Grants talk:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Levantine environment (ID: 23094448)

Regarding your rapid grant application

Dear @Cestsalam

Thank you very much for applying for your first rapid grant application. It is great to see new organizers in the region with support from seasoned Wikimedians.

Before reaching a final decision, we were hoping to receive clarity on the following points:

• May you please clarify why you have chosen Azraq Wetlands and Black Iris Farm specifically for the photowalks? What will they document additionally to what already exists on Wikimedia Commons? Is there specific content that has not been uploaded yet to Wikimedia projects and how will the uploaded content tie to other knowledge on Wikimedia projects?
• You share in your metrics that you plan on contributing 200 new Wikipedia articles. How have you determined this amount? And how did you measure the existing and relevant content gap on this topic?
• While we understand the current financial constraint with Wikimedians of the Levant, we see that applying for a rapid grant to supplement the General Support grant may be counterproductive to the idea of conducting priority projects that are focused on the topics of impact. Could you share how you have identified this as a priority topic that cannot be funded by the existing general support grant?
• We typically ask for community support before the grant decision and not after. It would be great if you can showcase community buy-in for this project to ensure its success.
• How will you engage newcomers in this project and ensure that they are coming from diverse backgrounds, possibly outside of the Wikimedia movement?
• May you please clarify why there is an honorarium for the three photographers who are joining the photowalk? This may not be in line with the volunteer spirit of the Wikimedia movement
• Finally, I would like to remind you that personnel receiving compensation from a General Support grant are ineligible to receive funding (even as organizer compensation or administrative support) from a Rapid Grant  

Thank you very much in advance for responding to the above comments and please share these by Sunday, June 1.

On behalf of the WMF Community Resources team,

Farida FElgueretly-WMF (talk) 09:54, 26 May 2025 (UTC)

Hello Farida, hope all is well.

I am very glad for having the opportunity to be able to answer your questions.

1.We chose Azraq Wetlands and Black Iris Farm because these are unique and ecologically rich locations in Jordan that remain largely unknown not only globally but even to many Jordanians themselves. These sites are underrepresented on Wikimedia projects, particularly Wikimedia Commons, and we found limited high-quality, freely licensed media documenting their biodiversity, ecological systems, and cultural relevance.

Our photo walks will focus primarily on contributing new, original photos to Wikimedia Commons, helping close the visual content gap related to Jordan’s natural heritage. This includes rare plant species, migratory birds, sustainable farming practices, and the interaction between humans and nature in these regions. We’ve check Commons content and found that much of what’s available is either outdated, low-quality, or lacks appropriate categorization. The uploaded content will be carefully categorized and linked to relevant topics, ensuring it becomes part of the broader web of free knowledge across Wikimedia projects.

2.It is no longer relative to the project due to the adjustments we have made.

3.This initiative is outside the current plan and budget, and no funds have been allocated for it within the group. We proposed this initiative to align with and participate in the Wiki Human Rights campaign.

4. We recognize the importance of early community engagement, What makes this project especially valuable is that it opens the door for different segments of the community to get involved—including photographers and environmental advocates. In addition, this project aligns with long-term community goals around improving local content and visibility for overlooked aspects of Jordan’s natural heritage. We believe that with the growing momentum, this initiative will strengthen community cohesion and attract new contributors with shared interests.

5. This project is not designed to engage newcomers, as it will not include an edit-a-thon or a training component -(this will be further explained in the last question).

It will mainly involve photography and Wikicommons contributions, led by experienced contributors; Rotana, Mervat, and Salam — along with two external photographers. As such, the project will not target a wide outreach or diversity of new participants.

6. We fully understand and respect the volunteer-driven nature of the Wikimedia movement. However, in this case, the two photographers we invited to join the photo walks are not part of the existing Wikimedia community, and they are not regular contributors. They are professional photographers being brought in specifically to ensure high-quality visual content that meets the standards for Wikimedia Commons.

Because they are external collaborators, we cannot expect them to volunteer their time, skills, and professional equipment without any recognition. Instead of renting new cameras or investing in expensive gear, we chose to work with professionals who already own the tools and expertise to capture high-resolution, properly composed images suitable for long-term use.

The small honorarium offered is not a salary, but rather a symbolic appreciation for their time and contribution. It allows us to involve talented individuals who might not otherwise participate in a volunteer project, while still aligning with Wikimedia’s values of creating free, high-quality content for global access. All photos they produce will be released under a free license and uploaded to Wikimedia Commons for public use.

7. We fully respect and adhere to the grant guidelines set by the Wikimedia Foundation. Accordingly, Sandra will be excluded from the project, and since she is no longer part of it, we have reduced the number of activities from three to two. As a result, we are removing the edit-a-thon component, and the updated plan will include only the photo walks and Wikidata activities. Based on all the changes and adjustments that were made, the budget has become $2,326 instead of $3,041.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dmqU9WPRRSMo7CC8f_Heczc7YN3tJCGVkE1Q78VLGvo/edit?usp=sharing Cestsalam (talk) 19:15, 31 May 2025 (UTC)

Not funded

Dear @Cestsalam,

Thank you very much for your thorough response. We have completed the review of your application and feedback and unfortunately we will be declining this funding request and please allow us to explain the rationale for this decision:

• A photography expedition that includes an honorary fee for professional photographers does not align with the values of the Wikimedia movement’s volunteer nature.
• We also recommend that in the future you coordinate with the Wikimedians of the Levant user group and include these activities in their future annual grant.

We would love to hear from you again, as we value your contributions to the movement, and we look forward to your future grant applications.

On behalf of the WMF Community Resources team, FElgueretly-WMF (talk) 07:57, 5 June 2025 (UTC)