Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wikivibrance International Youth Day (IYD) 2025 (ID: 23081968)
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
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Favourdare123
- 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.
Wikivibrance International Youth Day (IYD) 2025
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-06-27 - 2025-08-15
- 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)
Wikivibrance
- 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)
Youth are driving innovation, leading social movements, transforming education, and advancing sustainability efforts across the globe. Their energy, creativity, and determination to shape a better future make them vital contributors to today’s world and tomorrow’s possibilities. With approximately 1.8 billion young people making up nearly one quarter of the global population, their influence is not just significant, it is essential for building a sustainable future for generations to come.
Youths have occupied various spaces as leaders, innovators, and changemakers, creating solutions for pressing global issues such as climate action, digital rights, social justice, and open knowledge accessibility. Their contributions have shaped policies, businesses, and cultural movements, proving that investment in youth is a necessity for the present and a commitment to the future.
The International Youth Day (IYD) is celebrated annually on August 12 since its first observance in 2000 as a platform to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. The theme for 2025 is “Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future” which emphasizes the need to equip young people with skills, resources, and opportunities to drive social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
As an extension of the global International Youth Day celebration, this project aims to bring this momentum locally by hosting a dedicated event focused on empowering young people through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Having successfully organized this event twice in the past, we have gained invaluable experience in creating impactful youth-centered programs and understand the unique strategies needed to sustain engagement beyond a one-day celebration.
This project, aligned with the 2025 International Youth Day, aims to drive meaningful change by empowering and recognizing young Wikimedians who actively contribute to the Wikimedia movement. It focuses on bridging the gap in the recognition and representation of youth in an open knowledge ecosystem. Celebrating their efforts and offering guidance will, in turn, increase youth participation, make knowledge more accessible, and encourage long-term involvement in creating and sharing knowledge.
Challenges Underrepresentation of Youth Contributions: Despite the significant efforts of youth in technology, social movements, and sustainability. They are not adequately recognized or documented in open knowledge platforms like Wikipedia and Wikidata.
Limited Access to Resources and Opportunities: Despite being the forerunners for the future, Youths lack access to the tools, mentorship, and training needed to contribute effectively to Wikimedia projects and other open knowledge initiatives.
Lack of Awareness and Engagement in Open Knowledge: Many young changemakers and innovators are unaware of Wikimedia’s role in preserving and sharing knowledge, resulting in low participation rates.
Limited Representation of Youth-Driven Topics: The aspects that captures Youth culture like digital activism, emerging trends, and social innovation are often underrepresented in Wikimedia projects, leaving knowledge gaps.
Limited Documentation of Youth-driven Organizations: Many youth-driven organizations play crucial roles in social change, advocacy, and innovation, but few are documented on Wikipedia, Wikidata, or Wikimedia Commons, limiting their visibility and historical significance.
Main Approaches to achieving the project: Creating awareness: This will involve a series of engaging public talks and impactful social media campaigns aimed at increasing the visibility and engagement of young Wikimedians and youth-driven organizations globally. Through various channels, we aim to reach a wider audience and encourage participation. We will work closely with youth organizations with the aim of providing necessary guidance, resources, and platforms to help them contribute effectively to Wikimedia projects.
Community Engagement and Collaboration: To maximize the impact of the project, we will build on the collaboration and partnership used in last year’s edition, collaborating in local groups and growing Wikimedia communities in Ilorin, Imo, Ibadan, and Kano to further strengthen continuity and participation in the event. These partnerships will prioritize workshops, edit-a-thons/translate-a-thons, and community meetups, ensuring that these four regions contribute to the goals of Wikivibrance. The partnership continuity will enhance the inclusivity, diversity, and also strengthen the local Wikimedia communities.
Content Creation: We will organize a series of engaging activities, including editing campaigns, physical and online training sessions, and edit-a-thons. Throughout the campaign, we will utilize these initiatives to empower both new and experienced editors to contribute to Wikipedia by creating and improving articles, translating articles to Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. Building on the previous year’s success, we are documenting content in English and three local languages.
