Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/From Field Research to Wikimedia:Preserving Nevşehir’s Cultural Heritage (ID: 23926759)

If you are a group or organization leader, board member, president, executive director, or staff member at any Wikimedia group, affiliate, or Wikimedia Foundation, you are required to self-identify and present all roles. (required)

N/A

Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)

N/A

Main Proposal

1. [TITLE] Title of your proposal.

From Field Research to Wikimedia: Preserving Nevşehir’s Cultural Heritage

2 - 3. [FROM - TO] Proposed start and end dates for the grant proposal. (required)

2026-09-14 - 2027-06-28

4. [AREA OF IMPLEMENTATION] Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

Turkey

5. [TARGET GROUP] Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities? (required)

The main target participants of the project will be undergraduate and graduate students from different academic disciplines. Based on our experience from previous projects, university students have shown a greater interest in and ability to use digital tools. For this reason, university students have been identified as an important target group for activities related to Wikimedia projects and digital cultural heritage. However, participation will not be limited to university students. Individuals who are interested in cultural heritage, digital humanities, open knowledge, and Wikimedia projects will also be encouraged to join the activities.

The project will be carried out by the Digital Cultural Heritage Network (Dijital Kültürel Miras Ağı), a volunteer community working to preserve, make accessible, and support the sustainable use of Türkiye’s cultural heritage in digital environments. The community produces Turkish-language content on digital cultural heritage, supports knowledge sharing, and brings together experts and interested individuals to build a sustainable collaboration network. The Digital Cultural Heritage Network has successfully completed projects supported by the European Union’s Civic Thought Programme (Sivil Düşün) and has received support from the Wikimedia Foundation twice. The community continues its activities through local and international collaborations and includes members from different cities and countries. While many members are based in Ankara, the community actively works with universities, civil society organizations, municipalities, and public and private cultural memory institutions. It also has an established audience and follower network through its website, social media accounts (https://www.instagram.com/dijitalkulturelmiras/), email groups, and other communication channels (https://dijitalkulturelmiras.com/).

Before the activities, project announcements will be shared through the community’s existing communication channels, including its website, social media accounts, and email lists. In addition, as we have done in previous projects, an information and consultation meeting will be organized with interested individuals and institutions. During this meeting, the project and planned activities will be introduced, and participants’ opinions, suggestions, and expectations will be collected and reflected in the implementation plan. In this way, community members will be involved not only as participants but also as contributors to the planning process.

To help participants prepare for the activities, informational materials about Wikimedia projects, account creation, and the planned activities will be shared before the events. This will help participants join the activities with active user accounts and a basic understanding of the tools and processes.

During the activities, participant contributions will be monitored and made visible through tools such as the Wikimedia Dashboard. Experienced community members and facilitators will provide support on content creation and technical issues. In addition, question-and-answer sessions, experience sharing, and feedback activities will encourage interaction and collaborative learning among participants.

After the activities, communication with participants will continue through the community’s existing networks. Project outputs, training materials, and new collaboration opportunities will be shared through email lists, social media groups, and other communication channels. Participants will be invited to future edit-a-thons, training events, workshops, and community activities to encourage their continued involvement in Wikimedia projects and digital cultural heritage work. Project results will also be presented at national and international conferences, workshops, and similar events, and the feedback received will be used to improve future activities.

The project is directly connected to the mission and ongoing work of the Digital Cultural Heritage Network. As a community, we believe that knowledge should be shared openly, be accessible to everyone, and remain sustainable over time. Wikimedia projects provide a strong platform for achieving these goals and make it possible to create and share open knowledge related to cultural heritage. Through this project, we aim not only to create content but also to strengthen cooperation among institutions, experts, and volunteers working in the field of cultural heritage and to build a sustainable community of contributors.

6. [TOPIC/ AREA OF EXPERTISE] What is the change you are trying to bring? What are the main challenges or problems you are trying to solve? Describe this change, as well as the main approaches to achieve it. (required)

This project is a continuation of the project titled “Cultural Heritage Conservation with Local Stakeholders in Nevşehir, Türkiye”, which was supported by the Wikimedia Rapid Fund and implemented by the Digital Cultural Heritage Network between 07.07.2025 and 04.05.2026. During the previous project, our team members and local stakeholders carried out fieldwork in Nevşehir and identified needs related to documenting and preserving the cultural heritage of the region. Through meetings with local business owners, university lecturers, and other local stakeholders, we saw that the issues we identified were also recognized by local people and that there was a need for further work in this area.

