Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Fante Wikimedians Community Activities - 2025 (2nd Half) (ID: 23462266)/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)
During the grant period (September to November 2025), we implemented a range of strategic activities aimed at increasing awareness of the Fante Wikipedia, preserving Fante oral heritage, improving editor retention, and strengthening partnerships within the Fante Wikimedians Community.
One of our major activities was the Fante Oral Heritage Recording and Upload Project, through which we recorded and uploaded audio content featuring Fante folk stories, proverbs, oral histories, and cultural expressions. These recordings were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons and linked to relevant articles on the Fante Wikipedia. This activity directly addressed the challenge of documenting Fante culture, which is largely oral, and helped improve accessibility for Fante speakers, including those with limited literacy skills. The project also benefited from collaboration with local storytellers, linguists, and academic partners to ensure cultural accuracy and authenticity.
To increase visibility and reach a broader offline audience, we carried out a community radio awareness campaign in partnership with Radio Windbay 93.1. Through interactive radio discussions conducted in the Fante language, we introduced listeners to the Fante Wikipedia, explained how they could contribute, and highlighted the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge online. These radio engagements proved effective in reaching rural and semi-urban audiences who were previously unaware of the Wikimedia movement and generated interest from new potential contributors. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fante-_Radio_Tour.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fante_Wiki_Radio_Tour_(5).jpg
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Following the awareness campaigns, we organized in-person workshops and mini edit-a-thons to provide hands-on training for new and existing contributors. These sessions focused on Wikipedia editing, uploading media to Wikimedia Commons, and integrating audio content into articles. Participants gained practical skills and confidence, and several continued contributing or engaging in follow-up virtual support sessions after the events.
To address the ongoing challenge of editor retention, we continued implementing our light mentorship and retention strategies. New editors were paired with experienced contributors, supported through an active WhatsApp community, and engaged through regular virtual check-ins. Recognition initiatives such as “Editor of the Month” helped motivate contributors and foster a stronger sense of belonging within the community. These approaches were effective in sustaining participation beyond one-off events.
Throughout the grant period, collaboration remained central to our work. We strengthened partnerships with the Wikimedia Ghana User Group, local storytellers, linguists, and academic institutions, including the Language Department of the University of Education, Winneba. These collaborations enhanced the quality of content produced, improved outreach efforts, and ensured alignment with broader Wikimedia movement goals.
Key takeaways from this grant period include the importance of culturally grounded outreach, particularly the use of radio and oral content, consistent follow-up with new contributors, and blending offline engagement with ongoing online support. The most effective approaches were hands-on training, community-based mentorship, and partnerships that respected local knowledge systems while connecting them to global platforms. We also learned the value of pacing activities carefully to maintain volunteer energy and avoid burnout while sustaining long-term community growth.
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
https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/campaigns/fante_wikimedians_community__2025_1st_half/programs
https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1891835734295711999?t=TEEqcbHGzInKdmoBy360UQ&s=19 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fante-_Radio_Tour.jpg https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1898441147040608424?t=BU3nSAgVP6LuesIwjtd-RA&s=19 https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1895065576986263573?t=a-15_ScNnTe1I-s7sz_zLQ&s=19 https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fante_Wikimedians_Community/Feminism_and_Folklore_2025 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fante_Wiki_Radio_Tour_(4).jpg https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1898069078469693562?t=SY7QDx2OLojYD3shdg77zQ&s=19 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fante_Wikimedians_Celebrate_Womens_Day_2025_(3).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Feminism_%26_Folklore_2025_Contest_Workshop_-fat_(2).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fante_Wikimedians_Community_Photowalk https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Feminism_%26_Folklore_2025_Contest_-fat.jpg https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1897223323035296067?t=ifh1qX4iZfSNd1VB9ffeDg&s=19 https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1915394536450240694?t=jrHyvr3wXVSSMqviFnvGKA&s=19 https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1897223323035296067?t=ifh1qX4iZfSNd1VB9ffeDg&s=19
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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
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16x4CrCRxAivX1nbVBkYXBCnSNfFA7ai31z6Lmu2N4RE/edit?usp=sharing
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 | Strongly agree |
| B. Create a more inclusive and connected culture in our community | Strongly agree |
| C. Develop content about underrepresented topics/groups | Strongly agree |
| D. Develop content from underrepresented perspectives | Strongly agree |
| E. Encourage the retention of editors | Strongly agree |
| F. Encourage the retention of organizers | Strongly agree |
| G. Increased participants' feelings of belonging and connection to the movement | Strongly 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: 1. How to effectively preserve oral traditions through Wikimedia platforms 2. The impact of culturally grounded outreach (e.g., radio campaigns) on awareness and recruitment 3. Which retention strategies work best for emerging Wikimedia communities 4. How partnerships can enhance local impact and scale 5. How to Effectively manage an open community
1. How to effectively preserve oral traditions through Wikimedia platforms We learned that oral traditions can be effectively preserved on Wikimedia platforms when audio content is intentionally integrated into articles and contextualized with written summaries and metadata. Recording folk stories, proverbs, and oral histories in the Fante language and uploading them to Wikimedia Commons made cultural knowledge more accessible, especially for community members with limited literacy. Working closely with storytellers and linguists helped ensure cultural accuracy and respectful representation. In the future, we plan to expand this model by creating thematic audio collections and training community members on best practices for documenting oral knowledge.
