Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Youth Wiki Clubs in Nigeria (ID: 23654170)
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)
Ridzaina
- 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.
Youth Wiki Clubs in Nigeria
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2026-01-16 - 2026-04-30
- 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)
Problem we are trying to address: The Wikimedia Foundation has presented key global trends that underscore the urgency of building a multigenerational movement. This requires mobilising younger generations to play key roles on our projects —from contributing to taking on more advanced on-Wiki roles —and to organise roles within the Movement ecosystem. Furthermore, global trends show that people who contribute online do so for meaningful connections.
The results of the international youth conference show that youth are eager to participate in the movement but face barriers, such as a lack of welcoming spaces, mentoring, and contribution pathways that are supported and fun for them. They also want to build skills that are useful in their professional and personal lives. Furthermore, youth participants at the conference acknowledged the low representation of youth from the SSA region and expressed their intention to build an active network of young Wikimedians to grow their leadership in the Movement and attract more contributors.
Different communities in Sub-Saharan Africa have mobilised youth through partnerships in schools and universities. Some of these clubs/groups have been active but require a more structured and engaging approach for them to be more active on and off Wiki. Introducing new and proven methodologies can support this process and create a sense of community and a youth network in the region.
To address some of these challenges. Youth Wiki Clubs methodology is a pilot programme that will be developed in 3 countries - Rwanda, Tanzania, and Nigeria. This program will use youth mobilisation methods applied to STEAM education that have proved successful outside of the Wikimedia context and can be adapted to our Movement.
The change we want:
To test a scalable methodology to enhance youth participation on Wikimedia. This participation will hopefully lead to actual growth in content and in the number of youth contributors. It will also strengthen key 21st-century skills, such as collaborative leadership, assertive communication, and problem-solving, which are relevant to both on- and off-Wikimedia work.
The clubs will initially target young people between 18 -25 years old, in their final years of school and at university. It may also include young people who are not yet studying but are associated with youth organisations.
This methodology will build a support network of mentors and trainers for youth mobilisation, scalable within a country or across the region at cost-effective rates.
As a pilot, quick testing, adapting, and learning will be key.
- 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 pilot programme will be implemented in two phases, with this proposal focused on Phase 1 (January–April). The goal is to test and refine the Youth Wiki Clubs methodology across participating universities in Nigeria.
Preparatory activities will begin in December, including the selection and onboarding of the project coordinator, country lead, and trainers.
In January, the focus will be on setting up and onboarding participating clubs and training mentors who will guide the youth participants.
By February, the project will officially kick off with a virtual launch event involving all participating youth clubs. The first Wiki Challenge will be introduced, engaging youth in structured learning and content creation activities.
Throughout March, a series of activities will take place — including the evaluation of the first challenge, online training sessions for the next challenges, and face-to-face visits to provide in-person mentorship and support. Additional challenges will be launched, and rankings will be shared to maintain motivation and learning momentum.
The phase will conclude at the end of March with a learning and evaluation session involving mentors and trainers to assess progress, gather feedback, and document lessons learned. The findings will inform the planning and potential continuation into Phase 2.
You can also find the project timeline here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lemmEd-UqdbOu1E-8Il5QLqPTEQ7P-Ni2e9HOftD9cI/edit?usp=drivesdk
- 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.
Ridzaina (Project Lead): is a Wikimedia volunteer from Nigeria. She has served in some volunteer roles which include as a member of the WUGN Grants Committee for the Community Support Funds as a representative of the North Central Region of Nigeria, as the General Secretary of the Wikimedia Fanclub, University of Ilorin for the academic session of 21/22, as a representative of Sud-Saharan Africa on the WikiWomen* Task Force and the Global Resource Distribution Committee (GRDC). She was also the project lead for the Let's Connect Peer Learning Program in Kwara and Celebrating Nigeria's Indigenous Identity on Wikimedia and has facilitated some Wikimedia projects which include Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom programs for teachers and secondary school students in Kwara State, 1lib1ref Kwara 2022, Wikidata for Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria, Wikidata for Novels and and Novelists in Nigeria, WikiLovesLibraries Nigeria, Promoting Nigerian Books and Authors, Celtic Knot Kwara, Building Open Culture Community for Sustainable Open Licensing for GLAM Institutions in Nigeria, and more. She has also participated in various Wikimedia projects and won several contests such as Wiki Loves SDG's Contest 2021, Wikidata for Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria, Afro Creatives 2022 contest, etc. She is a trained educator who is passionate about learning and sharing knowledge. Ridzaina will oversee the coordination of this project in Nigeria and will coordinate with the mentors of each Fanclub regularly to facilitate the participation of the clubs.
