Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/WikiYouth:Engaging the Next Generation in Open Knowledge (ID: 22812467)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Mahuta
- 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.
WikiYouth: Engaging the Next Generation in Open Knowledge
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2024-12-10 - 2025-01-31
- 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)
Wikiyouth aims to empower the next generation by actively engaging them in the creation, sharing, and dissemination of open knowledge. The initiative seeks to promote a culture of collaboration, critical thinking, and information literacy by involving young people in the development of accessible, accurate, and diverse content on Wikipedia and other wiki sister projects, open knowledge projects. By doing so, Wikiyouth fosters civic engagement, digital citizenship, and lifelong learning.
Main Challenges or Problems:
1. Lack of Awareness and Participation: Many young people are unaware of how they can contribute to open knowledge on Wikipedia or may not fully understand the importance of open knowledge in fostering an informed society. 2. Digital Literacy Gaps: Some youth lack the necessary digital skills, research abilities, or critical thinking needed to contribute meaningfully to open knowledge. 3. Misinformation and Disinformation: The spread of false or biased information poses a significant challenge, making it essential to equip youth with the skills to verify and contribute reliable, well-sourced information. 4. Accessibility and Inclusivity: Open knowledge Wikimedia can sometimes lack diversity in terms of language, culture, and perspectives, leaving out contributions from underrepresented groups. 5. Sustainability of Engagement: Encouraging sustained engagement from youth contributors is challenging, especially when there are competing priorities such as academics and personal interests.
Approaches to Achieve the Change:
1. Education and Training: Provide workshops, and online training that teach young people how to contribute to open knowledge on Wikipedia and sister projects, improving their digital literacy, fact-checking skills, and understanding of information ethics. 2. Mentorship Programs: Pair experienced contributors with new, younger users to guide them in developing their writing, research, and editing skills. 3. Collaboration with Schools and Universities: Partner with educational institutions to integrate open knowledge projects into curricula, encouraging students to create and contribute to these platforms as part of their learning experience. 4. Fostering Diversity and Inclusion: Actively promote contributions from marginalized communities, offering translation support and encouraging content creation in various languages and cultural contexts to ensure a more representative body of knowledge. 5. Gamification and Incentives: Use recognition, awards, or gamified elements (e.g., leaderboards, badges) to motivate young people to contribute consistently and engage deeply with open knowledge initiatives. 6. Awareness Campaigns: Launch campaigns on social media to spread awareness about the importance of open knowledge and how young people can contribute to it.
- 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.
The Wikiyouth: Engaging the Next Generation in Open Knowledge initiative focuses on several key activities aimed at fostering youth participation in open knowledge projects. These activities often align with global goals of improving access to education, inclusivity, and the promotion of open knowledge systems such as Open Access, Open Educational Resources (OER), and Wikipedia sister projects.
Some of the planned activities include:
1. Capacity Building: Training young people to contribute to and use open knowledge resources like Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. These training sessions focus on teaching skills such as editing, content creation, and data management to foster active participation. 2. Inclusive and Equitable Access: Addressing systemic barriers and promoting knowledge equity, with a focus on marginalized communities. This includes tackling gender gaps and ensuring that open knowledge platforms reflect global diversity. 3. Workshops and Collaboration: Organizing events and workshops where youth collaborate with educators, librarians, and researchers to develop and share open resources, helping to improve access to high-quality educational materials. 4. Digital Literacy: Promoting digital citizenship by helping young people understand the importance of responsible online contributions and how open data and open knowledge can lead to societal improvements. 5.
- 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.
1. User: Mahuta (Project Lead) Role: As the project lead, Mahuta is responsible for overseeing the entire project, providing necessary materials, coordinating all activities, and ensuring successful project execution. Mahuta is an experienced organizer of Wikimedia projects and currently serves as an administrator on Hausa Wikipedia. Mahuta will ensure the project's smooth progression and offer support to team members and participants as needed. Status: Volunteer
2. User: Gwanki (Trainer and Guide) Role: Gwanki is an administrator on Hausa Wikipedia with extensive experience in Wikimedia projects. He will act as a trainer during the workshops, offering guidance and mentoring participants in editing techniques. He will ensure the accuracy of contributions and offer continuous support throughout the project. Status: Volunteer
3. User:Smshika (Training Assistant) Role: Smshika will provide hands-on assistance to participants during the training sessions, helping them navigate areas they find difficult to understand. This ensures that participants are fully supported as they learn how to contribute effectively to Wikimedia projects. Status: Volunteer
4. User:A. Salisu (Participant Support, Women's Focus) Role: A. Salisu will focus on supporting participants, with an emphasis on assisting women during the training. By ensuring female participants are comfortable and confident, A. Salisu will play a key role in promoting inclusivity within the project. Status: Volunteer
5. User:M. Bash (Dashboard and Technical Support) Role: M. Bash will manage the creation of the project's Dashboard and landing page. Additionally, he will assist participants with technical issues they encounter during the training, ensuring a smooth user experience for all involved. Status: Volunteer
All team members are volunteers with a deep commitment to improving Wikimedia's presence, particularly in the Hausa language community. They are fully aware of their involvement in this project and eager to contribute to its success.
- 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)
The target participants for Wikiyouth Engaging the Next Generation in Open Knowledge are likely to be young individuals, typically ranging from high school students to university students and young professionals. These participants may come from a diverse range of communities, including academic institutions that promote digital literacy, research, and critical thinking skills, as well as civic or youth organizations that focus on youth empowerment, education, or civic engagement. Additionally, individuals from online communities interested in knowledge sharing, technology, or open-source platforms like Wikipedia may also be key target groups for this initiative.
