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Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wikimedia Training Workshop for Librarians at the 2024 Biennial Congress (ID: 22766514)

From Meta, a Wikimedia project coordination wiki
statusNot funded
Wikimedia Training Workshop for Librarians at the 2024 Biennial Congress
proposed start date2024-10-20
proposed end date2024-11-20
requested budget (local currency)69896.7 GHS
requested budget (USD)4500 USD
grant typeIndividual
funding regionSSA
decision fiscal year2024-25
applicant• Joris Darlington Quarshie
organization (if applicable)• N/A

This is an automatically generated Meta-Wiki page. The page was copied from Fluxx, the web service of Wikimedia Foundation Funds where the user has submitted their application. Please do not make any changes to this page because all changes will be removed after the next update. Use the discussion page for your feedback. The page was created by CR-FluxxBot.

Applicant Details

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Main Wikimedia username. (required)

Joris Darlington Quarshie

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

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1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.

Wikimedia Training Workshop for Librarians at the 2024 Biennial Congress

2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.

2024-10-20 - 2024-11-20

4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

Ghana

5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)

Other (please specify) Wikimedia Training Program for Ghana Librarians

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)

This workshop aims to bridge the knowledge gap and digital divide in Wikimedia projects, focusing on content creation in underrepresented languages of Ghana. Librarians, as custodians of knowledge, are crucial in this initiative. By equipping them with skills to contribute to Wikimedia projects, we aim to increase the volume and quality of content in Indigenous languages, thereby preserving cultural heritage and improving the accessibility of knowledge.

Current Statistics on Libraries and Digital Access in Ghana:

1. According to the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA), there are over 100 public libraries across the country, with more than 80% of these libraries located in urban areas. However, access to digital resources in these libraries is limited, with less than 30% offering reliable internet access. 2. A 2021 report by the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) indicates that only 15% of librarians in Ghana have received formal training in digital literacy and online content creation. 3. Ghana’s internet penetration rate is 68.2% as of January 2023, yet rural areas and underrepresented language communities have significantly lower access, contributing to the digital divide that this project seeks to address. 4. As of 2023, Ghana had over 300 public libraries, yet only a fraction of librarians are trained in digital literacy and content creation for online platforms. 5. According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, over 70% of Ghana’s population speaks an indigenous language as their first language. However, the representation of these languages on Wikimedia platforms remains minimal.


Key Challenges:

1. Limited content in underrepresented languages on Wikimedia platforms. 2. Lack of awareness and skills among librarians to contribute to Wikimedia projects. 3. The digital divide excludes non-English speakers from accessing information.

Approach:

1. Provide hands-on training on Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikisource. 2. Collaborate with the Ghana Library Association and KNUST to engage librarians and integrate Wikimedia contributions into their professional practices. 3. Encourage participants to create content in indigenous languages, focusing on culturally significant topics.

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.

Planned activities can be found on this excel sheet for the Pre-Congress Workshop:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E5TDnvZ0pZloUINZHWQG5r4PgWxdtaQoDz5WKf73BX0/edit?usp=sharing


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.

Training Facilitators: Maxwell Beganim (User:xibitgh ): Co-lead of Wiki-Green Conference and Initiatives. Joris Darlington Quarshie (User:Joris Darlington Quarshie ): Group Member for Ghanaian Languages Wikimedia Community.

Logistics: Rukaya Hamidu (Wikimedia Username: Ruky Wunpini), Event Organizer and Volunteer.

Communications: User:Awinebotima: Experienced organizer and volunteer.

Advisory Role: Sadik Shahadu (User:Shahadusadik ): Executive Director of the Dagbani Wikimedians User Group and experienced event planner.

Conference Organizer Dr. Richard Lamptey Lead Conference Organizer for the 2024 Biennial Congress and the Annual General Meeting.

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 primary target participants are librarians from across Ghana, particularly those from regions where indigenous languages are spoken. This group is essential for expanding Wikimedia’s content in underrepresented languages. Participants will be engaged through the Ghana Library Association's network, with follow-up surveys and feedback collection after the event to measure impact and ensure ongoing support.

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.

1. Initial Concept Sharing:

The project idea was first shared with the core team of the Ghanaian Languages Wikimedia Community, where the concept was discussed in detail. The discussions focused on the relevance of the training for librarians and its alignment with Wikimedia's goals, particularly in promoting content creation in underrepresented languages.

2. Community Meetings:

Virtual meetings were held with representatives from the Ghana Library Association and KNUST to discuss the integration of the Wikimedia training into the 2024 Biennial Congress and Annual General Meeting. These meetings ensured that the event aligns with the broader goals of the Congress and that there is seamless collaboration between all parties involved.

3. Alignment with Other Projects:

Efforts were made to align the activities of this project with other Wikimedia initiatives happening in Ghana, such as the ongoing language Wikipedia projects and GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) initiatives. This was done to ensure that the training contributes to the broader Wikimedia strategy in the region.