This project seeks to empower young Wikimedians as key drivers of a sustainable future by recognizing their contributions and equipping them with the tools to actively shape the open knowledge ecosystem. In line with the 2025 IYD theme, the project addresses the lack of representation, skill gaps, and limited engagement by creating inclusive opportunities for learning and leadership. Through targeted mentorship, hands-on activities, and localized support, young contributors will gain the confidence and capacity to document topics that matter, especially those aligned with sustainability, innovation, and youth-led impact. Additionally, this project will strengthen Wikimedia’s role as a platform for inclusive, youth-driven knowledge that supports long-term global development.
- 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.
1.Creating Awareness: To effectively engage both new and existing Wikimedia editors, we will implement a multi-faceted awareness campaign. This includes the use of E-posters and fliers, strategically distributed across platforms of our target participants. Additionally, we will deploy banner campaigns on Wikimedia sites to ensure widespread event visibility. To optimize communication, we will establish an inclusive WhatsApp group for interested individuals, facilitating efficient and cost-effective information dissemination. By integrating these messaging strategies, we aim to create a coherent and resonant message that underscores the event's significance and objectives, ensuring maximum impact and broad participation.
2. Virtual Event: The virtual event will kick off with an engaging session featuring a prominent member of the Wikivibrance team alongside a representative from Nigeria Youth SDGs. Together, they will provide an orientation on the mission and goals of Wikivibrance, emphasize the vital role of youth in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and explore effective ways for young people to contribute meaningfully to the Wikimedia movement. The session will also introduce participants to Translate wiki, with a focus on integrating all major Nigerian languages which will be anchor by one of our organizers. ensuring attendees gain both theoretical and practical knowledge to support multilingual contributions.
3. Collaborating with Youth Organizations: Just as we did last year, we will again collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports in Ilorin, Ibadan, Imo, and Gombe. This previous partnership had a positive impact by mobilizing young participants and enhancing their engagement with Wikimedia projects. Building on that success, we aim to further strengthen these collaborations to create more opportunities, share resources, and foster a supportive environment for youth involvement.
4. Physical Training (Day 1): On the first day, hands-on training sessions will be held across Wikimedia communities in Ilorin, Imo, Ibadan, and Kano. Participants will gain practical skills and insights into editing and contributing to Wikipedia and Wikidata. The focus areas are: English Wikipedia and Wikidata in Ilorin; Igbo Wikipedia in Imo; Yoruba Wikipedia in Ibadan; and Hausa Wikipedia in Kano. During the event, we will utilize projectors, presentation slides, and instructional materials to guide participants through essential skills such as basic editing, information search and retrieval, and the creation, translation, and improvement of articles. These training sessions are designed to bridge content gaps while empowering both newcomers and experienced editors, promoting inclusivity and meaningful engagement in the open knowledge movement. To further enhance outreach and integrate more youth participants, this year we have replaced Gombe with Kano, recognizing Kano’s vibrant youth population and potential for greater engagement.
5. Community Engagement, Edit-a-thon/Translate-a-thon, and Award Presentation (Day 2): The second day will begin with mentoring sessions aimed at enhancing participants' editing skills. These sessions will lead into an engaging edit-a-thon and translate-a-thon focused on the three local languages. Our team will provide real-time guidance, monitoring, and assessment to create a collaborative environment where participants can apply their knowledge and actively contribute to the project's objectives. Alongside the edit-a-thon, community engagement activities will feature success stories from young Wikimedians and interactive discussions to foster networking and a sense of belonging. The event will conclude with an award presentation honoring outstanding young Wikimedian editors (both male and female) from each community for their exceptional contributions. Certificates of participation will also be distributed to all attendees.