To engage participants before the activities, various strategies can be implemented. Outreach and promotion efforts can include social media campaigns, community outreach initiatives targeting schools, universities, and youth clubs, as well as collaborations with educational institutions to raise awareness about the project. Utilizing digital platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook can be effective in attracting tech-savvy youth and generating interest in the initiative. Pre-event online workshops or webinars can introduce participants to the concepts of open knowledge, Wikipedia editing, and the potential impact of contributing to global knowledge platforms. Additionally, pre-engagement via social media and newsletters can help tailor the program to participants' interests by soliciting feedback on topics they are eager to learn about or contribute to during the activities.
During the activities, engagement strategies can include interactive sessions that incorporate gamification and hands-on activities like editing challenges or article creation sprints to keep participants actively involved and motivated. Providing mentorship and guidance from experienced Wikipedia editors or open knowledge advocates can offer ongoing support to new participants, helping them make meaningful contributions and navigate the platforms effectively. Encouraging collaboration through team-based tasks and collaborative projects during workshops can foster engagement, peer learning, and a sense of community among participants.
After the activities, follow-up strategies can help sustain participant engagement and encourage continued contributions to open knowledge platforms. Continued engagement via social media, such as regular updates and new challenges posted on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, can keep participants connected and informed about ongoing opportunities. Follow-up webinars and meetups can provide additional opportunities for participants to interact, share their progress, and receive further guidance or training. Recognizing participants' contributions through certificates, featuring their work on community platforms, or organizing recognition events to celebrate their involvement can help foster a sense of accomplishment and motivation to stay engaged. Moreover, offering mentorship opportunities for participants to become mentors for future events can provide a pathway for deeper involvement in the open knowledge movement and ensure a continued connection to the initiative. These comprehensive approaches aim to facilitate active participation, ongoing engagement, and a sustained commitment to contributing to global knowledge platforms among participants of the Wikiyouth initiative.
- 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.
In order to discuss the idea of the Wikiyouth project with the Hausa community leaders and relevant groups, several steps were taken to engage and involve them in the planning process.
1. Discussion with Hausa Community Leaders: The project idea was shared and discussed with Hausa community leaders to gather their feedback, insights, and suggestions. Meetings or consultations may have been held to explain the objectives of the project and seek their support or collaboration.
2. Engagement with Facilitators: Facilitators who are involved in the Wikimedia community or have experience in similar projects were engaged to discuss the project idea. Their expertise and guidance can be valuable in shaping the project and ensuring its successful implementation.
3. Outreach on Hausa Wikipedia Discussion Page: The project idea was shared on the Hausa Wikipedia Discussion Page to reach out to members of the Hausa Wikimedia community. This platform provides an opportunity to inform the community about the project, gather input, and involve them in the planning process.
4. Sharing in Various WhatsApp Groups: The project idea was shared in various WhatsApp groups for Wikimedia communities, including those with members from the Hausa community. These groups serve as platforms for discussion, collaboration, and sharing information within the community.
- 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)
Not applicable
- 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)
Age (diversity of age groups)
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Innovate in Free Knowledge
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Through the Wikiyouth project, we hope to learn valuable insights and outcomes that can drive continuous improvement and inform future initiatives in the realm of engaging the next generation in open knowledge. Some key learnings we aim to derive from this project include:
1. Impact on Youth Engagement: We aim to understand the effectiveness of our strategies in attracting and retaining young participants in open knowledge initiatives. By assessing levels of engagement, participation rates, and feedback from youth involved in the project, we can gauge the impact of our efforts on engaging the next generation.
2. Effectiveness of Training Programs: By evaluating the success of our capacity-building activities, such as workshops, mentorship programs, and educational partnerships, we seek to learn how well these training initiatives equip young individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute meaningfully to open knowledge platforms like Wikipedia.
3. Diversity and Inclusivity: We hope to learn about the impact of our efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity within the open knowledge community. By analyzing participation rates from underrepresented communities, assessing the cultural and linguistic diversity of contributions, and measuring the accessibility of our initiatives, we aim to gain insights into the effectiveness of our diversity and inclusion strategies.
4. Sustainability of Engagement: One of our key objectives is to encourage sustained engagement from youth contributors. Through monitoring retention rates, tracking ongoing participation, and evaluating the long-term impact of the project on youth involvement in open knowledge initiatives, we aim to learn about the sustainability of youth engagement in the open knowledge movement.
5. Community Collaboration and Partnerships: By assessing the level of collaboration with community leaders, facilitators, and relevant groups, we hope to learn about the benefits and challenges of working together with stakeholders in the Wikimedia community. Understanding the dynamics of community partnerships can help inform future collaborative efforts and enhance the impact of similar projects.
Overall, we aim to gather valuable insights, data, and feedback from the Wikiyouth project to learn from our experiences, identify areas for improvement, and apply these learnings to drive positive change in engaging the next generation in open knowledge initiatives. Our goal is to leverage these learnings to inform future projects, enhance our impact, and contribute to the continuous growth of open knowledge communities worldwide.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 50 | Number of participants |
| Number of editors | 40 | Number of editors |
| Number of organizers | 5 | Number of organizers |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 1000 |
| Wikimedia Commons | |
| 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 | 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)
I will use Wikimedia Foundation's 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)
1870000 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.
1156.14 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).