Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/When Women Train Women, More Women Lead on Wikimedia (ID: 23472249)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
A Salisu
- 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.
When Women Train Women, More Women Lead on Wikimedia
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-09-01 - 2025-09-30
- 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)
Not applicable
- 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)
The change we are trying to bring is to empower more women to actively contribute to Wikimedia projects, lead knowledge-sharing initiatives, and close the gender gap within the Wikimedia movement. Our goal is to create a supportive space where women train women, enabling more women to become confident editors, contributors, and leaders.
The main challenges we are addressing include:
- The significant gender gap in Wikimedia projects, where content about women and the participation of women, especially from Northern Nigeria, remains low.
- Limited digital literacy skills among women in our communities, which prevents them from participating in open knowledge projects like Wikipedia, Wikiquote, and Wikidata.
- Lack of representation of women’s achievements, biographies, quotes, and cultural contributions, especially in Hausa and other underrepresented languages.
- The absence of structured mentorship and women-led training that allows women to learn from one another in safe and encouraging spaces.
Our main approach to address these challenges is to implement a women-to-women training model. Through this model, experienced female Wikimedians will lead practical workshops and mentorship sessions to teach new women how to edit Wikipedia, contribute to Wikidata, and share women’s voices on Wikiquote. The project also aims to create a continuous support system through peer groups and follow-up sessions, enabling participants to grow their skills, gain confidence, and eventually take leadership roles in the Wikimedia community.
By empowering women to train other women, the project fosters sustainability, leadership development, and a stronger presence of women both as content contributors and as subjects of knowledge on Wikimedia Projects.
- 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.
Our project will consist of a total of three activities; two days of physical, in-person events and one day of virtual training, designed to empower women to contribute to Wikimedia projects.
The planned activities are as follows:
Pre-Event Activities
- Outreach and recruitment of participants, especially targeting women in the community. - Promotion of the event on social media, WhatsApp groups, and local networks. - Setup of the event page on Meta-Wiki and Outreach Dashboard to track contributions.
Day 1 – Physical Training Workshop (In-Person)
- Introduction to Wikimedia projects with a focus on Wikipedia, Wikiquote, and Wikidata. - Training on account creation, user interface, editing basics, and Wikimedia policies. - Focus on creating and improving articles related to women, especially notable women from Northern Nigeria. - Practical hands-on editing session with facilitators guiding participants.
Day 2 – Physical Editing & Mentorship Session (In-Person)
- Continued editing and content creation focused on women's biographies, quotes, and data items. - Small group mentorship where experienced female editors work closely with new participants. - Training on contributing to Wikimedia Commons (uploading photos, media related to women and culture). - Open discussion about challenges, solutions, and how to continue editing beyond the event. - Introduction to community support systems like Wikimedia groups and online forums.
Day 3 – Virtual Follow-Up Training and Support
- An online session via Google Meet for all participants. - Refreshing skills learned, addressing questions or challenges faced after the physical events. - A guided collaborative editing session to ensure participants practice what they’ve learned. - Discussion on how to stay active in Wikimedia, join campaigns, and future learning opportunities.
Post-Event Activities
- Monitoring participants’ continued engagement through a support group ( WhatsApp ). - Submitting reports with metrics, photos, and outcomes to the Wikimedia Foundation. - Planning for sustainability, such as encouraging participants to join future campaigns or form a local Wiki Women group.
Partnerships: We plan to collaborate with local women’s groups, educational institutions, and Wikimedia affiliates (networks) where possible. We will also collaborate with experienced male Wikimedians as facilitators and mentors.
- 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.
Team Description Our team consists of six members, including four female organizers and two male facilitators. The project is designed to be women-led, with the female organizers handling the overall coordination, logistics, and participant support, while the male facilitators will assist with technical facilitation during the training sessions.
Organizers (Women)
[edit]- Amina Ibrahim – (Wikimedia Username: User:A Salisu)
Role: Lead Organizer – Responsible for overall coordination, communication with participants, logistics management, and ensuring smooth implementation of the project.
- Hassana Rufa'i – (Wikimedia Username: User:Ummun Sultan)
Role: Co-Organizer – Handles participant outreach, social media promotion, assists in workshop facilitation, and provides mentorship during the training.
- A'isha Abubakar Ibrahim – (Wikimedia Username: User:A'isha A Ibrahim)
Role: Co-Organizer – Supports logistics, participant registration, manages the documentation process (photos, reports), and assists with participant support.
- Shamsiyya Ahmad – (Wikimedia Username: User:Sirjat)
Role: Co-Organizer – Responsible for supporting on-site coordination during physical events, helping with learning materials, and monitoring contributions during the event.
Facilitators (Male)
[edit]- Sulaiman Muhd Hassan – (Wikimedia Username: User:A Sulaiman Z)
Role: Facilitator – Provides technical training on Wikimedia projects including Wikipedia, Wikiquote, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. Also assists with tracking metrics and offering post-event mentorship.