During the previous project, we participated in national and international conferences and observed significant interest in documenting cultural heritage in digital environments and transforming it into open knowledge (https://www.instagram.com/p/DXryxZ_DNqw/?img_index=1 - https://www.instagram.com/p/DW1EhtFjKIn/?img_index=1 - https://www.instagram.com/p/DP23buIjPNY/?img_index=1). In addition, a large amount of data related to the cultural heritage of Nevşehir was collected during the project. Information scattered across different sources was brought together and verified. Local stakeholders and other interested individuals also contributed to this process by sharing their information and materials with our team. However, due to time and capacity limitations, it was not possible to transfer all of the collected data to Wikimedia projects.

For this reason, the proposed project aims to transfer the data collected during the previous project to Wikimedia projects, making it more accessible, sustainable, and openly available. The Nevşehir region faces various threats to its cultural heritage due to both natural processes and human activities (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384690138_KAPADOKYA'DA_23_MILYON_YILLIK_PERIBACALARI_BALON_TURIZMI_VE_DIGER_FAALIYETLERLE_TAHRIP_OLMA_TEHDIDI_ALTINDA). Therefore, preserving information about the region in digital environments and making it accessible to everyone is very important. We also had the opportunity to connect with other people who are aware of these challenges and are working on similar issues (https://www.instagram.com/p/DSC9lECDPUR/?img_index=1).

The main planned activities of the project are:

Reviewing, organizing, and preparing the cultural heritage data collected during the previous project for contribution to Wikimedia projects. Adding information related to the cultural heritage of Nevşehir to Wikimedia projects such as Wikidata, Wikipedia, and Wikimedia Commons. Involving undergraduate and graduate students through our existing collaborations with universities in Ankara. Participating as guest speakers in relevant university courses and organizing data entry and content development activities with students over a planned period (https://www.instagram.com/p/DIwsB1ZsNcb/). Providing training and guidance on Wikimedia projects and supporting participants during the data entry process. Contributing verified cultural heritage information to the open knowledge ecosystem through editing events and contribution activities. Sharing the project results with local stakeholders, academic partners, and Wikimedia communities.

The main partners of the project include members of the Digital Cultural Heritage Network, academics and relevant departments at universities in Ankara, and local stakeholders in Nevşehir who collaborated with us during the previous project. These partnerships will help us benefit from local knowledge and experience while encouraging students to actively participate in the digital preservation of cultural heritage.

Through this project, we aim to transfer the cultural heritage data that has already been collected and verified through significant effort to Wikimedia projects. In this way, we hope to increase the visibility of Nevşehir’s cultural heritage, make information openly accessible, and contribute to its long-term preservation.

7. [HOW / ACTIVITIES] What are the planned activities? (required)

This project builds directly on the experience and lessons learned from the previous project we implemented as the Digital Cultural Heritage Network in Nevşehir Province. During that project, we organized in-person Wikimedia editing activities in both Nevşehir and Ankara. While participants in both locations showed strong interest, our evaluation of participation and editing statistics demonstrated that the activities held in Ankara resulted in significantly higher editing productivity. In Nevşehir, participants—including local cultural heritage professionals and community members—were highly motivated and clearly understood the importance of documenting their cultural heritage. However, many lacked the technical knowledge and confidence required to contribute to Wikimedia projects independently. We also discovered that a considerable amount of valuable cultural heritage documentation already exists. For example, an inventory of the cultural assets of Mustafapaşa had previously been prepared, and another project created a digital map of cultural heritage sites. Unfortunately, these resources are currently not publicly accessible. During our previous project, we collected and organized a substantial amount of this data but were unable to complete its integration into Wikimedia projects.

The proposed project focuses on transforming this previously collected information into openly accessible knowledge by organizing structured data-entry activities and strengthening our existing local partnerships.

