Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Wikimedians of Republic of Srpska/One-Year General Support Grant/2022-2023/Final Report
Report Status: Accepted
Due date: 2023-07-31T00:00:00Z
Funding program: Wikimedia Community Fund
Report type: Final
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General information[edit]
This form is for organizations, groups, or individuals receiving Wikimedia Community Funds or Wikimedia Alliances Funds to report on their final results. See the midpoint report if you want to review the midpoint results.
- Name of Organization: Wikimedians of Republic of Srpska
- Title of Proposal: Wikimedians of Republic of Srpska/One-Year General Support Grant/2022-2023
- Amount awarded: 38895.82 USD, 36343.76 EUR
- Amount spent: 36343.76 EUR
Part 1 Understanding your work[edit]
1. Briefly describe how your proposed activities and strategies were implemented.
The annual activities of the Wikimedia community of the Republic of Srpska planned for the indicated period, were successfully implemented in accordance with the annual work plan. The activities were realized through three programs: Edu Wiki, GLAM, and community activities. During this year, the projects were led by individuals - members of the Organizational Team, who reached the required level of training and thus acquired the appropriate level of autonomy. It was also the most significant challenge and test for our community and members and what marked the designated working year. Of course, everything was realized with the control and suggestive work of mentors - more experienced project managers.
2. Were there any strategies or approaches that you felt were effective in achieving your goals?
In addition to the defined work strategy and business model, which have proved to be good in experience and which the community has adhered to in its work, during the indicated period, the emphasis was on the independence of project managers. In order for the community to work more efficiently and slowly increase the number of projects, it was necessary to ensure a greater degree of independence for the members who managed individual projects. The managers and their mentors took on projects that were planned in accordance with their wishes and the current level of competence for independent work. Within the above, the main and most effective strategy was, given that it is about volunteer work, giving sufficient freedom and space to the new project managers and ensuring a positive and pleasant atmosphere for work.
3. Would you say that your project had any innovations? Are there things that you did very differently than you have seen them done by others?
During the indicated period, we tried to strengthen the system of vertical and horizontal integration between projects, as well as to open up more to regional cooperation. For the first time this year, our local conference was organized at the regional level and among the participants and lecturers there were also guests from FBiH, Serbia and Montenegro.
4. Please describe how different communities participated and/or were informed about your work.
In addition to the Wiki portal and announcements on the Wikipedia Community portal and site notice, communities were communicated with, in accordance with needs, through mailing lists, individual emails, announcements on the website, blog and pages on social networks. For the needs of faster communication, during the duration of the event, groups were created on Telegram and Viber, of course in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Participant Data. During the indicated working year, of the cooperation with all non-Wiki communities, the cooperation with the Aachen Network, and the theaters it brings together was especially interesting. Also, in addition to the standard Edu and GLAM institutions, a large number of organizations of different interest spectrum were involved in the cooperation. For example, one of them is the Meridian Sport news agency, with which a partnership was established last year and thanks to which the most exclusive materials related to sports in BiH, in all categories, are sent to the Wikimedia archive.
5. Documentation of your impact. Please use the two spaces below to share files and links that help tell your story and impact. This can be documentation that shows your results through testimonies, videos, sound files, images (photos and infographics, etc.) social media posts, dashboards, etc.
- Upload Documents and Files
- Here is an additional field to type in URLs.
- GLAM: Bina mira story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKDJfuHAhB0&t=53s
6. To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding the work carried out with the support of this Fund? You can choose “not applicable” if your work does not relate to these goals.
| A. Bring in participants from underrepresented groups | 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 | Neither agree nor disagree |
| 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 |
7. Is there anything else you would like to share about how your efforts helped to bring in participants and/or build out content, particularly for underrepresented groups?
The community, in cooperation with Wikimedia Serbia, organized two actions in writing articles dedicated to Roma and refugees. In addition, in cooperation with 17 theaters, 8 workshops were held with actors, where content was created about theater art as an underrepresented topic on Wikipedia in the Serbian language. Also, the mentioned contents were created in several languages, because the participants were given the freedom to edit in their own language. It was about Serbian, Bosnian, English and German languages.
