Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Minority Languages Revitalization (ID: 23746212)/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)
Minority Languages Revitalization Project in Nigeria was implemented to preserve and promote underrepresented indigenous languages by increasing their presence on Wikimedia platforms and strengthening the capacity of local language communities. The project organized a series of awareness campaigns, virtual and in-person training workshops, edit-a-thons, translation campaigns, and mentorship sessions targeting new and existing contributors from minority language communities. Participants were trained on Wikipedia editing, Wiktionary contributions, content translation, and digital documentation of indigenous knowledge.
As a result of these activities, the project successfully onboarded and trained new editors, improved the quality and quantity of content available in several Nigerian minority languages, and strengthened collaboration among language advocates, educators, and Wikimedia volunteers. The initiative also increased community awareness about the importance of preserving indigenous languages through open knowledge platforms, laying the foundation for continued participation beyond the project period.
The most effective approaches were community led engagement, partnerships with local language advocates and cultural organizations, and continuous mentorship after the training sessions. Delivering activities in culturally relevant and inclusive ways encouraged greater participation and ownership among community members. Additionally, combining practical, hands on editing sessions with ongoing follow up support helped participants build confidence, remain active, and make meaningful contributions throughout the project. These approaches not only achieved the project’s immediate objectives but also contributed to the long-term sustainability of minority language preservation efforts in Nigeria.
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
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://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:An_audio_material_of_five_pillars_of_wikipedia.wav
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: By the end of the project, we aim to learn the following:
- Mobilizing New Editors: we are hoping to identify and apply best practices for recruiting and engaging new editors from minority language communities, ensuring inclusivity and long-term participation.
- Enhancing Learning Experiences: we hope to develop effective methods for improving editors’ learning processes through culturally responsive training and mentorship programs.
- Sustaining New Communities: we hope to understand the best way to maintain the momentum of newly formed communities after their first event through leadership support and continued engagement strategies.
- Mentorship and Coordination: we hope to evaluate the role of mentorship in improving project coordination, strengthening collaboration, and fostering growth within emerging language communities.
Throughout the implementation of the Minority Languages Revitalization Project in Nigeria, we gained valuable insights from the learning questions we identified at the beginning of the project.
One of our key learnings was that mobilizing new editors from minority language communities is most successful when community leaders, language advocates, and existing Wikimedia volunteers are actively involved in outreach. Participants were more willing to join and remain engaged when they understood how documenting their languages and cultural heritage contributes to preserving their identity. Personalized follow up after training sessions also proved more effective than one time recruitment efforts.
Regarding enhancing learning experiences, we found that culturally responsive and practical training significantly improved participants' confidence and editing skills. Using local examples, providing hands-on editing exercises, and offering continuous mentorship enabled participants to better understand Wikimedia projects and contribute meaningful content in their own languages. Creating a welcoming and supportive learning environment encouraged participants to ask questions, collaborate, and continue editing after the workshops.
The project also highlighted that sustaining newly formed communities requires consistent engagement beyond the initial events. Regular online meetings, peer-to-peer communication, recognition of active contributors, and opportunities for continued participation helped maintain momentum. We also learned that identifying local champions early in the project strengthened community ownership and encouraged long-term leadership within each language community.
Finally, we observed that mentorship played a critical role in both project coordination and community growth. Experienced Wikimedians provided technical guidance, motivation, and problem-solving support that increased participant retention and improved the quality of contributions. Strong coordination among mentors, organizers, and community representatives created a collaborative environment that helped emerging language communities become more confident and self-sustaining. We plan to use these learnings to strengthen future Minority Languages Revitalization initiatives by investing more in community-led recruitment, expanding structured mentorship programs, developing localized training resources, and supporting emerging community leaders. These lessons will also guide the design of future Wikimedia programs across Nigeria, helping build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities that continue preserving and promoting minority languages and indigenous knowledge through open knowledge platforms.
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)
Yes, several unexpected situations arose during the implementation of the project, and they provided valuable learning opportunities.
On the positive side, we were pleasantly surprised by the level of enthusiasm shown by participants from minority language communities. Many participants expressed a strong desire to preserve and promote their languages through Wikimedia projects and continued contributing even after the training sessions. We also witnessed increased collaboration among participants, with experienced editors voluntarily supporting newcomers, which strengthened the sense of community and reduced the burden on the organizing team.
On the other hand, we experienced some challenges. Internet connectivity and power supply issues affected participation in some training sessions, particularly for participants joining remotely. We also observed that some new editors required more time and personalized support to become confident contributors than we had initially anticipated. Coordinating activities across different language communities and geographic locations also required greater flexibility in scheduling and communication.
These experiences reinforced the importance of building flexibility into project implementation. We learned that providing multiple communication channels, extending mentorship beyond the training period, and adapting schedules to participants' needs can significantly improve participation and retention. We also recognized the value of empowering local community leaders to provide ongoing support, as this helps sustain engagement and ensures that emerging communities continue to grow after the project concludes. Overall, these unexpected experiences strengthened our implementation approach and will help us design more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable minority language revitalization projects in the future.
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 are committed to ensuring that the knowledge, experiences, and results from this project are shared widely with both the Wikimedia movement and the broader minority language communities in Nigeria. To achieve this, we will prepare and publish a comprehensive project report on Meta-Wiki, documenting our activities, outcomes, lessons learned, challenges, and recommendations. We will also share key achievements, participant success stories, and best practices through our community communication channels, including WhatsApp groups, social media platforms, and mailing lists, to reach both existing and potential contributors.
In addition, we will organize virtual community reflection sessions where participants, mentors, and organizers can discuss what worked well, the challenges encountered, and strategies for improving future initiatives. These discussions will help strengthen collaboration among existing Wikimedia communities and support the growth of newly established minority language communities. We also plan to encourage participants who demonstrated strong leadership and editing skills to share their experiences during future Wikimedia events, edit-a-thons, and training workshops. By highlighting their journeys and practical experiences, they can inspire new contributors and promote peer-to-peer learning across different language communities.
Some of this knowledge sharing has already begun. Throughout the project, we regularly shared updates, achievements, and learning points with our community members through online communication platforms. Participants also exchanged experiences and editing tips during follow-up mentorship sessions, creating a collaborative learning environment that will continue beyond the life of the project. By documenting our experiences and actively sharing them with the wider community, we hope to contribute to stronger, more sustainable minority language communities and support future Wikimedia initiatives focused on preserving indigenous languages and knowledge in Nigeria.
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 | 100 | 100 | |
| Number of editors | 50 | 50 | |
| Number of organizers | 6 | 6 |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 100 | 1098 | 2007 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 300 | 260 | 260 |
| Wikidata | 150 | 200 | 200 |
| Wiktionary | 100 | 100 | |
| Wikisource | |||
| Wikimedia Incubator | |||
| 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)
1177157
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
850
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/13LXafbzyz-6X3bjNXmNu4EWxFJCMGc8So_PKTHmzyVY/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)