Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Let's Connect Peer Learning Program in Kwara 2.0 (ID: 22275318)

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Applicant Details[edit]

Main Wikimedia username. (required)

Ridzaina

Organization

N/A

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)

Main Proposal[edit]

1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.

Let's Connect Peer Learning Program in Kwara 2.0

2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.

2023-11-01 - 2024-03-30

4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

Nigeria

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

Let's Connect Peer Learning Program

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

This project represents the second phase of the Let's Connect Peer Learning Program in Kwara. The previous program took place from September 30, 2022, to March 30, 2023. The main objectives of this new phase are in two folds: first, to continue engaging with past participants and secondly, to welcome new members to the initiative. Also, based on the first implementation, it was discovered that people tend to learn more through physical interactions. It is said that physical engagements enhance discussions and ensure people engage better. We discovered that only the experienced Wikimedians tend to be more interactive during the online sessions making the new editors not actively engaged in discussion without using the Jamboard. We have also put into consideration the participants' quest for new skills which were not covered during the first phase, due to the fact that we already met our target and couldn't fit in more. These are the challenges we would like to solve by organizing physical learning clinics to ensure the engagement and active participation of every participant while putting their desired skills into consideration. The proposal aims to offer financial and logistical assistance to ten (10) active Wikimedians from Kwara State, Nigeria, who have been involved in facilitating or organizing projects on Wikimedia platforms.

Let's Connect Peer Learning Program fosters an open and secure space for Wikimedians to share and acquire various skills such as organizational, program tactics, interpersonal, and those related to Wikimedia projects. By participating in this program, the Wikimedians hope to contribute to the Movement Strategy, emphasizing knowledge-sharing, skill-building, people-centeredness, and solidarity. The goal is to create a learning culture that adapts to the local context, regional dynamics, and aligns with the communities' availability, workload, needs, and diversity.

The proposal seeks to remove barriers that might hinder knowledge sharing among Wikimedians, participation, such as lack of connectivity, limited access to computers or phones, and time constraints. To support the participants, each attendee of the learning clinic will receive a scholarship of $30. These participants are primarily associated with the WIKIMEDIA NIGERIAN COMMUNITY, as well as some informal groups, and the project aims to showcase the capacities of these communities, which may often go unnoticed.

Finally, the proposal aims to provide peer support, creating an environment where participants feel confident and safe to learn and share their knowledge across diverse spaces. The ultimate goal is to nurture an inclusive learning community and promote active engagement in Let's Connect Peer Learning Program.

7. What are the planned activities? (required) Please provide a list of main activities. You can also add a link to the public page for your project where details about your project can be found. Alternatively, you can upload a timeline document. When the activities include partnerships, include details about your partners and planned partnerships.

For this grant, we will be using strategy 2 and 3 which are Participants-led Connections/Cluster Connections and Organizing Learning Clinics, respectively:

1. Participants-led Connections/Cluster Connections (online): The 10 participants of this project will be grouped into three groups, with two groups having 3 participants each and the last group having four participants. These groups will be formed based on the skills they are interested in developing and/or sharing with peers. Each group will host three connections that will be led by each participant. We will make use of breakout rooms and this will require a subscription on Zoom.

This will also require initial preparation of minimum 1 hour to review material, a 1.5 hour connection, and also a minimum of 1.5 hours follow-up of learning material.

2. Organizing Learning Clinics: We hope to organise three (3) learning clinics (two physical and one online) opened to participants in Kwara, Nigeria. These learning clinics will be organised according to the skills that participants want to develop and where we feel able to share our experiences and skills as a group of individuals. Based on the results from the first phase and also the skill directories of potential participants, we noticed that participants showed interest in learning the following skills: (1) Proposal writing for funding, (2) Designing learning /retrospective sessions, (3) Creating, managing and sharing tutorials and resources, and (4) Effective training for newcomers/ newcomer experience. We will send out a survey, containing these 4 skills, to enable participants to choose their 3 most desired skills. The 3 most desired skills from the survey's responses will be the topics of the 3 learning clinics the team will organize. We will also collaborate with the Let’s Connect Working group to support us in defining the clinic structure and learning dynamics and evaluation tools. Learning clinics are 2h live workshop-like sessions to learn, share and practice skills. Participants will be required to take some time to review material beforehand which takes approximately 1 hour of their time and also to engage with learning material after the session which may take a minimum of 3 hours of their time.

