Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Shaping Tanzanian Film Narratives on Swahili Wikipedia (ID: 23092999)/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)
Implemented Activities and Results Achieved Content Creation and Editing:
The project involved creating and improving articles on Tanzanian films, filmmakers,movies and actors on Swahili Wikipedia. Editors contributed new content by researching reliable sources, translating information from English Wikipedia when available, and documenting notable works in Tanzanian cinema. Results: Several previously missing or incomplete articles were created or expanded, enhancing the visibility of Tanzanian film narratives in Kiswahili as seen in the dashboard(https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Global_WikiEducation_Initiative/Afro_Creatives_WikiProject_film_2025_in_Tanzania)
Training and Capacity Building:
Workshops and edit-a-thons were conducted to train participants on Wikipedia editing, including how to verify sources, format articles, and add multimedia content such as images and references. Results: Participants, many of whom were first-time editors, gained confidence and practical skills to contribute meaningfully to Swahili Wikipedia, creating a growing base of knowledgeable editors.And most of the participants registered on the event registration tool(https://meta.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Event:Afro_Creatives_WikiProject_%2Bfilm_2025_in_Tanzania)
Collaboration with Film Stakeholders:
Partnerships were established with local filmmakers, film boards, and cultural institutions to access accurate information, official sources, and images of films and personalities.
Results: Reliable and verified content was added, increasing the accuracy and richness of Tanzanian film coverage on Wikipedia.
Pictures Uploaded on Wikimedia Commons:
Images from the events were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons to enhance and complement the written content, providing visual context and making the articles more engaging for readers.
Most Effective Approaches
Hands-on Edit-a-thons: Intensive editing sessions allowed participants to immediately apply what they learned, leading to direct contributions and faster content creation.
Mentorship and Peer Support: Pairing new editors with experienced mentors helped overcome technical and procedural challenges, increasing participation and quality of edits.
Collaboration with Film Institutions: Direct engagement with filmmakers and cultural organizations ensured that content was accurate, up-to-date, and well-sourced.
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
- Project Metapage: https://meta.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Event:Afro_Creatives_WikiProject_%2Bfilm_2025_in_Tanzania
- Dashboards and tools that you used to track contributions
Project Dashboard: https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Global_WikiEducation_Initiative/Afro_Creatives_WikiProject_film_2025_in_Tanzania
- Photos taken during the event: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=ACWP+%2BFILM+Tanzania&title=Special%3AMediaSearch&type=image
- Important social media posts : https://www.instagram.com/p/DNdMN4TIHSw/?igsh=MTIwcjdpdmtqYXcwdg==
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
-Examples of content edited on Wikimedia projects :https://sw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrix_Mugishagwe
- Presentations and slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18MkJmQbGrLsJ9-CRUmx1GLB2pi98pKyP0ez8kny-BUA/edit?slide=id.g374d88c881b_0_0#slide=id.g374d88c881b_0_0
3. To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding the work carried out with this Rapid Fund? You can choose “not applicable” if your work does not relate to these goals. Required. Select one option per question. (required)
| A. Bring in participants from underrepresented groups | Agree |
| B. Create a more inclusive and connected culture in our community | Strongly agree |
| C. Develop content about underrepresented topics/groups | Agree |
| D. Develop content from underrepresented perspectives | Neither agree nor disagree |
| E. Encourage the retention of editors | Strongly agree |
| F. Encourage the retention of organizers | Agree |
| G. Increased participants' feelings of belonging and connection to the movement | Strongly agree |
| F. Other (optional) |
Part 2: Learning
4. In your application, you outlined some learning questions. What did you learn from these learning questions when you implemented your project? How do you hope to use this learnings in the future? You can recall these learning questions below. (required)
You can recall these learning questions below: 1. How can Wikimedia projects be made more accessible and relevant to filmmakers and creatives in Tanzania? This includes understanding barriers to participation and identifying effective outreach and training methods.
2. What are the most effective approaches to documenting the Tanzanian film industry, its history, and its key players through Wikimedia projects? This will help us refine our content creation strategy and ensure we are filling meaningful knowledge gaps.
3. How can partnerships with local institutions (like the Tanzania Film Board and Media Houses) strengthen awareness, participation, and sustainability of Wikimedia projects in the creative sector? We want to measure the impact of collaboration and co-creation with local stakeholders.