Linason Blessing (Facilitator): She is a Certified Librarian, she has participated in various Wikimedia projects such as WikiLoveAfrica, WPWP, Co-lead WikiCred for information Literacy in Nigeria, WikiGLAM Awareness for Libraries, She led the Wikipedia awareness for Library and Information Science Students in Nigeria and led the Wiki Loves Libraries 2.0 in Nigeria, she is part of the communication team for the Inspire Inclusion Campaign for the Africa Wiki Women. As part of this project, she will be one of the facilitators for the sessions.
Muze'n (Facilitator): is a Wikimedia volunteer from Nigeria. She has served as the Content designer at the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria. As a volunteer, she was the project lead for the Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom programs for secondary school students in Kwara State, Promoting Nigerian Books and Authors, and Wikidata for Novels and Novelists in Nigeria among others, she has also served a facilitator for Wikidata for Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria, AfroCreatives 2022 contest, WikiLovesLibraries Nigeria, Celtic Knot Kwara, Building Open Culture Community for Sustainable Open Licensing for GLAM Institutions in Nigeria, and more. She has also participated in various Wikimedia projects and won several contests such as Wiki Loves SDG's Contest 2021.
- 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 are young people aged 18 to 25, primarily university students in their final years of study. In Nigeria, we will be working with five Wikimedia User Group Nigeria (WUGN) fan clubs based in the following universities: University of Ibadan University of Ilorin Lagos State University (LASU) Kwara State University Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
These fan clubs are recognised associations within their respective institutions and are coordinated by experienced members appointed by the WUGN leadership. In addition to the youth participants, lecturers connected to these institutions will serve as support mentors to guide and sustain the clubs’ activities.
How we will engage participants before and during the activities:
Before the activities, we will collaborate with the leadership of the existing fan clubs to introduce the Youth Wiki Clubs methodology, explain the project objectives, and align expectations.
During the awareness sessions, we will onboard 10 participants in each institution. These participants will take part in structured sessions designed to help them understand Wikimedia projects, the Youth Wiki Clubs model, and their roles within the pilot programme. Activities will focus on practical Wikimedia engagement, skill-building sessions, and the application of STEAM-inspired learning approaches to make participation interactive and meaningful.
Support mentors will be present throughout to guide participants and ensure effective learning and collaboration.
How we will follow up with participants after the activities: After the activities, engagement will continue through: Regular communication channels (e.g., WhatsApp or Telegram groups) to share updates, resources, and feedback.
Mentor follow-up, where lecturers and experienced Wikimedians support participants in applying what they learned and contributing actively on Wikimedia projects.
Periodic progress check-ins to evaluate learning outcomes, gather feedback, and document lessons that will inform the scaling of the Youth Wiki Clubs methodology.
This follow-up approach will help maintain participation, strengthen mentorship structures, and ensure the sustainability of the clubs beyond the pilot phase.
- 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.
The General friendly space policy for Wikimedia events will be summarised and read at the beginning of each event to remind the participants and the organisers of the importance of a friendly space policy. In addendum, we will make the following 24 hours phone numbers available throughout the events; The organisers, Local venue security, Local law enforcement, Local sexual assault hotline, Local emergency and non-emergency medical services, and Local taxi company will be available
- 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.
I have informed the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria community here: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_User_Group_Nigeria#Youth_Wiki_Clubs_in_Nigeria and also discussed with the president of the user group.
- 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)
Other Important Topics (topics considered to be of impact or important in the specific context)
- 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)
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)
Learning questions: Does this methodology work to motivate youth to contribute more actively on Wiki Does this methodology work to bring in new contributors? Does this methodology prove to build key Wiki skills through a hybrid learning approach? Does this methodology work to build other digital and soft skills that youth value?
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 50 | At least 5 clubs with up to 10 participants per club including at least 40% female. |
| Number of editors | 50 | |
| Number of organizers | 8 | 5 mentors (1 per club) and 3 project team members |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 10 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 50 |
| Wikidata | 100 |
| 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)
We will use the Wikimedia programs and events dashboard to track the metrics.
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)
6750000 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.
4639.42 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).