Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Fante Wikimedians Community Activities - 2025 (ID: 22895774)/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 (February to April 2025), we conducted a range of strategic activities aimed at improving community engagement, improving editor retention, increasing gender diversity, and strengthening partnerships within the Fante Wikimedians Community.
We organized multiple in-person and virtual workshops focused on building the capacity of our community members in contributing to Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. These training sessions were tailored to support both new and returning editors, helping them gain confidence and practical skills. In total, over 30 participants were trained across various events, with an estimated 45% of them continuing to edit or engage in Wikimedia-related discussions beyond the events.
To address the persistent challenge of editor retention, we implemented several retention-focused strategies. These included virtual office hours, regular follow-ups, and creating an active WhatsApp community where editors could seek help, collaborate, and share progress. We also introduced incentives like “Editor of the Week” and provided mobile data support to sustain motivation. These approaches were effective in strengthening community bonds and ensuring continued participation.
Gender diversity was another major priority. We actively participated in the SheSaid campaign and led a localized edition of the Feminism and Folklore 2025 campaign. These initiatives focused on highlighting women’s voices and stories, and encouraging more female contributors to join the movement. We organized dedicated female-focused edit-a-thons and engaged with women-led organizations to promote inclusion and representation. As a result, we saw an increase in the number of female editors within the community and improved engagement from women across our platforms. https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1898441147040608424?t=BU3nSAgVP6LuesIwjtd-RA&s=19
As part of our capacity-building efforts, we successfully organized a two-day “Train the Trainers” workshop, aimed at equipping selected volunteers with both Wikimedia-related and soft skills. This training was designed to empower promising community members with the knowledge and confidence to lead local activities, support new editors, and represent the Fante Wikimedians Community in broader Wikimedia spaces.
In addition to these, we embarked on a community radio tour in the Central Region to raise awareness of our work and invite more people, especially Fante speakers, to contribute to the Fante Wikipedia. These radio engagements were instrumental in reaching new audiences who were previously unaware of the Wikimedia movement and sparked interest among local communities. 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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Throughout this period, collaboration remained central to our success. We strengthened our partnership with the University of Education (Language Department) and initiatives such as SheSaid and Feminism and Folklore, while also building new relationships with GLAM institutions, AI thinktanks and local academic entities.
Our key takeaways include the importance of consistent communication, community recognition, and clear onboarding for new editors. What worked best was blending online and offline activities, offering hands-on support, and creating spaces where everyone, especially women felt safe and encouraged to contribute. We also learned to pace activities thoughtfully to avoid burnout among organizers and volunteers.
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
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 | Agree |
| C. Develop content about underrepresented topics/groups | Agree |
| D. Develop content from underrepresented perspectives | Strongly 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: What factors contribute to sustained editor retention in the Fante Wikimedia community? How effective are our training workshops and leadership programs in enhancing editor skills and confidence? What are the challenges and barriers faced by community members in participating in Wikimedia projects and events? How to Effectively manage an open community New/existing editors have the skills and motivation necessary to continue contributing to Wikimedia projects.
1.What factors contribute to sustained editor retention in the Fante Wikimedia community We found that sustained editor retention is closely linked to consistent engagement and a sense of belonging. Regular check-ins, virtual meetups, and the use of a dedicated WhatsApp group helped maintain momentum and encouraged editors to remain active. These platforms created opportunities for support, peer learning, and recognition, all of which proved critical in keeping editors motivated. Moving forward, we will continue to prioritize these strategies while introducing mentorship pairings and gamified incentives to further encourage long-term participation.
2.How effective are our training workshops and leadership programs in enhancing editor skills and confidence? Our training workshops and the “Train the Trainers” leadership program significantly boosted participants' skills and confidence. Many editors gained a better understanding of Wikimedia projects beyond just article editing, such as contributing to Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and participating in translation drives. The leadership program, in particular, helped selected volunteers develop soft skills and build the capacity to train others, strengthening the community from within. Based on this success, we intend to institutionalize leadership development as a recurring initiative to empower local leaders.
3. What are the challenges and barriers faced by community members in participating in Wikimedia projects and events? We learned that limited digital literacy, unstable internet connectivity, and lack of awareness about the variety of Wikimedia activities are major barriers for participation. Some editors also struggled with time constraints or lacked confidence in their abilities. To address these challenges, we adopted more flexible training models (e.g., shorter, topic-focused sessions) and provided data support where possible. In the future, we aim to work with local institutions to provide physical hubs with internet access and to host more hands-on, in-person support activities.
4. How to effectively manage an open community? Effective community management requires openness, clear expectations, and inclusive decision-making. By being transparent in communication and consistently reinforcing Wikimedia’s universal code of conduct, we were able to build trust within the Fante Wikimedians Community. Inclusivity, respect, and responsiveness to member needs created a safe environment for collaboration. Going forward, we plan to introduce community feedback mechanisms and explore a rotating leadership structure to ensure that all voices are heard and valued.
5. Do new/existing editors have the skills and motivation necessary to continue contributing to Wikimedia projects? We observed that while some editors began with limited awareness of Wikimedia’s ecosystem, targeted training and exposure to different Wikimedia projects increased both skills and motivation. Editors were especially motivated when they could contribute in ways that aligned with their interests. In response, we will tailor our training programs to include role-based learning paths and continue highlighting the diverse ways community members can get involved.
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 negative surprises that provided valuable learning opportunities.
One unexpected challenge was the varying levels of technical proficiency among new editors. While some quickly grasped content creation and editing, others struggled with basic tools and policies. This highlighted the need for more personalized training and continuous support. To address this, we will introduced tailored mentorship programs where more experienced editors could guide newcomers, ensuring that everyone had the skills necessary to contribute effectively.
On the positive side, our partnership with local universities proved more fruitful than anticipated. Initially, we anticipated that involvement would be limited, but the academic institutions actively engaged with the community, offering both resources and expertise. This strengthened our content creation efforts and helped expand our community reach.
Another pleasant surprise was the positive impact of virtual engagement activities and office hours. Many community members who could not join Inperson meetings due to time constraints etc joined online
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 | 94 | https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/campaigns/fante_wikimedians_community__2025_1st_half/programs |
| Number of editors | 30 | 34 | https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/campaigns/fante_wikimedians_community__2025_1st_half/programs |
| Number of organizers | 3 | 3 | https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/campaigns/fante_wikimedians_community__2025_1st_half/programs |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 250 | 442 | 984 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 80 | 79 | 2 |
| Wikidata | 150 | 17 | 135 |
| Wiktionary | |||
| Wikisource | |||
| Wikimedia Incubator | 100 | 52 | 55 |
| 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)
Part 4: Financial reporting
[edit]10. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency. (required)
73500
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
4761.36
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/1jOAP0LjuOnRmKQLwJ0-puLcudH-dvNhgcIT-8KrMCDo/edit?usp=sharing
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)
Review notes
[edit]Review notes from Program Officer:
N/A
Applicant's response to the review feedback.
N/A