Part 2: Your main learning[edit]
8. In your application, you outlined your learning priorities. What did you learn about these areas during this period?
Our learning priorities were in most cases aimed at improving the quality and quantity of content, as well as increasing the number of participants and GLAM and Edu institutions involved in work and cooperation. Experience has shown that thematically focused workshops and edit-a-thons, as well as competitions and actions in writing articles, are the most efficient type of activity for achieving the mentioned goals. As for institutional cooperation, we have seen more effective work of editors during continuous, related work and training. New editors need time to acquire knowledge and skills related to the use of Wiki tools, so multi-day activities and a methodical approach to training ensure the creation of new, motivated editors who, in that case, continue to edit Wiki projects and very often approach the community itself with the desire to work in the Wiki environment. As for content creation by existing editors, thematic contests and edit-a-thons have proven to be the most effective way to secure participants and get the desired content in accordance with the topic selection. Of course, the symbolic awards for the best editors proved to be very motivating for the participants in this type of activity.
9. Did anything unexpected or surprising happen when implementing your activities?
No, everything went well, according to the annual plan. As part of the Edu Wiki program, the Wiki Semester project was extended due to exam deadlines and Faculty Day celebrations, but this did not affect the final results and organization of the work. We have adapted to the faculties and the dates that correspond to their work calendar.
10. How do you hope to use this learning? For instance, do you have any new priorities, ideas for activities, or goals for the future?
In future projects, we plan to focus and leave room for multi-day activities, in programs where it is feasible. For example, the organization of the Edu camp and the like.
11. If you were sitting with a friend to tell them one thing about your work during this fund, what would it be (think of inspiring or fascinating moments, tough challenges, interesting anecdotes, or anything that feels important to you)?
The most challenging project during the designated working year for us was the organization and realization of the Edu Wiki conference for professors. For the first time at the event, we had participants "trolls" who are university professors and who do not have a favorable view of Wikipedia and who are exclusive in their views. The realization of this project was one of the biggest challenges for us so far, because it was a real art, in addition to the teaching part and training, to maintain a positive atmosphere among the participants and in a decent way to channel the negative comments and debates that they were trying to provoke. The feedback from the other participants was very positive and it is an indication that we managed to do this job well.
12. Please share resources that would be useful to share with other Wikimedia organizations so that they can learn from, adapt or build upon your work. For instance, guides, training material, presentations, work processes, or any other material the team has created to document and transfer knowledge about your work and can be useful for others. Please share any specific resources that you are creating, adapting/contextualizing in ways that are unique to your context (i.e. training material).
- Upload Documents and Files
- Here is an additional field to type in URLs.
- Wiki ambassador: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Viki_ambasador_u_Republici_Srpskoj_2023
Edu Wiki seminar: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Edu_Viki_seminar_za_profesore_2023 Wiki Women Republic of Srpska 2023: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Wiki_Women_Republic_of_Srpska_2023
Part 3: Metrics[edit]
13a. Open and additional metrics data
| Open Metrics | Description | Target | Results | Comments | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | The number of participants who attend events, programs and activities online or in person, in GLAM, Education and Community all together, including new participants and returning participants. | 630 | 613 | The total number of. | Manually collected data. |
| Number of editors | The number of new registered participants in GLAM, Education and Community programs, all together. | 200 | 200 | In total. | Manually collected data. |
| Number of organizers | Organizers and other outreach liaisons for GLAM, Education and Community programs, all together. | 54 | 51 | In total. | Manually collected data. |
| Number of activities | The number of events in all our programs. | 75 | 75 | The total number of. | Manually collected data. |
| ' | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Additional Metrics | Description | Target | Results | Comments | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of editors that continue to participate/retained after activities | Number of editors that continue to participate after activities. | 100 | 100 | In total. | Manually collected data. |
| Number of organizers that continue to participate/retained after activities | The number of organizers that continue to participate. | 20 | 15 | In total. | Manually collected data. |
| Number of strategic partnerships that contribute to longer term growth, diversity and sustainability | Number of institutions with which cooperation will continue. | 40 | 40 | In total. | Manually collected data. |
| Feedback from participants on effective strategies for attracting and retaining contributors | Feedback from participants. | 100 | 100 | In total. | A survey. |
| Diversity of participants brought in by grantees | N/A | 20 | 30 | In total. Manually collected data. | Manually collected data. |
| Number of people reached through social media publications | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Number of activities developed | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Number of volunteer hours | N/A | 15000 | 15000 | In total. | Manually collected data. |
13b. Additional core metrics data.
