Grants talk:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wikimedia projects Awareness and Edit-a-thon in The Gambia (ID: 22971225)

Endorsement from Sowepullo Isha (talk)

I strongly support the Wikimedia Projects Awareness and Edit-a-thon in The Gambia proposal. This initiative is timely and crucial for our community, where knowledge of Wikimedia projects is still very limited, and participation from Gambians remains low. The strategies chosen in this proposal including awareness-raising workshops, hands-on training sessions, and thematic edit-a-thons are well-suited to spark local interest and empower new contributors with the skills to engage meaningfully in the Wikimedia ecosystem. One of the strengths of the proposal is its focus on underrepresented groups and content gaps. The plan to improve content related to Gambian settlements, biographies, and culture will help address the lack of local representation on Wikipedia and its sister projects. The outreach to students, librarians, and young professionals will ensure broad community engagement and sustainability beyond the life of the project. The proposal also builds on lessons learned from past Wikimedia activities in the country, including previous training sessions and informal edit-a-thons led by Gayo Bah, who has already demonstrated commitment and leadership in the Wikimedia movement. This project will expand on that work in a more structured and impactful way. In terms of Movement Strategy, the proposal aligns with the recommendations of increasing participation, ensuring equity in decision-making, and investing in skills development. The budget is realistic and well-aligned with the objectives and activities, and the learning and evaluation components are clearly defined to track impact and guide future improvements. I believe this project has the potential to significantly boost Wikimedia engagement in the Gambia and create a foundation for a more organized and sustainable Wikimedia user group in the country.

--Sowepullo Isha (talk) 15:55, 15 April 2025 (UTC) Isatou Sowe President Gambia library and information services association

Endorsement from Ourytima (talk)

 Support I support this project, which will enable the Gambian community to learn more about Wikimedia projects and work on articles that will promote their country.

--Ourytima (talk) 16:58, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

Endorsement fromIsatou Sisawo (talk)

As a volunteer with the Wikimedia User Group The Gambia, I fully endorse this Rapid Grant application. This project is a great opportunity to raise awareness of Wikimedia projects in The Gambia and build a strong community of local contributors.

I am excited to participate in the planned workshops and edit-a-thons, and I believe this initiative will make a lasting impact on free knowledge and representation of Gambian content online.

--Isatou Sisawo (talk) 10:24, 5 June 2025 (UTC)Isatou Sisawo (talk) 10:20, 5 June 2025 (UTC)

Endorsement fromIsatou Darboe(talk)

I strongly endorse this proposal as I believe it will help to raise Wikimedia projects awareness in the Gambia an give new volunteers like myself the opportunity to learn and contribute to open knowledge.

--Isatou Darboe (talk) 11:25, 5 June 2025 (UTC)Isatou Darboe

Funded

Hello Gayobah13, thank you for submitting this Rapid Fund request. We have reviewed your grant request and have decided to fund it in the amount of 145,432 GMD (2,000 USD). Kindly re-adjust your activities based on the allocated budget. Please note that project start and end dates have been adjusted and included in Cycle 5 of the Rapid Fund.

We sincerely appreciate your contribution to the Wikimedia movement and wish you the best with your project! You will receive an approval email with the next steps required.

On behalf of the Sub-Saharan Africa regional review team. WBuloso-WMF (talk) 20:46, 25 June 2025 (UTC)