We will be organizing the two physical Learning Clinics in the last quarter of 2023 and the online Learning Clinic in the first quarter of 2024; however, this may change due to any logistical or community dynamics that may arise. There will be a total of 15 participants in attendance: (a) For the physical learning clinics, the 10 Let's Connect members in Kwara State that are mentioned in this grant (including the team members) will be in attendance. The team will also invite 5 more participants, who are not yet members of Let's Connect but are Wikimedia project organizers in Kwara State. This will serve as an avenue to introduce them to and register them on Let's Connect. (b) For the online learning clinic, we will also have the 10 Let's Connect members that are a part of this grant (including the team) and 5 other registered Let's Connect members in Nigeria that are interested in the skills we want to share.

Here is a summary of the details of activities for each strategy.

Strategy 2: Participants-led Connections Target participants: 10 Activities: (i) Group participants into 3 groups based on the skills they are interested in developing and/or sharing with peers. (ii) Design the Session Structure (iii) Organise logistical support so that participants can actively be part of the connections orgnised by their groups. Time dedication: about 4 to 6 hours per connection per participant. Number of sessions: each participant should participate in at least 3 participant-led connections during the period of this grant. Investments: Logistical support and time dedication to participate

Strategy 3: Learning Clinics Target participants: 15 Activities: (i) Organise three (3) Learning Clinic. This involves activities such as: Preparation: (i) Determining the topic/skill to share (ii) Organising the registration form (iii) Designing the Learning Clinic session structure and learning outcomes (iv) Organising the invites. (v) Organising any pre-session material to review and sending them to participants. (vi) Communicating the Learning Clinic (vii) Inviting any interesting experiences (case studies) within Wikimedian communities or outside organisations, to share during the session as part of the learning dynamic. During the session: (i) Facilitating the session After the session: (i) Preparing and sending learning material to participants (ii) Organising material on the future Let’s Connect meta resource page for public use (under construction) (iii) Send a follow-up evaluation survey to participants (iv) Analyse the feedback and include the results and learning in grant report. All of these activities will be done in coordination with the Let’s Connect working group. Time dedication: approximately 12 hours to organise each Learning Clinic. Number of sessions: the team will organize three (3) learning clinics during the grant period. Investments: To cover any logistical needs (platform and venue, connectivity, communications) and time dedication to organise the learning clinics.

8. Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required) Include more details of the team, including their roles, usernames, Wikimedia group, and whether they are salaried, volunteers, consultants/contractors, etc. Team members involved in the grant application need to be aware of their involvement in the project.

I have a team of four (4) active Wikimedians and registered Let’s Connect members (including myself), that will ensure the diligent implementation of this program. We are: Ridzaina (project lead): She is a Wikimedia volunteer from Nigeria who has gained extensive experience as a facilitator and editor in various Wikimedia projects. Some of these projects include Wiki loves SDGs, WikiGLAM, 1lib1ref, Wikidata for Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria, Wikidata for Novels and Novelists in Nigeria, WikiLovesLibraries, Promoting Nigerian Books and Authors, Celtic Knot Kwara, and more. She has also served as a facilitator for Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom programs in Kwara, Nigeria, for teachers and secondary school students. She also lead the Let's Connect Peer Learning Program in Kwara in the late and early quaters of 2022 and 2023, respectively. James Rhoda (project facilitator and disbursement of fund): She is an experienced Wikimedian, who has participated in various Wikimedia projects (as a facilitator as well as an editor) namely; Some of these projects include Wiki loves SDGs, WikiGLAM, 1lib1ref, Wikidata for Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria, Wikidata for Novels and Novelists in Nigeria, WikiLovesLibraries, Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom for Secondary School students, Promoting Nigerian Books and Authors, Celtic Knot Kwara, and more. Linason Blessing (project facilitator): Blessing is an experienced Wikibrarian and has participated in various Wikimedia projects such as WikiLoveAfrica, WPWP, Wikidata (Media personalities in Nigeria), Winner of WPWP Kwara and Wikidata Media personality in Nigeria, WikiGLAM Awareness for Libraries and Librarians in Kwara, Wikidata for Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria, 1lib1ref 2022 Kwara, etc. She led the Wikipedia awareness for Library and Information Science Students in Nigeria and was a facilitator for the first Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom in Nigeria. Mijesty (communication expert): Miracle James is an experienced Wikimedian and member of the Wikimedia user group Nigeria who has participated in several Wikipedia projects as a volunteer, she also led the Wikipedia awareness in Offa community and has facilitated several Wikimedia projects.

We are members of the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria.

9. 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)

For strategy 2, this fund will be supporting 10 participants, who are members of the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria, and are currently registered with Let’s Connect, or will register as part of our communications and engagement efforts.