| Core metrics | Description | Target | Results | Comments | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | N/A | ||||
| Number of editors | N/A | ||||
| Number of organizers | N/A |
| Wikimedia Project | Description | Target | Results | Comments | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Number of content pages improved or created. | 1660 | 1540 | Total. | Manually collected data. |
| Wikimedia Commons | Number of upoladed photos. | 3450 | 3400 | Total. | Manually collected data. |
| 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 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
14. Were there any metrics in your proposal that you could not collect or that you had to change?
No
15. If you have any difficulties collecting data to measure your results, please describe and add any recommendations on how to address them in the future.
No.
16. Use this space to link or upload any additional documents that would be useful to understand your data collection (e.g., dashboards, surveys you have carried out, communications material, training material, etc).
- Upload Documents and Files
- Here is an additional field to type in URLs.
- N/A
Part 4: Organizational capacities & partnerships[edit]
17. Organizational Capacity
| A. Financial capacity and management | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| B. Conflict management or transformation | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| C. Leadership (i.e growing in potential leaders, leadership that fit organizational needs and values) | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| D. Partnership building | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| E. Strategic planning | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| F. Program design, implementation, and management | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| G. Scoping and testing new approaches, innovation | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| H. Recruiting new contributors (volunteer) | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| I. Support and growth path for different types of contributors (volunteers) | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| J. Governance | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| K. Communications, marketing, and social media | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| L. Staffing - hiring, monitoring, supporting in the areas needed for program implementation and sustainability | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| M. On-wiki technical skills | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| N. Accessing and using data | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| O. Evaluating and learning from our work | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| P. Communicating and sharing what we learn with our peers and other stakeholders | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| N/A | |
| N/A |
17a. Which of the following factors most helped you to build capacities? Please pick a MAXIMUM of the three most relevant factors.
Formal training provided by a Wikimedia Movement organizing group (i.e., Affiliates, Grantees, Regional or Thematic Hub, etc.), Peer to peer learning with other community members in conferences/events, Peer to peer learning with other community members in community/ies of practice* (structured and continuous learning and sharing spaces)
17b. Which of the following factors hindered your ability to build capacities? Please pick a MAXIMUM of the three most relevant factors.
Lack of knowledge of available capacity building opportunities, Lack of volunteer time to participate in capacity building/training, Lack of financial resources
18. Is there anything else you would like to share about how your organizational capacity has grown, and areas where you require support?
N/A
19. Partnerships over the funding period.
| A. We built strategic partnerships with other institutions or groups that will help us grow in the medium term (3 year time frame) | Strongly agree |
| B. The partnerships we built with other institutions or groups helped to bring in more contributors from underrepresented groups | Strongly agree |
| C. The partnerships we built with other institutions or groups helped to build out more content on underrepresented topics/groups | Strongly agree |
19a. Which of the following factors most helped you to build partnerships? Please pick a MAXIMUM of the three most relevant factors.
Board members’ outreach, Volunteers from our communities
19b. Which of the following factors hindered your ability to build partnerships? Please pick a MAXIMUM of the three most relevant factors.
Local policies or other legal factors
20. Please share your learning about strategies to build partnerships with other institutions and groups and any other learning about working with partners?
When establishing cooperation with targeted institutions, we try to emphasize in the presentation itself and during negotiations the benefits that the institution receives from cooperation with us. This implies taking advantage of the multidisciplinarity of Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects and placing them in the center according to the type of institution. Regarding the maintenance of partnerships, a professional relationship and respect of the contract in detail is our good recipe for continuing cooperation with old partners.