Activity 1 – University-based Wikimedia Education and Data Entry Program (Ankara)

Based on our previous experience, we concluded that one-day edit-a-thons are not sufficient to develop sustainable contributor communities. Therefore, we will organize a structured educational program for university students in Ankara.

In cooperation with university departments and faculty members, we will participate as guest instructors in relevant university courses. During these sessions, students will be introduced to Wikimedia projects, digital cultural heritage, open knowledge principles, and critical information literacy. Using the cultural heritage data collected during our previous project, participants will contribute structured information to Wikimedia projects through supervised editing sessions.

Our previous collaborations with universities in Ankara, together with the strong support of faculty members and student communities, provide an ideal environment for attracting both new contributors and long-term volunteers who have not previously participated in Wikimedia activities.

Activity 2 – Public Awareness Event (Ankara)

A second event in Ankara will be organized as an open public awareness meeting rather than a data-entry workshop. Its primary objective is to introduce Wikimedia projects, demonstrate how cultural heritage information can be shared openly, and encourage wider public participation in open knowledge initiatives.

The event will target students, cultural heritage professionals, civil society organizations, and members of the general public who are interested in cultural heritage and digital participation.

Activity 3 – Online Editing Event

We will organize an online editing event bringing together experienced Wikimedia contributors who have previously participated in our activities. During this collaborative editing session, participants will focus on adding the cultural heritage data collected during our previous project to Wikimedia projects, particularly regarding the cultural heritage of Nevşehir Province.

This activity will strengthen our existing volunteer community while significantly increasing the amount of verified cultural heritage data available through Wikimedia platforms.

Activity 4 – Local Stakeholder Meeting (Nevşehir)

Rather than organizing another editing workshop in Nevşehir, we plan to hold a stakeholder meeting to strengthen local cooperation and ensure the long-term sustainability of the project.

We expect participation from librarians, museum professionals, tourist guides, hotel managers, gallery staff, university students, local researchers, and anyone interested in cultural heritage. During the meeting, we will present the outcomes of our work, demonstrate how Wikimedia resources can support cultural heritage promotion, and explain how local institutions and tourism professionals can direct visitors to these openly accessible resources.

We will also inform participants from our previous Nevşehir activities about the progress made since the earlier project and encourage them to continue promoting Wikimedia resources within their local communities.

Conference Participation and Knowledge Dissemination In addition to the planned project activities, members of the Digital Cultural Heritage Network are regularly invited to participate in conferences, symposiums, workshops, and professional events related to cultural heritage, digital humanities, libraries, museums, and open knowledge. As our community has become increasingly recognized among professionals working in these fields in Türkiye, we receive invitations to contribute as speakers or panelists at some events, while we also submit proposals to participate in others. Since the programmes of many upcoming events have not yet been announced, it is not possible to specify the exact conferences at this stage. Whenever opportunities arise during the project period, we will present the project's methodology, activities, and outcomes, while introducing Wikimedia projects and promoting open knowledge practices. These dissemination activities will help raise awareness of Wikimedia within relevant professional communities, strengthen existing collaborations, and encourage new institutions and individuals to engage with open cultural heritage initiatives.

Partnerships

The project will continue and strengthen the partnerships established during our previous work.

Our primary local partners include Cappadocia University, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Ankara University, Middle East Technical University (METU) Settlement Archaeology Program, and TED University. Faculty members and researchers from these institutions will support educational activities, provide academic expertise, and encourage student participation throughout the project.

We will also collaborate with local cultural heritage stakeholders in Nevşehir during the implementation of the project, fostering stronger connections between academia, cultural institutions, and local communities.

At the national level, we will work in cooperation with professional organizations including the Association of Museum Professionals, ÜNAK (University and Research Librarians Association), various cultural memory institutions, universities, and members of our Digital Cultural Heritage Network located across different regions of Türkiye.

We will continue our collaboration with the Creative Commons Türkiye community, particularly regarding open licensing practices and the responsible sharing of visual cultural heritage content.

Outreach and Communication

Participants will be invited through our existing communication channels, including social media accounts, mailing lists, partner organizations, and direct personal communication. To reach new audiences beyond our existing network, we will also use targeted social media advertising.

Our communication team will prepare promotional materials, visual designs, information packages, posters, and digital campaign content. The project team will also design promotional materials supporting participant engagement.

