Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Reading Wikipedia in Classroom Phase 2 (ID: 23939094)

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Applicant Details

Main Wikimedia username. (required)

Pellagia Njau (talk • accounts • contributions • edit count)

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

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

Reading Wikipedia in Classroom Phase 2

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

2026-10-01 - 2026-10-31

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

Tanzania

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

Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom

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)

Building on the achievements of Reading Wikipedia in Classroom Phase 1, this second phase aims to deepen and institutionalize the use of Wikipedia as a trusted, accessible, and practical educational resource in Tanzanian classrooms. Rather than introducing Wikipedia as a new concept, Phase 2 focuses on strengthening regular classroom use by enabling teachers and students to integrate Wikipedia reading into everyday teaching and learning. The project promotes a learner-centered environment where students actively read, compare, discuss, and interpret information from Wikipedia particularly Swahili Wikipedia to develop critical thinking, digital literacy, media and information literacy, and independent research skills. Phase 2 also expands collaborative learning approaches by incorporating successful community engagement models such as WikiKeys [1] and innovative approaches like Wiki-Race competitions [2]and interactive, encouraging students to explore knowledge in engaging, team-based learning environments. Through these activities, learners will gain confidence in using Wikipedia to study topics such as climate change, science, history, health, and social issues using current, multilingual, and well-referenced information. The project responds to persistent challenges within the education system, including limited access to current learning materials, especially in underserved schools; insufficient digital and information literacy skills among teachers and students; and language barriers that prevent many learners from benefiting from English-language educational resources. These challenges often encourage rote memorization instead of inquiry-based learning and limit students' ability to critically evaluate information from multiple sources.

Main approaches 1. Strengthening teacher capacity and student engagement Phase 2 will provide advanced, practical training for both teachers and students on effective Wikipedia reading practices. Beyond basic navigation, participants will strengthen their skills in locating relevant articles, evaluating the credibility of information through citations and references, comparing multiple sources, and using Wikipedia responsibly in academic settings. Teachers who participated in Phase 1 will receive refresher training and mentorship to further integrate Wikipedia into their teaching, while new teachers will be introduced to these approaches through peer learning and coaching.

2. Expanding the use of Swahili Wikipedia Recognizing the importance of learning in a familiar language, the project will continue promoting Swahili Wikipedia as the primary reading resource in classrooms. Students will use Swahili articles to better understand complex concepts while also comparing them with English articles where appropriate to strengthen bilingual comprehension and critical reading skills. Teachers will also be encouraged to identify content gaps and collaborate with local Wikimedia communities to improve the availability of high-quality educational content in Swahili.

3. Institutionalizing Wikipedia reading in classroom practice Phase 2 places greater emphasis on embedding Wikipedia reading into regular teaching and learning processes rather than treating it as an extracurricular activity. Teachers will develop lesson plans that incorporate Wikipedia articles as pre-reading materials, classroom discussion resources, research references, and sources for collaborative assignments, presentations, and debates. By integrating Wikipedia into continuous classroom practice across multiple subjects, the project aims to establish sustainable habits of evidence-based learning and independent knowledge exploration.

4. Building communities of practice and continuous support To sustain adoption beyond training workshops, the project will strengthen networks of participating teachers through WhatsApp groups, virtual mentoring sessions, peer learning circles, and periodic community meet-ups. These platforms will enable educators to share classroom experiences, exchange teaching resources, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate successful practices. Continuous engagement with Wikimedia community members will further ensure that teachers remain connected to ongoing learning opportunities and that feedback from classrooms informs future improvements to the 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.

1. School Engagement and Readiness Assessment Phase 2 will begin with engagement meetings with participating schools to review lessons learned from Phase 1 and assess their readiness for expanded implementation. The project team will work with school administrators and teachers to identify priority subjects, existing classroom practices, and opportunities to further integrate Wikipedia reading into teaching. The assessment will also review the availability of digital devices, internet connectivity, and access to Swahili and English Wikipedia resources to ensure activities are adapted to each school's context.

2. Teacher Capacity Building Workshops The project will conduct practical capacity-building workshops to strengthen teachers' ability to use Wikipedia as a classroom learning resource. Building on the introductory training from Phase 1, these workshops will focus on integrating Wikipedia into lesson planning, facilitating inquiry-based learning, and helping students critically evaluate online information. Teachers will enhance their skills in navigating Wikipedia, assessing article quality, verifying information through citations and references, comparing multiple sources, and using both Swahili and English Wikipedia to enrich classroom instruction. Teachers from Phase 1 will also share experiences and best practices with newly participating educators through peer-learning sessions.

3. Classroom Reading Sessions and Interactive Learning Activities Teachers will facilitate regular Wikipedia reading sessions as part of normal classroom instruction. Students will read selected articles in Swahili or English that complement topics in the national curriculum, followed by structured activities such as summarizing articles, comparing Wikipedia content with textbooks, verifying facts using cited references, participating in group discussions, and presenting their findings. To make learning more engaging, the project will also organize collaborative activities such as Wiki-Race competitions and thematic reading challenges that encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and independent exploration of knowledge.

4. Development and Use of Classroom Integration Resources The project will refine and expand teaching resources developed during Phase 1, including lesson plans, reading guides, classroom exercises, and assessment tools that align Wikipedia content with the national curriculum. These materials will support teachers in incorporating Wikipedia into everyday lessons without significantly changing existing teaching schedules. Resources will also include guidance on using Swahili Wikipedia alongside English articles to strengthen both subject understanding and language skills.