6. Virtual Training: We will conduct a virtual follow-up training session to continue skill development. Participants will receive targeted instruction from experienced facilitators to further enhance their proficiency in editing and contributing to English Wikipedia, Igbo Wikipedia, Hausa Wikipedia, Yoruba Wikipedia, and Wikidata. To introduce new changes, we will also incorporate the use of the Translate Wiki platform to help increase its content. This underscores our commitment to sustained growth and knowledge refinement, ensuring participants are equipped with the necessary tools and insights for impactful contributions.
7. Contest: Following the training, we will conclude with an online contest to engage participants and recognize their contributions. Prizes, including gift vouchers, will be awarded to the top three contributors, the newest editors, and the outstanding female contributors across each of the Wikimedia communities in Ilorin, Ibadan, Kano, and Imo. This will serve as an incentive to encourage continued engagement in future Wikimedia projects and events.
Through these activities, the project seeks to foster an inclusive and engaging environment that recognizes and supports the contributions of young people. This will ultimately strengthen the Wikimedia movement and further the goal of accessible open knowledge for everyone.
- 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.
Our local activity will be carried out as part of a global initiative led by the Wikivibrance global team. They provide vital resources such as communication materials (e.g., social media cards and posts), access to communication platforms, and organize online training and support sessions (office hours, Telegram group, etc.). Key mentor contact include:
User:NikosLikomitros: He is a core team member of the international Wikivibrance team and an active Greek Wikimedian involved with the Wikimedia Community User Group Greece. He is a key member of Wiki for Minorities and leads the NKUA School of Philosophy Wikiclub. He is passionate about empowering youth in the Wikimedia movement, having organized numerous offline and online events in Greek universities to increase youth content and youth editors in Greek projects. He will be one of the speakers at our virtual webinar, highlighting the goals of wikivibrance and the benefits of youth contributions to the Wikimedia movement.
Our local team members possess the necessary qualifications and expertise to effectively execute this project. Proficient in utilizing Wikipedia,wikidata and well equipped with extensive knowledge, insights, and available resources to ensure the successful completion of this project.
Favourdare123 (Project Lead): I am an experienced editor with extensive training experience. I have led the WikiVibrance International Youth Day (IYD) 2022 and 2024 project and EveryBookItsReader 2024: African Books and Authors. I have co-facilitated significant editing campaigns on both Wikipedia and Wikidata. Notably, I co-facilitated the Wikimedia Awareness Outreach in Abuja and the Harnessing the Power of Open Data: Maximizing Wikidata Technical Tools workshops. As the project lead, I will develop tailored training resources to enhance contributions for both new and experienced editors. Throughout the physical and online events, I will guide participants in interactive edit-a-thons to ensure they acquire essential skills aligned with our project's objectives. Additionally, I will oversee the overall success of the project across the four communities, train editors on English Wikipedia and initiate community engagement activities.
Akintundedaniel (Co-Facilitator): He is an experienced editor with extensive project facilitation and training experience, having accumulated over 10,000 contributions and still counting. He has led various projects across global campaigns in his local community, such as Art + Feminism, Wiki Loves Earth, Feminism and Folklore, Wiki Loves Africa, and She Said. As a project lead, he has promoted gender equity by profiling notable women and documenting their contributions to the global economy. His experience includes projects like Women in Art and Technology 2023, Wiki Loves Africa 2025, Art + Feminism 2024 Unilorin, and the SheSaid 2024 Event in Nigeria. He will be co-facilitating, overseeing all aspects of the project, and ensuring all contributions align with the project’s goals, alongside the project lead.
Jessephu (Co-Facilitator): is an active Wikimedian and a dedicated linguist with a strong passion for language preservation and youth engagement on Wikimedia projects. He has led and co-facilitated numerous campaigns focused on article creation, community building, and skill development, including SheSaid 2024 (African Women in Politics), and has contributed to national and global campaigns that highlight underrepresented voices. He will introduce participants to the Translate Wiki, guiding them on its effective use for editing and translating tools. His training sessions will focus on equipping both new and experienced editors with practical skills on how to contribute multilingual content, ensuring that local languages are well represented. He will also facilitate hands-on translation activities, support contributors throughout the program, and help amplify the voices of African youths through collaborative Wikimedia efforts.