Beyond the planned project activities, members of the Digital Cultural Heritage Network regularly participate in conferences, symposiums, workshops, and educational events across Türkiye. During these events we introduce Wikimedia projects and present the outcomes of our activities, contributing to greater public awareness of open knowledge and Wikimedia participation. We believe that increasing public understanding of how individuals can contribute to Wikimedia projects is essential, as awareness of participatory knowledge production remains limited in Türkiye.

8. [METRICS] What are your Wikimedia targets in numbers (metrics) for your project? Set Wikimedia metrics for your proposal. (required)

Number of participants, editors, and organizers
Other Metrics	Target	Optional description
Number of participants	200	Within the scope of the project, we aim to directly reach a total of 170–200 participants (in-person or virtual): Activity 1 – University-based Wikimedia Education and Data Entry Program (Ankara): 20 participants (university students, faculty members) Activity 2 – Public Awareness Event (Ankara): 30 participants (students, cultural heritage professionals, civil society organizations, general public) Activity 3 – Online Editing Event: 20 participants (experienced Wikimedia contributors) Activity 4 – Local Stakeholder Meeting (Nevşehir): 30 participants (librarians, museum professionals, tourist guides, hotel managers, gallery staff, university students, local researchers) In addition, through external conferences, symposiums, and events where members of the Digital Cultural Heritage Network participate as speakers or attendees, we plan to reach approximately 70–100 more people. These figures do not include social media followers, individuals who only complete a registration/application form without actually attending the activities, or donors; only individuals who directly participate in or benefit from these activities have been counted.
Number of editors	50	We are able to ensure that all participants invited to our activities create a Wikipedia (Wikimedia) user account. The information packages we distribute before each event, along with the presentations we prepare on how to use Wikimedia platforms during the events, support participants in creating their user profiles and taking their first steps as editors. However, it is important to note that not all participants are able to contribute at the same level of editing activity. Attendance at a single event does not guarantee sustained or high-volume editing from every participant. Based on our previous experience, we anticipate that the university-based program (Activity 1), which involves a structured, multi-session process with students over a defined period, will produce more consistent and productive editing outcomes compared to one-off events. The other activities in this project (Activities 2 and 4) are primarily designed to raise awareness of Wikimedia projects and open knowledge principles among a broader audience, rather than to generate large volumes of edits. Activity 3, on the other hand, brings together a smaller group of already experienced contributors and is expected to result in a higher volume of substantive data entry. In summary, we expect a smaller number of participants—mainly university students and experienced volunteers—to become active editors generating a significant volume of content, while the broader participant base will primarily gain awareness and foundational skills that may support future engagement with Wikimedia projects.
Number of organizers	5	The implementation of this project will be carried out by the core team of the Digital Cultural Heritage Network, together with academic partners and local stakeholders who will contribute time, expertise, and knowledge throughout the project. Seraksin (Project Manager): An archaeologist with a PhD from the Department of Information and Records Management at Ankara University and more than 20 years of experience in digital cultural heritage research and practice. As Project Manager, she will be responsible for the overall coordination, implementation, financial management, reporting, and evaluation of the project. She is an active Wikimedian and one of the founders of the Digital Cultural Heritage Network. Atreju.x (Project Administrator): A librarian and archaeologist with experience in EU-funded projects and cultural heritage initiatives, and author of a 2025 master's thesis on the role of Wikipedia in museum information access. She will support project administration, participant coordination, Wikimedia editing activities, communication, and reporting processes. Aslibtr (Event Trainer and Facilitator): Experienced in organizing workshops, training activities, and community events, including as a Project Coordinator in Erasmus+ projects. She will support the planning and implementation of meetings, training sessions, and edit-a-thons, and will assist in collecting, organizing, and preparing cultural heritage data—particularly for Wikidata-related activities. Akbugday (Event Trainer): An interdisciplinary social scientist holding a PhD in Geography from The Ohio State University, currently teaching in the Environmental Studies and Sciences Program in the United States. Since 2023, she has incorporated Wikipedia assignments into her courses in collaboration with the Wiki Education Foundation, guiding students to contribute more than 74,000 words and 800+ references across 21 improved and 5 newly created Wikipedia articles. She will support the design, supervision, and evaluation of student contributions to Wikipedia within this project. Jervenska (Cultural Heritage Professional and Local Partner): A cultural heritage professional and Wikimedia contributor based in Nevşehir with strong local stakeholder connections. She will support local coordination, stakeholder engagement, and communication with institutions and community members in Nevşehir, helping ensure the effective use of previously collected cultural heritage data. Communication and Outreach: Atreju.x and Aslibtr will jointly coordinate communication and outreach activities, including preparing social media announcements, event posters, participant communication, documentation, and supporting the overall visibility of the project. If additional support is needed, the team will also seek guidance from Wikimedia user groups and experienced Wikipedians within the broader Wikimedia community. Together, this team of 5 core organizers, supported by faculty members from partner universities and local stakeholders in Nevşehir, will ensure that each activity is properly planned, delivered, supervised, and evaluated.

