Grants:Wikimedia UG Nigeria Grants/Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Community Support Fund/Wiki Loves Earth Gombe: Capturing Nature for Future Generations

Project summary

Briefly summarize your project proposal.

Wiki Loves Earth Gombe: Capturing Nature for Future Generations is a community-driven initiative aimed at documenting and promoting the rich natural heritage of Gombe State through Wikimedia projects. The project seeks to engage photographers, students, environmental enthusiasts, and Wikimedia volunteers in capturing high-quality images of Gombe's natural landscapes, rivers, hills, forests, wetlands, wildlife, and other significant natural sites. Despite Gombe State's rich biodiversity and beautiful natural environment, many of its natural landmarks remain underrepresented on Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia. This project will bridge that gap by organizing awareness campaigns, photography expeditions, and edit-a-thons that encourage participants to upload freely licensed images to Wikimedia Commons and improve related Wikipedia articles. Participants will receive training on photography, Wikimedia Commons, copyright and free licensing, image categorization, and best practices for contributing to Wikimedia projects. Through these activities, the project will create a sustainable community of contributors committed to documenting and preserving Gombe's natural heritage for education, research, tourism, and environmental conservation. By increasing the availability of freely accessible images and information about Gombe's natural environment, the project will contribute to global knowledge while inspiring greater appreciation and protection of the state's unique ecosystems for future generations.

Wikimedia Project

Please state the Wikimedia project your project will focus majorly on (e.g. Tyap Wikipedia, English Wikiquote, etc). It is advisable to focus on one Wikimedia project, but a maximum of two projects is allowed.

Wikicommons

Contact person and Location

Please state the contact details of the contact person(s) for this project including email(s) and location. For more than one contact person, indicate same details for everyone

Full name: Abdurrashid Muhammad Mahdi
Email address: abdurrashidmuhammadmahdi@gmail.com
Address: Gombe State,gombe
Location of Project: Gombe state, Nigeria

Project class

Please state if you are applying as an individual or a network/club

Individual

Timeline of activities

Please state the timeline of your activities, and include the start and end date for your project

1 july 2027

Project Goal

Choose one or more of the following goals. Feel free to add or delete goals as required by your project.

recruit new editors
Add or improve content

Project Plan

Activities

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 are doing photo work, training and editathon sessions

2. How have you let relevant Wikimedia communities know about this proposal? You may also provide information about external social media channels you may be using.

The Wikimedia UG Nigeria will be notified on on Whatsapp. Furthermore, the WhatsApp group will also be used for continuous engagement for sustainability of the initiative.

3. How will you let participants know about the edit-a-thon? In what ways will you be communicating with them?
For example, these can include on-wiki spaces, social media channels, mailing lists, messaging apps, or physical/online gatherings.

There will be an an open call for participation, using social media platforms and students broadcast channel will be utilized to target specific and wide range coverage and awareness about the project

4. Do you have experienced Wikimedia editors to lead/assist the event? Please provide links to the usernames of these individuals. (NOTE: all experienced Wikimedia editors MUST endorse and sign your proposal as proof of availability)
For example: User:Kaizenify

User:Abdulmadeee1010serves as the Project Lead and is a certified Wikimedian trainer with strong experience in managing projects and promoting innovative initiatives that support community growth and development. He is also an experienced Wikipedia editor, widely recognized within the Wikimedia community for his valuable contributions. In addition, he is the winner of Wiki Loves Ramadan 2026.

User:Uskeone is an active Wikimedia contributor with global editing experience across multiple Wikimedia projects. They have made several contributions including article creation, content improvement, and routine maintenance edits. Their activity shows consistent engagement in collaborative knowledge development and familiarity with Wikimedia editing tools and practices.

5. Do participants have the equipment or skills needed to participate and contribute high quality content? If not, how will you support them?

Some of the participants may not have the skills needed to contribute high-quality content. To address this, we will provide support and trainings to enhance their skills.

6. How will you engage participants after the event(s)?

Post training evaluation using Google forms will be conducted to measure impact and learning which will form strategy for future engagement. The project’s WhatsApp group will serve as a venue for continuous engagement and communication.

7. Is there anything else you want to tell us about this project?

This project aims to preserve Gombe State's natural heritage for future generations by documenting its landscapes, ecosystems, rivers, hills, forests, wetlands, wildlife, and other natural sites through Wikimedia Commons. It seeks to increase the availability of freely licensed, reliable, and accessible visual content and information about Gombe's natural environment across Wikimedia platforms. The project will engage and train local photographers, environmental enthusiasts, students, and Wikimedia contributors in open knowledge, digital documentation, photography, and structured data creation. By showcasing Gombe's rich natural heritage to a global audience, the initiative will promote environmental awareness, support conservation efforts, and encourage greater appreciation of the state's unique biodiversity and natural landscapes.

Impact

How will you know if the project is successful and you've met your goals? Please include the following targets (only those applicable to your project):

Number of events - 2
Number of participants - 20
Number of new editors -
Number of of articles created -
Number of of articles improved - 10
Number of of images uploaded -200
Number of repeat participants (for projects that include a series of events) -

Metrics tracking

How do you plan to track your project metrics? (do not create a metrics dashboard until your project has been approved for funding)

We plan to track the project metrics by using the Programs & Events Dashboard and the Meta-Wiki project page to monitor and measure participants’ contributions throughout the edit-a-thon

Contest & prize-giving events

How would decide the winners of your contest (If you are going to have a contest, what is your scoring criteria)

Photographs will be assessed by a panel comprising experienced international Wikipedians, professional photographers, and subject experts. The evaluation will follow established photographic principles alongside Wikimedia community guidelines.

1st Prize: 20,000
2nd prize: 15,000
3rd Prize: 10,000

Resources

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).

Trainers & Facilitators
Judging Panel
Laptop and Smartphones for training
Communication Channels:

What resources do you need? For your funding request, list bullet points for each expense as a unit amount and include a total amount.

Revised budget:

Training Venue & Logistics Support: ₦30,000
Alternative Power Supply (Fuel): ₦30,000
Renting of Projector and Stand: ₦15,000
Graphics Design: ₦10,000
Facilitator: ₦20,000
Light Refreshment (2 days @ ₦40,000 per day): ₦100,000
Transportation Support (₦1,000 × 20 participants × 2 days): ₦40,000
Communication Expenses (Project Lead): ₦15,000
Data Expenses (2 days): ₦40,000
Banner Production: ₦30,000
Prizes: ₦45,000
TOTAL: ₦345,000

Endorsements

Community members are encouraged to endorse your project request here!

Endorsements from Uskeone

I strongly endorse the Wiki Loves Earth Gombe: Capturing Nature for Future Generations project. This initiative is a valuable contribution toward documenting and preserving Gombe State’s rich natural heritage on Wikimedia Commons. It will not only increase high-quality free knowledge content but also empower local participants, especially young people, with photography and digital contribution skills. The project aligns with Wikimedia’s mission of making knowledge freely accessible and promoting environmental awareness. I fully support its approval and successful implementation.User:Uskeone

Endorsement from User: Ukkh2

Strong support I strongly endorse this proposal as it aligns with the goals of improving free knowledge, promoting environmental documentation, and strengthening local Wikimedia capacity. The project will significantly contribute to the visibility of natural heritage in Gombe State while empowering community members with valuable digital and Wikimedia skills.User: Ukkh2

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