Iwuala Lucy(Co-facilitator): She is an experienced Igbo Wikipedia trainer and editor, language professional, and cultural heritage advocate dedicated to bridging digital gaps for African languages. With a focus on Igbo and other indigenous languages, she works to expand online content, empower women contributors, and leverage technology for linguistic preservation. Her initiatives combine digital literacy training with community-driven projects to ensure underrepresented voices take part in shaping the digital narrative of Africa’s cultural heritage. She contributes to the Wikimedia Community through her various roles as a member of the Regional Grant Committee for SSA, Afrika Baraza Working Group, Wikimedia Foundation ComCom, Wiki Loves Monuments International Social Media Manager, and Wiki Loves Ramadan Social Media Manager. She will initiate community engagement activities in the Imo Wiki Community and ensure all contributions by the Imo Community align with the project's goal.
Ọmọladéabídèmí99 (Co-Facilitator) She is a seasoned Yoruba Wikipedia editor and trainer. She founded the Unilag Yoruba wiki fan-club in 2022 and co-founded Yoruba fan-clubs in OAU. Additionally, she demonstrated leadership as the president of the Yoruba language student association and served as the Wikipedian-in-Residence for the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group. Notably, she was the project lead for the Wikipedia Training: University of Lagos First Semester Wikipedia. She has also co-facilitated wiki projects such as Recruit the Readers and Yoruba Storytelling. In this project, she will conduct training and translate-a-thon sessions specifically tailored for Yoruba Wikipedia, with a focus on equipping editors with the knowledge and skills required to make effective contributions, including translation, and enhance the quality of content on the Yoruba language Wikipedia. She will initiate community engagement activities in the Ibadan Wiki Community and ensure all contributions by the Ibadan Community align with the project's goal.
Gwanki (Co-facilitator): He is a dedicated contributor to the Wikimedia movement, especially the Hausa Wikipedia, where he serves as an administrator. His work has seen him promote free knowledge and improve content in indigenous languages, particularly Hausa. His works span across several Wikimedia Projects focusing on human rights, feminism, local knowledge, oral history, and digital literacy. He will initiate community engagement activities in the Kano Wiki Community and ensure all contributions by the Kano Community align with the project's goal.
- 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)
Target Participants: Our participants are mainly young individuals aged 18 - 30. We are targeting participants with no prior knowledge to contributing to Wikimedia platform and existing contributors wanting to grow their skills.
Our focus is on:
- University students and recent graduates
- Youth Organizations
- Member of youth organizations
- Young professionals interested in open knowledge and community work
- Passionate young people from underrepresented backgrounds in Wikimedia
Target Communities:
- Ilorin: Focused on editing English Wikipedia and Wikidata
- Ibadan: Focused on editing Yoruba Wikipedia
- Imo: Focused on editing Igbo Wikipedia
- Kano: Focused on editing Hausa Wikipedia
Before the activities: We will utilize E-posters, fliers, and banner campaigns on Wikimedia-related platforms, and distribute the resources on platforms where our target participants are. Through the platforms and dedicated social media accounts, we will post regular updates, share success stories from past events. Establishing a WhatsApp group for interested individuals will facilitate efficient information dissemination and foster a sense of community before the event. We will also engage youth organizations to help reach a broader audience and mobilize participants through their networks.
During the Activities: We will have hands-on training sessions conducted by experienced volunteer facilitators. To ensure participants are actively engaged and learning effectively, we will use projectors, presentation slides, and other teaching aids. Through the implementation, we will provide guidance and support to help participants enforce their knowledge and skills. We will facilitate interactive discussions that will foster knowledge sharing, peer learning, and continuous engagement on Wikimedia projects beyond this event.
