Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wiki for All:Inclusive Editing for Underrepresented Groups (ID: 22659207)/Final Report

Wiki for All: Inclusive Editing for Underrepresented Groups

Rapid Fund Final Report

Report Status: Under review

Due date: 30 October 2024

Funding program: Rapid Fund

Report type: Final

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General information

Applicant username: A Sulaiman Z
Organization name: N/A
Amount awarded: 968.69
Amount spent: 968.69 USD, 1422000

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:

We organized two days of physical events, where participants engaged in hands-on Wikipedia editing workshops. These sessions focused on training new editors, particularly from underrepresented groups, and creating or improving content on Wikimedia projects. Facilitators provided real-time support, guiding participants through the editing process. On the third day, we held an online event, which allowed remote participants to join via Google Meet and contribute to Wikimedia projects. We also provided online resources and tutorials to support learning.

Results Achieved:

Over the course of the project, we trained 55 participants and engaged 46 new editors, with 40 being women from marginalized communities. 70 new articles were created, and 2.16k existing articles were improved. Several participants expressed increased confidence in digital skills and editing techniques.

Effective Approaches:

The hands-on workshops were particularly effective in building participants’ confidence in editing Wikipedia. Facilitator support ensured that participants received personalized guidance. Additionally, the hybrid model, with both physical and online events, allowed us to reach a wider audience and accommodate those unable to attend in person. The focus on inclusivity also fostered a welcoming environment that encouraged participation from underrepresented groups.

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

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

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)

Our efforts during the Fund period have helped to...
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	Strongly 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: In this project, we hope to learn and gain insights into the following areas:

What are the key challenges and barriers faced by new Wikimedian editors from underrepresented groups? By understanding these specific challenges, we can tailor our support and guidance to address these issues effectively.
How can we enhance the skills and knowledge of new Wikimedian editors from underrepresented groups? By identifying areas where editors require additional training or support, we can develop targeted workshops and mentoring programs to enhance their skills and knowledge.
What strategies are most effective in fostering collaboration and community engagement among new Wikimedian editors? By exploring different strategies and approaches, we can identify the most effective methods for fostering collaboration, building a sense of community, and encouraging sustained engagement.
How does empowering and guiding new Wikimedian editors contribute to the growth and quality of Wikimedia content related to underrepresented groups? By examining the impact of our project on the quantity and quality of Wikimedia content, we can assess the broader value and significance of empowering and guiding new editors.
What are the best practices and lessons learned that can be shared with other Wikimedia communities? By documenting our experiences, challenges, and successes, we can contribute to a body of knowledge that can be shared with other Wikimedia communities, enabling them to replicate our approach or adapt it to their specific contexts.

By answering these learning questions and collecting relevant data throughout the project, we aim to gain insights that will inform our future initiatives, improve our strategies, and contribute to the growth and effectiveness of the Wikimedia community.

What we learned and future approaches

1. What We Learned: One of the main challenges we observed was a lack of confidence among new editors from underrepresented groups, particularly in using Wikimedia tools and understanding guidelines. Many participants were unfamiliar with the projects and found the technical aspects intimidating. Language barriers also posed a challenge, as many participants were more comfortable editing in their native languages rather than in Hausa or other widely-used languages on Wikimedia projects.

Future Approach: In future projects, we plan to provide more step-by-step guides, create simplified instructional resources, and offer more in-depth, personalized support, particularly addressing language concerns and technical guidance.

2. What We Learned: We found that new editors benefited most from hands-on workshops and one-on-one mentorship, which allowed them to practice what they learned in real-time with immediate feedback. Additionally, continuous follow-up after the training was crucial to reinforcing their knowledge and retaining their engagement.

Future Approach: Moving forward, we aim to incorporate more follow-up sessions and peer-learning opportunities. We’ll also consider developing online tutorials and video content to provide ongoing support after the events.

3. What We Learned: Collaboration was fostered when participants worked together on joint editing tasks and during group sessions where they could share ideas and support one another. The community spirit was strengthened by creating smaller groups where experienced editors could mentor new ones. However, maintaining engagement post-event was challenging, especially for online events.

Future Approach: In future projects, we’ll introduce more structured peer-support programs, such as pairing new editors with experienced ones for ongoing collaboration. We’ll also create dedicated online spaces (such as WhatsApp or Telegram groups) to facilitate continuous communication and community building.

4. What We Learned: Empowering new editors significantly contributed to the quality and diversity of content on Wikimedia projects. Many participants were passionate about creating or editing content related to their communities, which led to an increase in content that reflects the perspectives and histories of underrepresented groups. This not only expanded Wikimedia’s content but also enriched it with localized knowledge and unique insights.

Future Approach: We will continue to encourage new editors to contribute content related to their communities, while providing targeted training to ensure the quality of contributions. Additionally, we will collaborate with existing editors to further improve the visibility of underrepresented content.

5. What We Learned: The key lessons from this project include the importance of personalized mentorship, the value of fostering a collaborative community, and the necessity of follow-up engagement after training. We also learned that language support and simplifying technical instructions are crucial for new editors from underrepresented groups.

Future Approach: We will share these best practices with other Wikimedia communities through documentation and presentations, and we plan to develop templates and training guides that can be adapted by other teams. Additionally, we’ll look into creating long-term mentorship programs to support sustained engagement in Wikimedia projects.

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)

Unexpected Situations:

During the implementation of our activities, we encountered the following unexpected situations:

Positive Surprises:

Higher Participation: We were surprised by the enthusiasm of participants, which led to greater collaboration and more content creation than expected. Rapid Learning: Some participants quickly adapted to Wikimedia tools, allowing us to progress faster than planned.

Challenges:

Technical Issues: Internet connectivity problems during the online event affected participation and the smooth flow of activities. Post-event Engagement: Maintaining participants' involvement after the events was more difficult than anticipated due to time constraints and technical barriers.

What We Learned:

Adaptability: We learned the importance of being flexible and adjusting to participants' needs. Online Support: In the future, we plan to offer better pre-event technical support and more structured follow-up to sustain engagement.

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)

How We Shared Project Learnings:

We shared the learnings and results from this project with other Wikimedia community members through several channels:

Online Platforms: We posted summaries of our key findings and successes on social media and relevant Wikimedia community groups. These updates helped spread our insights to a broader audience.
Workshops and Presentations': We presented the outcomes of the project during follow-up workshops, where we shared best practices and lessons learned with local community members.
Documentation: We uploaded a detailed report of our project to the Meta-Wiki page, making it accessible to the wider Wikimedia community for future reference and adaptation.
Collaborations: We engaged in discussions with other Wikimedia organizers and contributors, exchanging knowledge and sharing our experiences to help them implement similar projects.

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
Number of participants	40	55
Number of editors	30	46
Number of organizers	5	5

Wikimedia project	Target	Result - Number of created pages	Result - Number of improved pages
Wikipedia	200	70	2159
Wikimedia Commons	50	59	11
Wikidata	50	1	288
Wiktionary	50	9	54
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

10. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency. (required)

1422000

11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)

968.69

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/12xr0L5yIpltQ0HABxAoGbwXdo9aR8ltyMG8d8EaSzoM/edit?usp=drivesdk

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 Your response to the review feedback. 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

Review notes from Program Officer:

N/A

Applicant's response to the review feedback.

N/A