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project	Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia	200
Wikimedia Commons	100
Wikidata	30
Wiktionary
Wikisource
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote
Wikivoyage
Wikibooks
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies
Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia

Optional description for content contributions.

N/A

9. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)

No

Main Open Metrics Data
Main Open Metrics	Description	Target
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A

10. [TOOLS] What tools will you use to measure each target (metrics) mentioned? (required)

We will use the Wikimedia Programs & Events Dashboard to track and measure project metrics. In addition, we will collect participant data and feedback through registration and evaluation forms. For the past academic terms, we have worked with university students and monitored their contributions to Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.

One of our team members, Akbugday (Event Trainer), has extensive experience in designing, supervising, and evaluating student contributions to Wikipedia through educational assignments. She will support the monitoring and assessment of student edits and project outcomes. If additional support is needed, we can also seek guidance from Wikimedia user groups and experienced Wikipedians within the broader Wikimedia community.

11. [TEAM] Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required)

The Digital Cultural Heritage Network is a volunteer-based community that brings together individuals and institutions working in the field of digital cultural heritage in Türkiye. All activities carried out within the network are voluntary and non-profit. Members from different disciplines and professional backgrounds share knowledge, experiences, and resources related to cultural heritage, digital preservation, digital humanities, and open knowledge. Through these exchanges, the network develops collaborative projects and supports the creation and sharing of openly accessible information.

The network has experience in planning and implementing projects related to cultural heritage and Wikimedia platforms. In 2024, the Digital Cultural Heritage Network successfully completed the Wikimedia Foundation Rapid Fund project titled "Building a Knowledge Repository for Cultural Heritage Post-Earthquake Disaster in Southeast Türkiye." In 2025–2026, the network also successfully implemented the Wikimedia Foundation Rapid Fund project "Cultural Heritage Conservation with Local Stakeholders in Nevşehir, Türkiye." In addition, the network has completed project supported by the European Union's Sivil Düşün (Civic Thought) Programme and continues its activities through local and international collaborations.

User: Seraksin (Project Manager)

Seraksin is an archaeologist and holds a PhD from the Department of Information and Records Management at Ankara University. She has more than 20 years of experience in digital cultural heritage research and practice. She is an active Wikimedian and regularly contributes to Wikimedia projects, particularly on topics related to archaeology and cultural heritage. As Project Manager, she will be responsible for the overall coordination, implementation, financial management, reporting, and evaluation of the project. She is also one of the founders of the Digital Cultural Heritage Network.

User: Atreju.x (Project Administrator)

Atreju.x is a librarian and archaeologist with experience in European Union-funded projects and cultural heritage initiatives. She completed her master's thesis in 2025 at the Department of Information and Records Management, Ankara University. Her thesis, titled "The Role of Wikipedia in Information Access: The Case of Museums in Ankara", examined the role of Wikipedia in providing access to cultural heritage information. Within this project, she will support project administration, participant coordination, Wikimedia editing activities, communication, and reporting processes.

User: Aslibtr (Event Trainer and Facilitator)

Aslibtr graduated from the Department of Information and Records Management and worked as a Project Coordinator in Erasmus+ projects. She has experience in organizing workshops, training activities, and community events. Within this project, she will support the planning and implementation of meetings, training sessions, and edit-a-thons. She will also assist in collecting, organizing, and preparing cultural heritage data that will be used for Wikimedia contributions, especially activities.