4. Feedback Incorporation:

The feedback from the community discussions, surveys, and meetings was incorporated into the project plan. This helped in refining the training modules and ensuring that the project is well-received by the target audience.

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)

Language

13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)

Culture, heritage or GLAM

14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Linguistic / Language

15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)

Increase the Sustainability of Our Movement

Learning and metrics

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17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)

Here are the key learning goals for this project, framed as Learning Questions:

Learning Questions:

1. How effective are Wikimedia training sessions in increasing the awareness and participation of librarians in content creation on Wikimedia projects, especially in underrepresented languages?

This question aims to assess the impact of the training on participants' willingness and ability to contribute to Wikimedia projects.

2. What challenges do librarians face when engaging with Wikimedia platforms, and how can these be mitigated in future training sessions?

Understanding these challenges will help refine future training programs to be more effective and accessible.

3. To what extent do participants continue to engage with Wikimedia projects after the workshop, and what support do they need to sustain their contributions?

This will help determine the long-term impact of the workshop and identify ways to support ongoing engagement.

4. How does collaboration with institutions like KNUST and the Ghana Library Association influence the success and reach of Wikimedia initiatives?

This will help evaluate the effectiveness of partnerships in achieving project goals and expanding the impact of Wikimedia training.

5. What types of content contributions (e.g., articles, data, media) do librarians most frequently make after the training, and in which Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, Wikisource) are they most active?

This question seeks to understand the focus areas of participants' contributions and identify patterns in content creation.

6. How can the project’s structure and delivery be improved to better address the needs of librarians and maximize their contributions to Wikimedia projects?

Gathering feedback on the project’s structure will inform future iterations of similar initiatives, ensuring they are more tailored to the needs of the target audience.

Data Collection Methods: 1. Surveys and Feedback Forms: To gather participants' input on the effectiveness of the training and the challenges they faced. 2. Metrics Tracking: Using tools like the Programs & Events Dashboard to monitor participants' contributions to Wikimedia projects. 3. Follow-up surveys: To assess long-term engagement and identify ongoing support needs. 4. Partnership Evaluation: Assessing the outcomes of collaborations with KNUST and the Ghana Library Association through qualitative interviews or feedback sessions.

The insights gained from these questions will inform future projects and help optimize strategies for increasing librarian participation in Wikimedia projects.

18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
Number of participants, editors, and organizers
Other Metrics Target Optional description
Number of participants 60 All participants will be new participants
Number of editors 60 All editors will be newly registered users
Number of organizers 6 Training Facilitators:

Maxwell Beganim (User:xibitgh ): Co-lead of Wiki-Green Conference and Initiatives. Joris Darlington Quarshie (User:Joris Darlington Quarshie ): Group Member for Ghanaian Languages Wikimedia Community.

Logistics: Rukaya Hamidu (Wikimedia Username: Ruky Wunpini), Event Organizer and Volunteer.

Communications: User:Awinebotima: Experienced organizer and volunteer.

Advisory Role: Sadik Shahadu (User:Shahadusadik ): Executive Director of the Dagbani Wikimedians User Group and experienced event planner.

Conference Organizer Dr. Richard Lamptey Lead Conference Organizer for the 2024 Biennial Congress and the Annual General Meeting.

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia 60
Wikimedia Commons 60
Wikidata 60
Wiktionary
Wikisource 60
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote
Wikivoyage
Wikibooks
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies
Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia
Optional description for content contributions.

60+ articles or data entries in indigenous languages.

19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)

No

Main Open Metrics Data
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)

For measuring the metrics, the following tools will be used:

1. Google Forms:

  - To collect contact information, feedback, and pre-event/post-event surveys from participants.
  - Allows easy analysis of data collected.

2. Google Sheets:

  - For tracking registration, managing attendance, and organizing participant data.
  - Can be used to monitor metrics like the number of participants and editors.

3. Etherpad:

  - For collaborative note-taking during sessions.
  - Useful for recording discussions, decisions, and action items.

4. Jamboard:

  - For ideation and brainstorming activities during the workshop.
  - Helps in visually capturing ideas and contributions from participants.

5. Mentimeter:

  - For live polling and engagement during sessions.
  - Allows real-time feedback and can be used to gauge participant understanding and satisfaction.

6. Dashboard and Event Metrics Tools(e.g., Programs & Events Dashboard, Outreach Dashboard):

  - To track contributions made to Wikimedia projects (e.g., edits, new articles).
  - Provides a detailed report of content created or improved during the event.

Financial proposal

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21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E5TDnvZ0pZloUINZHWQG5r4PgWxdtaQoDz5WKf73BX0/edit?usp=sharing


22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)

69896.7 GHS

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.

4500 USD

We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

Endorsements and Feedback

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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).

Endorse