Part 5: Sense of belonging and collaboration[edit]
21. What would it mean for your organization to feel a sense of belonging to the Wikimedia or free knowledge movement?
For us, this means logistical and financial support to the WMF, the willingness and openness of our officers and WMF staff in general to provide advice and advisory assistance when needed, which has always been the case until now. Also, cooperation with other branches and openness in sharing knowledge and experience gives us a strong feeling of belonging to the movement.
22. How has your (for individual grantees) or your group/organization’s (for organizational grantees) sense of belonging to the Wikimedia or free knowledge movement changed over the fund period?
Somewhat increased
23. If you would like to, please share why it has changed in this way.
It hasn't changed much since the first day of starting the organization, we have always had the necessary support. What could be highlighted as important for the indicated period is the increase in the number of partners of Wiki organizations, as well as the increase in the budget within which project managers and implementers are symbolically motivated. This had a positive effect on raising the motivation to work among the members.
24. How has your group/organization’s sense of personal investment in the Wikimedia or free knowledge movement changed over the fund period?
Somewhat increased
25. If you would like to, please share why it has changed in this way.
Although we have always had the support of all the aforementioned, it seems that the new officers have more listening and understanding for the functioning and needs of smaller communities, as well as for the environment and conditions in which they function. In addition to important suggestions, it is also very important for us to value and respect our work and efforts, which is exactly what we are encountering in the Wikimedia movement. It is very important for the community and individual members. The members are very encouraged and motivated for further work and raising their work and responsibilities to a higher level because the proposal for registering the organization and getting the first employees was approved and supported.
26. Are there other movements besides the Wikimedia or free knowledge movement that play a central role in your motivation to contribute to Wikimedia projects? (for example, Black Lives Matter, Feminist movement, Climate Justice, or other activism spaces) If so, please describe it below.
In addition to the goals of the Wikimedia movement, we are especially motivated by projects aimed at overcoming the gender gap - Wiki Women in Republic of Srpska, Wiki gap and the like. Also, since our organization has many members who are professors, it strongly motivates the improvement of the educational system through Wikimedia projects and the use of Wiki tools in teaching.
Supporting Peer Learning and Collaboration[edit]
We are interested in better supporting peer learning and collaboration in the movement.
27. Have you shared these results with Wikimedia affiliates or community members?
Yes
27a. Please describe how you have already shared them. Would you like to do more sharing, and if so how?
The community works diligently to report and communicate with the local community as well as Wiki organizations. Depending on the project being worked on - from once a day to several times a week.
28. How often do you currently share what you have learned with other Wikimedia Foundation grantees, and learn from them?
We do this regularly (at least once a month)
29. How does your organization currently share mutual learning with other grantees?
Via website, blog, social networks, mailing lists, Meta and Wiki pages.
Part 6: Financial reporting and compliance[edit]
30. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency.
36343.76
31. Local currency type
EUR
32. Please report the funds received and spending in the currency of your fund.
- Upload Documents, Templates, and Files.
- Report funds received and spent, if template not used.
- BA-SRP/2022-2023/Expenses: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1THnmCAbWoGZ8ukIfqaAfE3oF1S3_zCnMNWrRudECG8Q/edit?usp=sharing
33. If you have not already done so in your budget report, please provide information on changes in the budget in relation to your original proposal.
N/A
34. Do you have any unspent funds from the Fund?
34a. Please list the amount and currency you did not use and explain why.
N/A
34b. What are you planning to do with the underspent funds?
N/A
34c. Please provide details of hope to spend these funds.
N/A
35. Are you in compliance with the terms outlined in the fund agreement?
As required in the fund agreement, please report any deviations from your fund proposal here. Note that, among other things, any changes must be consistent with our WMF mission, must be for charitable purposes as defined in the grant agreement, and must otherwise comply with the grant agreement.
36. Are you in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations as outlined in the grant agreement?
Yes
37. 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
38. If you have additional recommendations or reflections that don’t fit into the above sections, please write them here.