Communication and Outreach

Atreju.x and Aslibtr will jointly coordinate communication and outreach activities. Their responsibilities will include preparing social media announcements, event posters, participant communication, documentation, and supporting the overall visibility of the project.

User: Akbugday (Event Trainer)

Akbugday is an interdisciplinary social scientist and holds a PhD in Geography from The Ohio State University. She currently teaches in the Environmental Studies and Sciences Program in the United States. Since 2023, she has incorporated Wikipedia assignments into her courses and collaborated with the Wiki Education Foundation. Her students have contributed more than 74,000 words and over 800 references through improving 21 Wikipedia articles and creating 5 new articles related to climate change in the Middle East and North Africa. She is an active Wikimedian and has organized activities focused on teaching with Wikipedia. She has previously supported the Digital Cultural Heritage Network as an informal mentor and advisor and will contribute her experience in educational uses of Wikimedia projects.

User: Jervenska (Cultural Heritage Professional and Local Partner)

Jervenska is a cultural heritage professional, Wikimedia contributor, and local project partner based in Nevşehir. She has experience in cultural heritage projects and strong connections with local stakeholders in the region. Within this project, she will support local coordination, stakeholder engagement, and communication with institutions and community members in Nevşehir. Her local expertise will help strengthen the project's connection with the region and support the effective use of previously collected cultural heritage data.

12. [LEARNING LESSON] What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)

Learning Lesson

Through this project, we aim to better understand how open, collaborative digital platforms can contribute to the long-term preservation, accessibility, and sustainability of cultural and natural heritage documentation.

The Nevşehir region possesses an exceptionally rich cultural and natural heritage. However, as in many parts of Türkiye, this heritage is increasingly threatened by neglect, human activities, and natural erosion. We believe that documenting this heritage in open digital environments and making it freely accessible to everyone is essential for its long-term preservation and for transmitting this knowledge to future generations.

Our project seeks to answer the following learning questions:

How can Wikimedia platforms contribute to the preservation and long-term accessibility of cultural and natural heritage documentation? Can open knowledge platforms encourage institutions and individuals to share heritage-related data that currently remain fragmented across different organizations? How effectively can Wikimedia projects integrate diverse types of heritage data (texts, photographs, maps, structured data, and media) into an interconnected and reusable knowledge ecosystem? Can community-based contributions provide a sustainable model for continuously updating heritage information as archaeological, historical, and environmental knowledge evolves over time? How can local participants, volunteers, and partner institutions develop a lasting sense of ownership toward documenting and sharing heritage through Wikimedia projects?

During our previous projects, we observed that many institutions already hold valuable information about the region. However, these datasets are often isolated, duplicated, or recreated independently because they are not interconnected. Through Wikimedia's open infrastructure, we aim to bring related information together into a shared and linked knowledge ecosystem that can be continuously expanded.

We also recognize that heritage knowledge is dynamic. Archaeological discoveries, historical research, and environmental changes continuously reshape our understanding of cultural and natural heritage. Because ownership and responsibility for heritage are distributed among public institutions, private organizations, researchers, and local communities, maintaining such information through a single institution is neither realistic nor sustainable in the Turkish context.

Therefore, an important aspect we hope to learn is whether building a strong local Wikimedia community can create a sustainable model for ongoing documentation and data sharing. Our previous projects have shown encouraging signs of long-term engagement: many participants continue attending our activities, asking questions, and contributing even after the projects have ended. This project will allow us to better understand how community-driven participation can support the continuous preservation, updating, and dissemination of heritage knowledge for future generations.

13. [BUDGET] Upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

14 - 14.1. [AMOUNT] What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)

233622.55 TRY

14.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 700 and 5,000 USD. (required)

4985 USD

15. [BUDGET EXPLANATION] Please explain the units used in your budget in a few sentences, so we can better understand your proposed budget per unit and per amount. (required)

The budget has been prepared using the OANDA exchange rate of 1 USD = 46.8651 TRY as of 10 July 2026.