Question 1:
During the implementation of the “Shaping Tanzanian Film Narratives on Swahili Wikipedia” project, the community observed several key insights: Accessibility and Awareness: Many newbies were previously unaware of Wikimedia projects or how they could contribute. Targeted outreach and clear explanations of participation opportunities were crucial in increasing engagement.
Training and Hands-On Support: Creatives often needed practical guidance to edit articles, upload images, and understand copyright and sourcing rules. Edit-a-thons, workshops, and mentorship sessions were effective in building their confidence and skills.
Future Use of Learnings:
The community aims to design more targeted campaigns that reduce barriers to participation and ensure content relevance for creative communities.
Training and mentorship programs will continue to build capacity among filmmakers and creatives as contributors to Wikimedia projects.
Collaborations with institutions and creative networks will be strengthened to sustain long-term engagement and enrich content in Tanzanian cultural and artistic domains.
Strategies will be developed to make Wikimedia projects more inclusive, accessible, and recognized as valuable platforms for professional and creative documentation.
Question 2:
Effective Approaches to Documenting the Tanzanian Film Industry on Wikimedia Projects Collaborating with Key Stakeholders:
Partnering with filmmakers, film boards, cultural institutions, and production companies provides access to reliable information, official sources, and media. These collaborations ensure content is accurate, credible, and reflective of the industry’s history and key players.
Organizing Edit-a-thons and Training Sessions:
Hands-on workshops empower editors, especially new contributors, to create and improve articles. Training on proper sourcing, formatting, and media uploads ensures content is consistent and meets Wikimedia standards.
Incorporating Multimedia Content:
Uploading images, film posters, event photos, and videos to Wikimedia Commons enriches articles and makes them more engaging. Multimedia helps readers better understand the history, achievements, and cultural impact of Tanzanian cinema.
Translating and Localizing Content:
Translating existing articles from English or other languages into Swahili increases accessibility for local audiences. Localized content ensures that Tanzanian audiences can connect with the information in their language and cultural context.
Focusing on Underrepresented Areas:
Identifying gaps in coverage, such as emerging filmmakers, actors, and historic films, ensures that contributions address meaningful knowledge gaps and highlight overlooked aspects of Tanzanian cinema.
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)
During the implementation of the “Shaping Tanzanian Film Narratives on Swahili Wikipedia” project, several unexpected situations occurred, both positive and negative, which provided valuable lessons for the community: Positive Surprises:
High Enthusiasm from First-Time Editors: Many participants, including filmmakers and students, were editing Wikipedia for the first time but quickly became highly engaged and motivated. This showed the community that with proper guidance, newcomers can make significant contributions.
Challenges / Negative Surprises:
Verification of Sources: Some information provided by participants lacked clear references or documentation, requiring additional time for verification and editing to maintain Wikipedia’s quality standards.
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)
The community plans to share the learnings and results from the “Shaping Tanzanian Film Narratives on Swahili Wikipedia” project through multiple channels to ensure broader engagement and impact:
1.Workshops and Edit-a-thons: Insights and best practices from the project will be shared during future workshops and edit-a-thons, allowing new and existing editors to benefit from the experience and replicate successful strategies.
2.Online Documentation and Reports: Detailed reports, summaries, and visual documentation of the project’s activities, outcomes, and challenges will be published on Wikimedia Meta pages and local community portals for easy reference.
3.Community Presentations and Webinars: The community plans to host presentations and webinars to discuss the project, highlight key achievements, and provide guidance on documenting Tanzanian cinema and other cultural topics.
4.Mentorship and Peer Learning: Experienced editors who participated in the project will mentor new contributors, sharing lessons learned, effective approaches, and practical tips for creating high-quality content.
5.Media and Social Channels: Highlights of the project, including notable articles created, event photos, and success stories, will be shared on community social media channels and blogs to inspire broader participation.
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 | 30 | 35 | |
| Number of editors | 25 | 35 | |
| Number of organizers | 3 | 3 |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 70 | 92 | 24 |
| Wikimedia Commons | |||
| Wikidata | |||
| Wiktionary | |||
| 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)
8150000
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
3031
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/1L2a-VVatLzSzyknPxqbKE_MuGpN5IfBHmgZd7ElAINc/edit?gid=1274462346#gid=1274462346
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)
Review notes
[edit]Review notes from Program Officer:
N/A
Applicant's response to the review feedback.
N/A