After the Activities: We will organize online follow-up training sessions to reinforce skills and maintain participant engagement. A dedicated online community (e.g., WhatsApp group) will be set up to provide ongoing support, facilitate peer interaction, and track individual progress. Feedback will be gathered to evaluate the impact of the program and improve future training initiatives. Participants will also be integrated into the global Wikivibrance community, fostering a sense of belonging and continued collaboration.
This project will greatly expand youth participation in Wikimedia, boosting both content diversity and quality, particularly in underrepresented languages such as Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. By advancing digital literacy and encouraging community involvement, it will empower young people to contribute meaningfully to the creation and dissemination of open knowledge. Continued support and recognition will help maintain long-term engagement, building a thriving Wikimedia community in Nigeria and furthering the global mission of accessible knowledge for everyone.
- 10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)
Yes
- 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.
We prioritize the safety and protection of young people by aligning our practices with both international and national regulations, along with the Wikimedia Youth Safety Policy. At the start of every event, we will provide a clear overview and reading of this policy to ensure that all participants are aware of its principles. Our team is fully committed to following these guidelines throughout the event to maintain a secure and supportive environment for everyone, especially minors. You can access the Wikimedia Youth Safety Policy here. [1]
- 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.
The proposal announcement has been shared on the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria’s talk page, creating an opportunity for community members to engage with the project. This allowed them to review the details, share feedback, and offer suggestions for enhancement.
Link to the discussion can be accessed here: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_User_Group_Nigeria#Wikivibrance_International_Youth_Day_2025
- 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)
Cultural background, ethnicity, religion, racial
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Advocacy
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Ethnic/racial/religious or cultural background
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Invest in Skills and Leadership Development
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
1. Effective youth and underrepresented groups engagement: Through the project timeline, we aim to learn the best impactful way to engage young people and underreprsented groups in Wikimedia contributions, with the focus of fostering long term participation.
2. Addressing Contributor’s challenges: Through this project, we hope to uncover the common barriers new and existing contributors face, and explore practical, customized solutions that can enhance our support systems and training efforts.
3. Community Collaboration: We aim to observe how local groups engage and work together within the Wikimedia movement, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of how community dynamics can be more effective and use that knowledge to strengthen more collaborations.
4. Long-term Sustainability: We aim to identify the things, such as continuous encouragement, recognition, and reward systems, that keeps participants motivated and can drive long-term interest in the Wikimedia movement.
5. Cultivating leadership skills: Through this project, we want to help participants develop skills in leadership, collaboration, and knowledge sharing that can be used within and beyond the Wikimedia movement.
Through this key areas, we can shape a more inclusive, impactful, and sustainable Wikimedia initiative and these insights will not only strengthen the current project but also lay a guide for future projects, helping us create a more supportive environment for contributors and ensuring voices of youth and underrepresented communities grow and thrive within the Wikimedia movement.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 140 | 35 participants each from the 4 participating wiki communities
New Editors: 15 Existing Editors: 20 |
| Number of editors | 140 | 35 participants each from the 4 participating wiki communities
New Editors: 15 Existing Editors: 20 |
| Number of organizers | 5 | One project lead, four local organizers, and co-facilitators. |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 800 |
| Wikimedia Commons | |
| Wikidata | 250 |
| 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)
Outreach Dashboard Monitors: User's edits, newly created articles, and activity of all participants. Purpose: Evaluate engagement levels and overall productivity throughout the event.
Global Contribution Tracking Monitors: Total contributions made across various Wikimedia platforms. Purpose: Provides insight into the wider impact of participants’ efforts.
Hashtag tracking (#WikivibranceIYD2025): Monitors: Edits and content improvements linked to the hashtag. Purpose: Participants will include this hashtag in their edit summaries, enabling easy tracking and measuring of contributions specific to the project.
Together, these tools will offer a well-rounded evaluation of the project's overall reach and effectiveness.
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CJmboNNSgYBCbjIqAN2aMhe_2TD-Z2MPKSXEJwz5S_k/edit?gid=0#gid=0
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
6204784 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.
3867 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).