Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/SheSaid 2025:Women Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ID: 23456828)/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)
The SheSaid 2025: Women Leaders and Entrepreneurs campaign was implemented to amplify the voices of notable women in leadership roles and entrepreneurs by documenting their quotes on Wikiquote. The project built on the momentum of previous SheSaid campaigns we've had while placing a stronger focus on women who are shaping economic growth, innovation, and community development.
Implemented Activities
The project began with a structured planning and outreach phase. We raised awareness by distributing e-posters and flyers across Wikimedia WhatsApp groups and social media platforms. Targeted invitations were sent using the event registration tools to send personalized emails to experienced and new Wikimedia editors, particularly women and young editors, across Nigerian and other African Wikimedia communities whom does not to have major contributions on the wikiquote project.
Online campaign launch and training sessions were organized to introduce participants to the campaign goals. The training sessions covered Wikiquote editing basics, sourcing reliable references, formatting quotes correctly, and understanding notability guidelines. Step-by-step presentation slides and recorded videos were shared in the designated Whatsapp platform to support participants who needed to go back to either learn or rewatch the sessions.
Physical Training (Lagos)
We organized Hands-on training where participants were taught how to edit and contribute to Wikiquote. Experienced facilitators used projector and presentation slides to provide practical guidance, enabling participants to learn the basics of editing, obtain quotes from online sources, improve or create a wikiquote pages.
Edit-a-thon Contest
We had a 21 days edit-a-thon contest held during the SheSaid campaign period, where participants actively created new Wikiquote pages and improved existing ones related to women leaders and entrepreneurs. Continuous mentorship and real-time support were provided through WhatsApp to help participants overcome technical challenges, reduce errors, and maintain motivation.
Physical Meetup (Ilorin)
To wrap up the edit-a-thon contest we held a two-hour edit-a-thon aimed at improving Wikiquote articles related to Women leaders and Entrepreneurs in North central state of Nigeria to physically involve our participants there. Participants worked collaboratively in a supportive environment, with trainers on hand to provide assistance. This activity allowed participants to apply what they learned in contributing effectively to wikiquote.
Post-event follow-up sessions were conducted to review contributions, correct common mistakes, and ensure that high-quality content was retained on Wikiquote. Participants were also encouraged to continue contributing beyond the campaign.
Results Achieved
The project successfully increased the representation of women leaders and entrepreneurs on Wikiquote with over 1.3k pages created and 120 participants registered on the event page. Several new Wikiquote articles were created, and existing pages were significantly improved with well-sourced and properly attributed quotes. The campaign contributed to closing content gaps related to women in leadership and entrepreneurship.
Participants demonstrated improved editing skills, particularly in sourcing, formatting, and adherence to Wikiquote guidelines. New editors who initially had little or no experience were able to make meaningful contributions by the end of the campaign. The project also strengthened community engagement, as we had contributions from other African countries with one of the participants who resides in Botswana as our top female contributor.
Most Effective Approaches
One of the most effective approaches was the use of targeted training and mentorship sessions combined with hands-on practice. Breaking down Wikiquote editing into simple, practical steps made the learning process less intimidating, especially for new editors.
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 Page: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Event:SheSaid_2025:Women_Leaders_and_Entrepreneurs Project Outreach Dashboard: https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Wilki_Loves_Women/SheSaid_2025_Women_Leaders_and_Entrepreneurs Photos and videos: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:SheSaid_2025_Women_leaders_and_entrepreneurs Social Media posts: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ebubechukwu-chukwu_shesaid-shesaid2025-wikiloveswomen-activity-7377981690343837696-4Eay?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAADpRndsBz-ZP2qGFeI7j7TWQfP8nrGgMEy0
Examples of content edited on Wikiquote can be found here: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Wikiquote:SheSaid_2025_Event:_Women_Leader_and_Entrepreneurs
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
Presentation slides: https://myrtleng-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/p/ebubechukwu_chukwu/IQBTnDN-VuXbTKT6s4655YeUAcS2jthafC9rK6aCqalue7M?rtime=patHyapO3kg Sessions Recording: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/play/NIQ2tZDfSM45-eWynoX_bPdQylcxtTDZOecZDSF464k_ElBaQ7OjCWMrNXkmKtXJOr_zY016eYajbwT8.sVoGQk0NF8EaUJTq?eagerLoadZvaPages=&accessLevel=meeting&canPlayFromShare=true&from=share_recording_detail&startTime=1757867809000&pwd=DElPgRXwgy3dAkA7NQAAIAAAAK85Vdimv3_SX49M4qe8CxeVPJGzJDVBqjpoQxhI5EnlvUYMQzhvUEVqqFlBviGfBzAwMDAwNA&componentName=rec-play&originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fus06web.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2FL8SrejjOGbuaSnL40RseITGYTKFZlWR8X9cpGxHLsK5zOq4bshq7TC7ECWCkhh3D.KXLFbCxjQovFjIoQ%3FstartTime%3D1757867809000%26pwd%3DDElPgRXwgy3dAkA7NQAAIAAAAK85Vdimv3_SX49M4qe8CxeVPJGzJDVBqjpoQxhI5EnlvUYMQzhvUEVqqFlBviGfBzAwMDAwNA
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 | 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 does mentorship influence the motivation, skill retention, and sustained participation of new women Wikimedia editors after training events? We aim to assess whether pairing new editors with experienced mentors improves editor retention, builds confidence in contributing, and fosters long-term engagement on Wikiquote.