2. What is the impact of culturally grounded outreach (e.g., radio campaigns) on awareness and recruitment? Our radio awareness campaign demonstrated that culturally grounded outreach is highly effective in increasing awareness and attracting new contributors. Using local radio and communicating in the Fante language helped build trust, reach rural and semi-urban audiences, and spark curiosity among people who were previously unfamiliar with Wikimedia projects. Several new participants learned about the Fante Wikipedia through these radio sessions. Moving forward, we plan to continue using radio and other local media as core outreach tools and to link these campaigns more intentionally with follow-up training and onboarding activities.
3. Which retention strategies work best for emerging Wikimedia communities? We found that consistent follow-up, peer support, and recognition were the most effective retention strategies. WhatsApp groups, light mentorship pairings, regular virtual check-ins, and recognition initiatives such as “Editor of the Month” helped contributors feel supported and valued. These approaches reduced drop-off after events and encouraged continued participation. In the future, we hope to strengthen these strategies by formalizing mentorship structures and introducing clearer contributor pathways for skill development and leadership.
4. How can partnerships enhance local impact and scale? Partnerships significantly enhanced both the quality and reach of our activities. Collaborations with local storytellers, linguists, academic institutions such as the University of Education, Winneba, media partners, and the Wikimedia Ghana User Group improved content authenticity, outreach effectiveness, and resource sharing. These partnerships helped us scale our impact without duplicating efforts. Going forward, we plan to deepen existing partnerships and explore new collaborations with cultural institutions and educational organizations to support long-term sustainability.
5. How to effectively manage an open community We learned that effective management of an open community requires transparent communication, inclusive decision-making, and clear community norms. Consistently reinforcing the Universal Code of Conduct and maintaining open communication channels helped build trust and create a safe, welcoming environment for contributors. Responsiveness to community needs and recognition of volunteer contributions also played an important role. In the future, we plan to introduce structured feedback mechanisms and explore shared leadership models to ensure continued inclusivity and community ownership.
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)
Throughout the implementation of our activities, we encountered both positive and unexpected situations that offered valuable learning opportunities.
One challenge we did not fully anticipate was the variation in participants’ digital skills, especially during the oral heritage recording and editing sessions. While some contributors adapted quickly to recording tools, file uploads, and article integration, others required more time and hands-on guidance. This revealed the importance of breaking training into smaller, step-by-step modules and providing ongoing support beyond the initial workshops. As a result, we leaned more heavily on peer support through WhatsApp and one-on-one follow-ups, and in the future we plan to introduce clearer onboarding guides and skill-level–specific training tracks.
A positive and somewhat surprising outcome was the strong response to the community radio awareness campaign. Beyond raising awareness, the radio sessions generated active interest from listeners who reached out after broadcasts to learn how they could contribute. This confirmed that culturally grounded outreach, particularly using local language radio, is more effective than we initially expected in reaching offline and underrepresented audiences. Moving forward, we plan to integrate radio outreach more intentionally into our recruitment pipeline, with clear next steps for interested listeners.
Another unexpected positive outcome was the level of engagement from local storytellers and academic partners. Their enthusiasm went beyond participation in recordings; many expressed interest in continued collaboration, validation of content, and future documentation efforts. This reinforced the value of involving cultural knowledge holders early in the process and treating them as long-term partners rather than one-time contributors.
We also observed that virtual support sessions and online follow-ups attracted more consistent participation than some in-person activities, particularly from contributors with time, mobility, or location constraints. This challenged our assumption that in-person engagement is always more effective and highlighted the importance of maintaining flexible hybrid engagement models.
Overall, these experiences taught us to remain adaptable, listen closely to community needs, and design activities that accommodate different skill levels and participation styles. The lessons learned will inform future project planning, particularly in improving onboarding, strengthening outreach-to-retention pathways, and balancing offline and online engagement to maximize impact.
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 will share our project plans and training materials with other community members who are interested in learning from our experience
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 | 80 | 60 | https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Fante_Wikimedians_Community/Fante_Wikimedians_Community_Activities_-_2025_2nd_Half |
| Number of editors | 30 | 30 | https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Fante_Wikimedians_Community/Fante_Wikimedians_Community_Activities_-_2025_2nd_Half |
| Number of organizers | 4 | 4 |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 150 | 339 | 779 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 100 | 160 | 27 |
| Wikidata | 50 | 138 | 20 |
| Wiktionary | |||
| Wikisource | |||
| Wikimedia Incubator | |||
| Translatewiki | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| 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)
Part 4: Financial reporting
[edit]10. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency. (required)
38331
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
3500
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/1KFWiVYem0iijXmjx4lqzV64Bl_egeIFfvDfLcY4G1Fw/edit?gid=928458698#gid=928458698
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?
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)