nairobi. We had one false start in libraries and found great enthusiasm in the Department of Library and Information Center, the technology hub for the university. Future Aspiration #3.vii In the future we will Develop collaborations with libraries, archives, and professional associations to access resources. Partner with African Wikimedia user groups (e.g., Zambia, South Africa) for cross-country mentorship. Seek institutional support from educational and religious organizations to integrate Wikipedia contributions into professional recognition. Our first 1.5 months in the hub was a great success. Taking our learnings forward, we will Track the number of students and faculty recruited through university-based activities. Evaluate whether academic settings create higher editor retention rates compared to community-only recruitment. Use the hub as a pilot model that could be replicated in other African universities. Assess the support and commitment of University management
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)
Positive We formed teams of four to draft one article in one sandbox. Sharing editing roles was a positive outcome and editors learned to reduce fear, gain confidence, and increase problem-solving skills. The librarian support group helped gather secondary resources that enabled correct citations and fast drafting of the articles. These were people in our Information and Technology Department, where our new hub is located. Communal editing pulled friends into the editing group with new editors. Friends' joining mid-way voluntarily. Support from the US Women in Religion team had a positive effect on editing quality. Editors successfully sourced and uploaded photographs, created infoboxes, and sandboxes and linked orphan articles and used suggestbot. . Editors better understand notability standards, citation standards and copyright requirements of Wikimedia Commons. Editors know how to use Talk pages, categories and banners.
Negative Some of the articles were subjected to intense scrutiny and lengthy comments on the Talk pages by whom? If the articles were not deleted, tagged, or removed, the Kenyan editors continued to improve them. On the positive side, we learned how to advocate for our articles on talk pages. Some women in religion in Kenya, though renowned, did not have secondary resources for citation according to Wikipedia guidelines and hence could not be published on Wikipedia (eg, Margaret Gecaga- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Merwanga/sandbox) Many photos were pulled off of Wikimedia Commons because of Wikipedia and U.S. copyright policies. Hesitancy of subjects to have a photo put up on Wikimedia Commons that adhere to open access use of the photos. The Malagasy women never got internet, and we could not onboard them.
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)
Wikimania lightning talk show: We presented a Lightning Talk during the Wikimania 2025 conference titled, ‘ Women in Religion Crossing Oceans: Creating Visibility for African Scholars.’ The talk show addressed the underrepresentation of African women scholars in religion on Wikipedia platforms.
Propose strategies to improve visibility of African women in religion through future collaborative editing projects mentioned in this report.
Discuss the need for essays of Africans that provide secondary sources and recruit new authors for these essays at Wikiconference North America 2025 in New York City, and at the University of Nairobi.
Attached is the link to the Wikimania presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kGHO3BjI3XT_By2HhTh7qS6ClUNWGbIT/edit?slide=id.p1#slide=id.p1
Poster We developed and presented a poster that showcased our achievements and outlined our inception, activities, and future plans. This project focused on expanding knowledge about notable Circle matriarchs by creating new articles and improving existing ones. Teams worked collaboratively in one sandbox and engaged in peer-to-peer learning. Attached is the link to the poster: African_Circle_poster_Wikimania_2025.pdf
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 | 30 | 22 | 19 Kenya; 3 U.S. We are pleased with the number of dedicated editors who worked throughout the life of the grant. We do not count those that attend one event and do not become editors. |
| Number of editors | 25 | 22 | All are editors. We are pleased with our numbers. The Malagasy women never got internet, and we could not onboard them. |
| Number of organizers | 6 | 7 | 4 Kenyan and 3 U.S organizers. |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 25 | 6 | 46 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 10 | 41 | 41 |
| Wikidata | 11 | 14 | 2 |
| 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 | Result | Tools and comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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)
Yes Uploading photos due to the divergence between the Kenyan context and the Wikimedia Commons copyright framework. Secondary resources for some of the Circle matriarchs were considered as inadequate by Wikipedia conventions.
Part 4: Financial reporting
[edit]10. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency. (required)
646513
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
5113
12. Report the funds spent in the currency of your fund. (required)
Provide the link to the financial report See https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uSs5LBn3fpfc8_rtZ_hDc2cNNF0B-jpF/edit?gid=283081594#gid=283081594
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)
Due to fluctuations in the exchange rate, there was a surplus of $113 ; which was utilized for data bundles and M-Pesa transactions.
Following the increased number of returning and new editors from 10-19, budget line items were revised to support additional data bundles for the team. Transport, photocopying and printing, paper and materials, and balances from accommodation, library support were consolidated to cover the additional cost of data bundles ($488.80).
As the university provided furniture, the line items, logistics and space, and equipment and tools were used to purchase 2 laptops ($390.60 and $31.40 for IT support).
13. Do you have any unspent funds from the Fund?
No
13.1. Please list the amount and currency you did not use and explain why.
N/A
13.2. What are you planning to do with the underspent funds?
N/A
13.3. Please provide details of hope to spend these funds.
N/A
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)
Below is an additional google link and background materials for Rapid Grant 2 (This folder is also listed in shared materials for implementation.)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oeIQMqfBEzSyxVTfBlGr_sox-2zas88m?usp=drive_link