2. Which approaches and tools are most effective in tracking the impact of participation? We intend to analyze the comparative effectiveness of tools such as the Outreach Dashboard, Event Metrics Tool, and Hashtag Tool in measuring user contributions and evaluating project outcomes.
3. How effective is partnering with SheLeads Africa chapters in building sustainable Wikimedia communities? We seek to determine whether collaboration with SheLeads Africa (SLA) drives stronger engagement from women and helps establish long-lasting volunteer networks that continue contributing beyond the scope of this project.
4. How do editors perceive Wikiquote as a valuable Wikimedia project for amplifying women’s voices? This question will help us understand the perceived value of Wikiquote in documenting notable quotes from women leaders and entrepreneurs, and how participants view its role in raising awareness around women-centric topics.
These learning questions were designed to help us understand what worked, what could be improved, and how to strengthen women-focused Wikimedia initiatives. Through the implementation of the SheSaid 2025 project, we gathered practical insights from participant engagement, mentorship interactions, and contribution tracking. The following reflections highlight what we learned and how these insights will guide future projects.
1. Mentorship and sustained participation Mentorship positively influenced motivation and confidence among new and existing editors. Editors who received guidance were more likely to continue editing after the training. Mentors helped clarify technical challenges and reduced fear of making editing errors. This support encouraged editors retention and long-term participation. Future projects will include structured mentorship timelines.
2. Tools for tracking participation and impact The Outreach Dashboard and Event Metrics Tool were most effective for tracking edits and retention. They provided clearer insights into user activity and content quality. The Hashtag Tool supported visibility for impact evaluation of the particular topics we worked on. Using multiple tools gave a fuller picture of results.
3. Partnership with SheLeads Africa chapters The partnership with SheLeads Africa chapters did not work as expected. Engagement levels were lower than anticipated, and participation was not sustained. This revealed the need for clearer roles and shared timelines. Future collaborations will include defined commitments. We aim to ensure every partnership is effective.
4. Perception of Wikiquote as a platform for women’s voices Editors perceived Wikiquote as an effective project for amplifying and documenting quotes from notable women. Documenting quotes felt meaningful and accessible to new contributors. Participants valued the focus on lived experiences and leadership insights. This increased motivation and pride in contributions. Future outreach will highlight Wikiquote’s advocacy potential.
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 project, one positive and unexpected outcome was the high level of interest from women editors in other African countries, many of whom had no prior wikiquote experience but showed strong contribution commitment. With proper guidance, they were able to make meaningful contributions, demonstrating that Wikiquote is an accessible entry point for new editors. This reinforced the value of beginner-friendly training and mentorship.
On the challenging side, some participants experienced connectivity issues and time constraints, which affected consistent participation during live sessions. Additionally, a few contributions initially did not meet Wikiquote’s sourcing or notability standards, requiring extra review and follow-up support. These experiences highlighted the importance of flexible engagement options, recorded sessions, and post-event content reviews.
Overall, we learned that adaptability is essential. Providing learning materials, mentorship, and clear quality guidelines helped mitigate challenges and improved outcomes. These lessons will inform future projects by encouraging more flexible participation models and stronger post-training support structures.
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)
To share the lessons and results of this project with other community members, I plan to write clear and detailed reports that explain everything we did, the outcomes, and what we learned along the way. These reports will be designed to help others who are interested in promoting cultural appreciation on Wikimedia, especially through African literature and storytelling. By sharing what worked and what didn’t, I hope others can use these insights to successfully implement similar projects and contribute to a richer representation of diverse cultures on Wikimedia.
In addition to the reports, I plan to actively engage with the community through Wikimedia mailing lists, forums, and social media. Through these platforms, I’ll share project updates, resources, and lessons learned to encourage discussions and collaborations.
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 | 45 | 120 | Event registration page |
| Number of editors | 45 | 116 | Outreach dashboard |
| Number of organizers | 4 | 4 | Event registration page |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | |||
| Wikimedia Commons | |||
| Wikidata | |||
| Wiktionary | |||
| Wikisource | |||
| Wikimedia Incubator | |||
| Translatewiki | |||
| MediaWiki | |||
| Wikiquote | 250 | 1300 | 1590 |
| 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)
2340127
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
1524.95
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/1C71eqZ5yzqt_5sNIlRFrPhJTnZuOrMAlCusXpZNynSE/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)