The participants currently registered with their profiles created are: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Let%27s_Connect_Profile/Adegboye_Barakat_Olamide https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Let%27s_Connect_Profile/Blessing_Linason_Chemataon https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Let%27s_Connect_Profile/Rhoda_Oyindamola_James https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Let%27s_Connect_Profile/Miracle_Abayomi_James https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Let%27s_Connect_Profile/Akanni_Mubarak_Opeyemi https://meta.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Let%27s_Connect_Profile/Godstime_Elijah

The participants that are registered but yet to have a profile are: BJ 77 Favourdare123 Kingaustin07 Royalesignature

For strategy 3, we will invite 5 more participants, who are not yet members of Let's Connect but are Wikimedia project organizers in Kwara State. This will serve as an avenue to introduce them to and register them on Let's Connect, for the physical learning clinics. We will also be working with the Let's Connect working group to define other Let's Connect participants within our region, that may be interested in the skill that will be shared in our online Learning Clinic so we can invite them to register for the clinic and participate.

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

Yes

10.1. 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.

This project will involve youths and we will follow the Wikimedia Youth Safety Policy stated here (https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Policy:Friendly_space_policy#Youth_Safety) to ensure that every participant is safe and well cared for. We are also going to promote the Let’s Connect learning culture in all the spaces participants benefited from this proposal participate in and also develop a friendly space policy for the Learning clinics we organize. https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Knowledge_Sharing/Connect#Fomenting_the_%E2%80%9CLet's_Connect%E2%80%9D_environment_and_culture

11. How did you discuss the idea of your project with your community members and/or any relevant groups? Please describe steps taken and provide links to any on-wiki community discussion(s) about the proposal. (required) You need to inform the community and/or group, discuss the project with them, and involve them in planning this proposal. You also need to align the activities with other projects happening in the planned area of implementation to ensure collaboration within the community.

I have informed the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria about this proposal. You can find the notification in this link: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_User_Group_Nigeria#Let's_Connect_Peer_Learning_Program_in_Kwara_2.0

12. Does your proposal aim to work to bridge any of the content knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Not applicable

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

Not applicable

14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Not applicable

15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)

Invest in Skills and Leadership Development

Learning and metrics[edit]

17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)

We would like to gather data to help us answer some of these key questions that are related to the desired outcomes of this proposal: Are participants engaged with Let’s Connect and interested in continuing to participate? Do they feel that it is a safe and inclusive learning environment? Are the opportunities the program offers and the processes clear for participants? Are participants learning and sharing skills that can be applied to their Wikimedian activities? Are we building collective capacities that can further support Wikimedian communities in our context? Is the support offered through this funding helping to reduce barriers to participate in language spaces? Are there any existing barriers? Are the learning methods adequate for participants' needs and interests?

18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)

Number of participants, editors, and organizers
Other Metrics	Target	Optional description
Number of participants	15	For strategy 2, 10 participants will be benefitting directly from the funding of this proposal. For strategy 3, 15 participants will be benefitting directly from the funding of this proposal.
Number of editors	15	10 participants are already Wikimedia editors and registered Let's connect participants and their usernames are already attached to this proposal. We hope to work with the Let's connect workgroup in other to get 5 more participants that are also active Wikimedians, in our region, registered with Let's connect that will be interested in the skills we will share in the online learning clinic we will organize. We will also send out 5 invites to Wikimedia Project Organizers in Kwara State, but are not yet registered on Let's Connect, to attend the 2 physical learning clinics we will organize and be introduced to Let's Connect.
Number of organizers	4	Ridzaina - Project lead, James Rhoda - Project facilitator and Disbursement of fund, Linason Blessing - Project Facilitator, Mijesty - Communication expert.

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project	Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia	0
Wikimedia Commons	0
Wikidata	0
Wiktionary
Wikisource
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote
Wikivoyage
Wikibooks
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies
Wikifunctions or Abtsract Wikipedia

Optional description for content contributions.

not applicable

19. 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

20. What tools would you use to measure each metrics? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support. (required)

The tools that will be used will be: Let’s Connect general participants’ evaluation survey Let’s Connect semi-structured interview for participants Let’s Connect Learning Clinic evaluation survey Registration of participants in Learning Clinics and 1:1 connections. This registration will be monitored by the group responsible for this project with the support of the Let’s Connect Working group.

Financial proposal[edit]

21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SKy1OOtnH0mBt514oIJAZdxcplKnjaHGrC_HjRYn2Uc/edit?usp=drivesdk

22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)

2536218.8 NGN

22.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done only to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD.

3247.19 USD

We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

Endorsements and Feedback[edit]

Please add endorsements and feedback to the grant discussion page only. Endorsements added here will be removed automatically.

Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:

Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).

Endorse