- Ibrahim Sani – (Wikimedia Username: User:Ibrahim Sani Mustapha)
Role: Facilitator – Supports participants with hands-on editing during the workshops, provides guidance on Wikimedia policies, tools, and supports online follow-up sessions.
Additional Information
[edit]- All team members are active contributors and volunteers within the Wikimedia community.
- All of the team members are affiliated with the Hausa Wikimedia User group and have experience organizing or facilitating previous Wikimedia events.
- All team members are fully aware of their involvement in the project and are committed to delivering a successful event.
- 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)
Our target participants are primarily women from the Hausa-speaking community and Northern Nigeria in general. This includes students, educators, women from local associations, entrepreneurs, and women with a passion for learning digital skills and contributing to open knowledge. The project specifically focuses on women who are currently underrepresented on Wikimedia Projects, particularly in Hausa Wikipedia, Wikiquote, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons.
We also welcome a few participants who have basic computer skills but have never contributed to Wikimedia before, alongside some returning participants from previous women-centered campaigns.
How we will engage participants before the activities
- We will conduct targeted outreach through women’s associations, student groups, and community networks.
- Social media promotion via WhatsApp groups, Facebook, and Twitter/X to invite interested women to register.
- Direct invitations to past participants of previous Wikimedia events organized by our team, especially women-focused campaigns.
- Share clear information about the purpose, benefits, and expectations of the project to motivate women to join.
How we will engage participants during the activities
- We will create an inclusive, friendly, and supportive environment that encourages active participation and learning.
- Use hands-on, practical training methods where participants practice editing during the sessions.
- Experienced female organizers and mentors will provide one-on-one support during editing sessions.
- Interactive sessions, group work, and live demonstrations to maintain engagement and foster collaboration among participants.
How we will follow up with participants after the activities
- Establish a WhatsApp or Telegram support group for continued interaction, support, and peer mentorship.
- Regular check-ins with participants to monitor progress, answer questions, and encourage further contributions.
- Share information about future Wikimedia campaigns and events that participants can join to remain active.
- Recognize and motivate active participants by highlighting their contributions in reports or social media posts.
- Provide ongoing mentorship from the organizing team to help participants become long-term contributors and potential future trainers or community leaders.
This approach will ensure participants are not only trained but are also empowered to remain active within the Wikimedia movement beyond this project.
- 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.
Before developing this proposal, we discussed the idea of the project with members of the Hausa Wikimedians User Group on Hausa Wikipedia Discussion Page. These discussions were aimed at ensuring that the project aligns with the needs of the community, particularly the goal of increasing female participation in Wikimedia projects.
We engaged our community through the following steps:
- We started with informal discussions within our group WhatsApp platform where members expressed the need for more women-centered training that encourages leadership and continuous participation.
- During recent Wikimedia events organized in our region by our team, we held side discussions with experienced editors and former participants, especially women, to understand the challenges they face in contributing and how a women-led training model could support them.
- We consulted some community members who have participated past projects to seek advice on the best practices for training women and sustaining their participation.
- We discussed the proposal idea with key members of the Hausa Wikimedians User Group, ensuring it complements ongoing and upcoming projects within the community without creating overlap.
The feedback from these discussions guided the design of our project focusing on practical training, mentorship, and a follow-up system to support women editors after the events..
This collaborative approach ensures that our project aligns with the goals of the Wikimedia community in Northern Nigeria and supports the broader effort to bridge the gender gap in content and participation.
- 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)
Gender and diversity
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Gender Identity
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Ensure Equity in Decision-making
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Through this project, we aim to learn how a women-to-women training and mentorship model can impact the participation, retention, and leadership of women in Wikimedia projects. Our learning will help us and others understand the most effective ways to empower women within our community to contribute to open knowledge.
Learning Questions
- How effective is a women-led training and mentorship approach in increasing the participation of women on Wikimedia projects?
- What are the main challenges that women face in continuing to edit after receiving initial training, and how can these be addressed?
- Does offering a combination of physical and virtual follow-up training help improve retention and engagement of women participants?
- What types of content (e.g., Wikipedia articles, Wikiquote entries, Wikidata items) are women most interested in contributing to when supported through peer mentorship?
- How can we improve the creation of a supportive community space that encourages women not only to edit but also to take on leadership roles within Wikimedia projects?
The data we collect from participants feedback, editing metrics, and follow-up engagement will help answer these questions. This learning will inform not only our future projects but may also serve as a model for other Wikimedia communities working to close the gender gap.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 40 | Number of Participatans |
| Number of editors | 40 | Number of editors |
| Number of organizers | 6 | Number of Organisers including 2 facilitetors |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 1000 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 50 |
| Wikidata | 50 |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | 30 |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
- 19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)
No
| 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)
Wikimedia Dashboard Tool
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
1919438 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.
1250 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).