Grants:Project/Rapid/Afrocreation
Our mission is to help South Africa take back control of its historical narrative by writing their own history for the world to see on Wiki. We aim to transform schools from knowledge consumers to knowledge producers.
Project Goals[edit]
- Train educators and students to edit Wikipedia
- Create awarness of WP in the schools
- Add or improve content
- Translate content into indigenous languages
- Create community amongst teachers which shares best practice
Project Plan[edit]
Activities[edit]
Tell us how you'll carry out your project. Be sure to answer the following questions:
1. Are you doing one editathon or training or a series of editathons or trainings?
We will be running a large scale editathon and a series of trainings high school teachers and students in partnership with local schools, Wikimedians, and Constitutional Court of South Africa.
2. How will you let your community know about the event? Please paste links below to where relevant communities have been notified of your proposal, and to any other relevant community discussions.
As our partner, Constitution Hill Trust will source a South African media agency to support social media communications. We will also disseminate news through networks of our operational partners such as BRIDGE, PFP, Future Nations, Afrikatikkun, Harambee and others. We shall also use our respective websites, and local posters.
3. Do you have experienced Wikimedia editors to lead the event?
The Wikimedia ZA chapter endorsed this project, after we were in contact with Douglas Scott, Bobby Shabangu and Dumisani and has committed to helping delivering the event, and intend to send as many editors as possible. We have already collaborated before successfully to deliver a similar event in 2018 which is featured on the Wikimedia Foundation blog here: https://wikimediafoundation.org/2019/01/29/wikiafrica-education-initiative-teaches-south-african-students-to-decolonise-the-internet-with-wikipedia/.
4. Do participants have the equipment or skills needed to participate and contribute high quality content? If not, how will you support them?
We have approximately 100 laptops that will be on loan from Hurambee. Also, we have teacher training experts on-hand to support a top-class learning environment.
5. How will you engage participants after the event(s)?
We will help establish a community of sharing best practice amongst the teachers. Enthusiastic students will be invited to attend. Participants of the editathon will also be made aware of the Wikimedia community should they wish to join and draw support from them. Booklets and flyers will be available so students can also be ambassadors in their schools.
6. Is there anything else you want to tell us about this project?
Our mission is to help South Africa take back control of its historical narrative by writing their own history for the world to see on Wiki. This way, they will become active knowledge producers, and increase indigenous language content available on Wiki. There will be particular focus on themes of justice, freedom, and the South African constitution.
Impact[edit]
How will you know if the project is successful and you've met your goals? Please include the following targets:
- Number of events: 5 (1 editathon, 4 Community of Practice workshops)
- Number of participants: 200
- Number of new editors: 20-100
- Number of of articles created or improved: 100
- Number of repeat participants (for projects that include a series of events): TBA
Resources[edit]
What resources do you have? Include information on who is organizing the project, what they will do, and if you will receive support from anywhere else (in-kind donations or additional funding).
Our Wikimedian volunteers from the ZA chapter are very active in organizing the organizing off-wiki activities, and planning the agenda for the meetups. BRIDGE, Constitution Hill and other partners are also deeply involved in all planning. A project manager is coordinating all activities. We would like to involve at least 1-2 more Wikimedians for ongoing training workshops in Johannesburg and to help spread the work around. We also want to invite Wikimedians from elsewhere in South Africa and the region to attend the edit-a-thon event no October 5th. We have received funding from Moleskine Company, Afrikattikun, and are finalizing arrangements with other donors.
What resources do you need? For your funding request, list bullet points for each expense and include a total amount.
- Mostly, we need resources for transportation and accommodation for the supporting Wikipedians to travel from the surrounding areas of South Africa to the editathon event in Johannesbourg. 10 Wikimedians x $200 return flights from surrounding areas in SA [this will be used for airplane fare, and cost of transfers to/from airport.] Total: $2000 USD
Endorsements[edit]
Community members are encouraged to endorse your project request here!
Strong support Frieda (talk) 08:39, 9 July 2019 (UTC)
Support I support this project because WikimediaZA has collaborated with Moleskin Foundation in the teacher training workshop in the past and we are still working with them towards achieving the goals mentioned in this application. The funds will come as a great relief. Bobbyshabangu (talk) 10:30, 15 July 2019 (UTC)- Support, I also support this project. Wikimedia ZA is very supportive of this sort of education outreach in South Africa.--Discott (talk)
- Support, Looks useful. This should contribute towards reducing a known diversity gap. · · · Peter (Southwood) (talk): 04:34, 16 July 2019 (UTC)
- I fully support the project because of the impact it would create in many communities as far as sharing free knowledge and transferring skills in concerned 102.130.16.253 14:29, 15 July 2019 (UTC)
