Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Fante Wikimedians Community Engagement Activities 2.0 (ID: 22591804)/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, we conducted various activities aimed at enhancing community engagement, retention, gender diversity, and collaboration within the Fante Wikimedians Community.
We organized multiple community engagement workshops focused on improving participants' skills in editing Wikipedia, Wikidata, and other sister projects. These workshops were specifically designed to support new and returning editors, ensuring they gained confidence in their contributions. As a result, we successfully trained over 20 community members, of which 40% have been retained and are actively participating in editing and broader community discussions.
To address the challenge of editor retention, we implemented editor retention programs. These included regular check-ins, virtual meetups, and establishing dedicated communication channels (primarily via WhatsApp) to provide continuous guidance and foster a supportive environment. Many participants reported a stronger sense of belonging and motivation to continue contributing.
Recognizing the importance of gender diversity, we initiated female-focused initiatives to increase female participation. These initiatives included targeted edit-a-thons and workshops specifically aimed at women in Fante communities. We also collaborated with local women-focused organizations to strengthen these efforts.
Lastly, we prioritized partnerships and collaborations, working closely with other language groups in Ghana, particularly through the Ghanaian Language Wikimedians Community. This collaboration was instrumental in sharing resources, co-organizing capacity-building workshops, and enhancing the exchange of knowledge among participants.
Our targeted female initiatives were particularly successful in increasing gender diversity within the Fante Wikimedians Community. By organizing female-focused events and creating a safe, inclusive environment, we encouraged more women to actively participate in the movement. These initiatives helped address the gender gap in our community and resulted in a notable increase in female contributors.
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://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fante_Wikipedia_Celebrations https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fante_Wikimedians_Community/SHS_Writing_Contest https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/campaigns/fante_wikimedians_community_events_2024/overview https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1838154052061769907 https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1834527512971378961 https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1832111668798570649 https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1817510050757316849 https://x.com/FanteCommunity/status/1812129133150761022 https://fat.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atekel_a_wonndzi_mu https://fat.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Ghana_Ns%C9%94wdo_Skuul_Akansi
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/1VyaOV5MtgMVHizPjLWqi1YserKZr9OTHpAF4BdD1p3A/edit#slide=id.g894f79d7b4_1_52 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bJTvFZOAR7uakLdkWUVNtEVXQm0tVJ6j9A506uuluWE/edit#slide=id.gf3c9030c53_0_0
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 | 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: Create community awareness about Movement discussions Manage existing partnerships and establish new ones. The community is aware that there are different ways to contribute to Wikimedia and are interested in doing so. New/existing editors have the skills and motivation necessary to continue contributing to Wikimedia projects. How to Effectively manage an open community
One of our main objectives was to introduce our community to broader discussions on the Wikimedia movement. Through workshops and informal meetups, we found that while many members were initially unfamiliar with these conversations, there was growing interest once they were introduced to the topics. However, participation in these discussions requires continuous engagement and clear communication.
Learning: It's essential to integrate movement discussions into regular activities and present them in a relatable way
Moving forward, we will regularly incorporate movement updates into training sessions and community meetings, providing accessible entry points for members to get involved
Many community members were not fully aware of the diverse ways they could contribute beyond editing articles. Through workshops and outreach, we successfully introduced alternative opportunities such as content translation, contributing to Wikidata, and participating in movement advocacy. This expanded the community's understanding of how they can be involved in different aspects of Wikimedia.
Learning: Community members are more likely to stay engaged when they know there are various ways to contribute that align with their personal interests or expertise.
We will continue to diversify our training and outreach activities, ensuring that community members are exposed to all the different ways they can participate. We’ll also develop role-specific programs so members can specialize in areas that interest them
Retention has always been a challenge, but programs and editor retention initiatives provided us with insights into how to keep editors motivated. We learned that new editors are more likely to continue contributing when they feel supported and are part of a community that recognizes their contributions.
Managing an open and diverse community, where members come with varying skills, backgrounds, and expectations, requires flexibility and clear leadership. We learned that while open communities thrive on inclusivity and diverse contributions, having structured guidelines, clear communication channels, and designated roles helps maintain order and productivity.
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)
On the positive side, we were pleasantly surprised by the high level of enthusiasm from community members, particularly those who were new to Wikimedia projects. Despite initial concerns about retention, many new editors quickly became deeply engaged with editing, attending workshops regularly, and actively participating in discussions. This unexpected commitment led to a higher-than-anticipated retention rate, especially among female editors who participated in our female-focused initiatives. The community's eagerness to embrace new ways of contributing, such as through Wikidata or content translation, also exceeded our expectations.
On the negative side, we faced some challenges with sustaining the momentum of partnerships. While initial collaboration with academic and GLAM institutions started strong, maintaining regular communication and aligning project timelines with external partners proved difficult. Some partners experienced delays in their own activities, which led to slower-than-expected progress in joint projects.
Another unexpected challenge was the technical difficulties some community members encountered while using Wikimedia platforms. Issues such as limited internet access or unfamiliarity with certain tools affected participation, especially during virtual events. This was particularly evident among new editors, who sometimes found it difficult to navigate Wikimedia interfaces without in-person guidance.
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'll share our project plans and training materials with other community members who want to learn from our experience. This will help them understand our approach and benefit from our insights.
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 | 90 | 80 | Outreach dashboard and external engagements
https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/campaigns/fante_wikimedians_community_events_2024/overview |
| Number of editors | 45 | 47 | https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/campaigns/fante_wikimedians_community_events_2024/overview |
| Number of organizers | 4 | 4 | https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/campaigns/fante_wikimedians_community_events_2024/overview |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 300 | 147 | 237 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 70 | 50 | 10 |
| Wikidata | 150 | 150 | 100 |
| Wiktionary | |||
| Wikisource | |||
| Wikimedia Incubator | |||
| Translatewiki | 300 | 300 | 350 |
| 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)
63200
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
4757.62
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/1Yyav_bmMZqp3reoAnLcjrugzP8ao__67iPgNsUNNPac/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?
Yes
13.1. Please list the amount and currency you did not use and explain why.
$ 63. There were no unforeseen events during the implementation of the project that required the use of the allocated budget
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.
I want to use them in a new grant request
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