For activities involving refreshments and catering, the estimated number of participants includes both expected attendees and the institutional stakeholders with whom we have established communication, resulting in a total of +5 additional participants for each relevant activity.

Venue rental costs have been included for all in-person events to ensure suitable and accessible spaces for project activities.

The Conference Participation and Presentation budget item covers travel and accommodation expenses for attending conferences and similar events where the project and its outcomes will be presented and disseminated to relevant professional and community audiences.

16. [REGIONAL COLLABORATION] Did you notify the existing affiliate in your region? Are you going to collaborate with them? (required)

We have informed the local community about this project via the Village Pump (Köy Çeşmesi) on Turkish Wikipedia, under the heading "Nevşehir kültürel miras projesi": https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikipedi:K%C3%B6y_%C3%A7e%C5%9Fmesi_(ilginize)?markasread=16305609&markasreadwiki=trwiki We previously collaborated with the Wikimedia Community User Group Turkey and received advice and guidance from the Wikimedians from the Wikimedia Community User Group Turkey in our past projects. We are aware of ongoing discussions within the Turkish Wikimedia community. For this project proposal, we consulted the Wikimedia Community User Group Turkey online. We shared our project proposal and answered their questions. We are happy to work with Turkish Wikimedians and remain open to constructive collaboration with any Wikimedia affiliate or community group in our region that shares an interest in this project.

17. [SUSTAINABILITY] Did you think about the sustainability of this project? If yes, can you explain why you believe in that and which activities can continue regardless of the funding? (required)

Sustainability is one of the core principles our community focuses on in all of our activities, and we continuously work to strengthen it. Our goal is not simply to produce or compile data during a single project period, but to build a community that can keep doing this work on an ongoing basis. To that end, we place strong emphasis on working with students and training both students and educators/trainers. Through these trainings, we aim to raise awareness among participants and help them recognize the ongoing needs in this field. This project should also be seen as part of a larger, interconnected set of projects: it builds on and supports the sustainability of a previous project we carried out, with future activities designed to reinforce one another in the same way. At the same time, by connecting these efforts with Wikimedia Education programs, we aim to establish this awareness and understanding within Türkiye on a lasting basis. Our goal is to build a network of Wikimedians in Türkiye who are capable of producing this kind of work, and to grow this into a sustained community effort in the field. Based on our previous experience, achieving this requires an ongoing process — a single event is not sufficient to create this kind of change. It is only by embedding this work into education programs, as a continuous process, that lasting awareness and understanding in this field can be established. Activities that can continue regardless of funding include: the trained students and educators continuing to contribute independently, informal peer-to-peer knowledge transfer within the community, and the continued use of the methodology and materials developed during this project in future education-program activities organized by the community.

18. [REPLICABILITY] Did you think that this project could be replicated in other communities? If yes, please explain further why your project will be good for other communities? (required)

Yes, we believe this project can serve as a model for future projects. It is the kind of project that can be replicated both in other countries and in other provinces of Türkiye, particularly in the field of cultural heritage documentation. Looking specifically at Türkiye, the country is extremely rich in cultural heritage. This richness is not unique to Nevşehir — Nevşehir is simply one example of it. Online, Nevşehir is mostly visible as a tourism destination, but it is important not to forget that there is also a need for dedicated work on preserving existing cultural and natural heritage in the digital environment. This is true for many other provinces in Türkiye as well. Through this project, we expect that when we share our work with others, people living in provinces where they feel this kind of documentation is lacking will start to consider that similar projects could be carried out there too. In fact, we have already encountered this kind of response at events and conferences we have participated in. When we talk about this project, or about Wikimedia projects in general, people tend to evaluate whether the approach could be applied to their own field of work or living environment — and once they see a concrete, tangible example of applicability, they become more willing to take initiative themselves.

19. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)

No

19.1. Please provide a link to your Youth Safety Policy. (required) If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, you are required to outline compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provide a youth safety policy aligned with these laws. Read more here.

N/A

20. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign below. (required)

GLAM activities

20.1. Specify the campaign name. (required)

Wiki Loves Monuments

21. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)

Culture, heritage or GLAM

By submitting your proposal/funding request you confirm that you have read and agree to the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy, and the Universal Code of Conduct.

I/we confirm: Yes

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Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).

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