5. Mentorship, Monitoring, and Community Support Continuous support will be provided throughout the project through teacher mentorship, WhatsApp groups, peer-learning networks, classroom follow-up visits, and virtual consultation sessions. These support mechanisms will enable teachers to exchange experiences, discuss implementation challenges, and share successful classroom practices. Regular monitoring will document how Wikipedia is being integrated into lessons, measure student engagement, and identify opportunities for improvement to strengthen long-term adoption.

6. Documentation, Learning, and Knowledge Sharing Throughout the implementation period, the project team will document classroom experiences, success stories, challenges, and lessons learned from both teachers and students. The findings will be compiled into a final project report highlighting outcomes, recommendations, and evidence of impact. Key achievements and reflections will also be shared through a Wikimedia Diff post and other community communication channels to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on integrating Wikipedia into education and to support replication of the model in other schools and regions.

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.

Pellagia Njau – Project Lead Pellagia Njau is a Tanzanian Wikimedian who joined Wikipedia in 2017 as a Swahili editor. She has extensive experience organizing campaigns across Tanzania, including WikiForHuman Rights, SheSaid Campaign, WikiLoves Women, 1Lib1Ref, Wiki Loves Africa, and Wiki Loves Monuments. Pellagia is also a Certified Kiwix Trainer, bringing both leadership and technical expertise to support the integration of offline Wikipedia in classrooms.

Husseyn Issa – Kiwix Trainer and Workshop Facilitator Husseyn Issa is a Kiwix4Schools Certified Trainer with strong technical skills to support the installation and management of Kiwix software. He also serves as a workshop facilitator, guiding teachers and students in the use of offline Wikipedia for learning in schools with limited internet access.

Killy95 – Technical Support Killy95 has been an active Wikimedian for the past five years, contributing both as an editor and organizer in campaigns such as WikiForHuman Rights, 1Lib1Ref, WikiLoves Africa, WikiLoves Women, Arts and Feminism, and the Kiwix4Schools project. He is also a mechanical engineer with certified skills in water management, adding technical and subject-matter expertise to the team.

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)

Participants will be engaged before the activities through school visits, orientation sessions, and preliminary needs assessments to understand their teaching practices, resource availability, and familiarity with digital tools like Wikipedia. During the activities, teachers and students will participate in interactive workshops, guided reading sessions, practical exercises, and demonstrations on how to navigate and use Wikipedia effectively, using group discussions and exercises to reinforce learning. After the activities, follow-up will be maintained through WhatsApp groups, mentorship check-ins, peer learning sessions, and review meetings, enabling teachers to share classroom experiences, report challenges, and receive guidance, while ensuring the sustained use of Wikipedia in everyday teaching and learning.

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

No

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.

N/A

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 informed the Tanzania community about this project through our WhatsApp and Telegram groups to gather feedback and encourage community participation. In preparation for Phase 2, I also conducted pilot classroom demonstrations in selected schools to showcase how teachers and students can use Wikipedia as a reading and learning resource during lessons. The demonstrations highlighted practical ways of integrating Wikipedia into classroom activities, including reading articles, comparing information with textbooks, and using references to support learning. The feedback from teachers, students, and school administrators was overwhelmingly positive. Participants recognized the value of incorporating Wikipedia into classroom learning and emphasized the need for continued access to open educational resources such as Wikipedia, Khan Academy, and other freely available learning platforms. They expressed strong interest in expanding the initiative to help improve access to up-to-date educational content, strengthen digital literacy, and support more interactive and inquiry-based learning in schools.

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)

Content Gender gap

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

Education

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

Digital Access

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

Provide for Safety and Inclusion

Learning and metrics

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

Effectiveness of Wikipedia in classroom learning – How effectively are teachers integrating Wikipedia reading into classroom instruction, and how does its use influence students' understanding, participation, and critical engagement with curriculum topics compared to relying solely on traditional textbooks?

Use of Swahili Wikipedia – To what extent does the use of Swahili Wikipedia improve students' comprehension, confidence, and participation in classroom learning, particularly among learners who face challenges with English-language educational resources?

Digital literacy and information evaluation – How does regular use of Wikipedia strengthen students' and teachers' abilities to locate information, evaluate article quality, verify facts using citations and references, and apply responsible information literacy practices?

Integration into teaching practice – Which classroom strategies, lesson designs, and learning activities are most effective for embedding Wikipedia reading into the existing curriculum, and what barriers do teachers encounter during implementation?

Teacher adoption and long-term sustainability – To what extent do teachers continue incorporating Wikipedia into their teaching after training, and which forms of mentorship, peer support, and follow-up activities are most effective in sustaining long-term classroom use?

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	70
Number of editors	20
Number of organizers	3

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project	Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia	50
Wikimedia Commons	50
Wikidata
Wiktionary
Wikisource
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote
Wikivoyage
Wikibooks
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies
Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia

Optional description for content contributions.

N/A

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)

Event Registration tool, outreach dashboard and Google form

Financial proposal

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

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WhEezMKEGTuey1ppNWOB7L2b0So9pSaS8zTy46IHcmM/edit?gid=0#gid=0

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

12330000 TZS

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.

4743.81 USD

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.

Yes

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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).

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