IIITH-OKI/Advance Train The Trainer 2025/Expression of Interest/Submitted/Archies2804

Basic Information

Wikimedia Username

• Aanchal Patel

Wikimedia Project(s) you primarily contribute to

• Wikimedia Commons
• Wikidata
• Wikivoyage
• Mediawiki

Active in Wikimedia since (Year)

• 2023

Your Affiliate or Community Group (if any):

• Wiki Club SATI, December 2023 - Present
• Commons Photographer User group, july 2024 - present
• Wiki Women* summit, April 2025 - Present

Languages you work with (on-wiki or off-wiki):

Hindi, English

Have you participated in any Train the Trainer or similar Wikimedia training before? If yes, please mention the name of the event along with the year in which you participated

• Participated in various online events and workshops to expand my knowledge and skills.
• Wikimania 2025, Nairobi

Are you currently involved in any leadership, facilitation, or mentoring roles within the Wikimedia movement? If yes, briefly describe the imitative and your involvement in it

• Event organiser - Wiki Club SATI

Track Preference

Your preferred track during the workshop

• Track 1: Evaluation, Impact, and Data Storytelling
• Track 2: Micro-Project Design Challenge – From Learning to Action
• Track 2

Which track are you most interested in and why?

• I’m most interested in Track 2: Micro-Project Design Challenge because I enjoy hands-on collaboration and building practical solutions. As part of the core organizing team for the Wiki Women Summit, I’ve gained experience turning ideas into impactful community projects, and I’m excited to apply that in this track.

Tell us about one Wikimedia program, campaign, or initiative you’ve contributed to in a leadership role

• Core Organizing Team (COT), Wiki Science Competition 2025 – India

• Core Organizing Team, Wiki Women* Summit (planning, logistics, gender inclusivity)
• Jury Member, Wiki Loves Folklore (2025)
• Co-Host, Medicinal Tree Mapping Campaign (structured data, geolocation)
• Organized workshop on image processing for Wiki Club SATI

What skills or knowledge do you hope to gain from this training?

• I’m excited to participate in Advance TTT 2025 to improve my leadership, facilitation, and technical skills. This program will help me grow as a mentor and organizer by learning from experts and peers. I aim to use these skills to create more effective campaigns, support newcomer retention, and help build a stronger, more inclusive Wikimedia community.

Based on your selected track, what is one challenge you have encountered in either evaluating Wikimedia programs or designing impactful projects? Please share your experience relevant to your chosen track.

• One challenge I’ve encountered in creating meaningful Wikimedia projects is keeping long-term interest and sustainability after the initial excitement. During the Medic Tree Mapping campaign, we successfully got contributors involved during the active phase but had a hard time maintaining that momentum afterward. This experience taught me that successful projects require not just solid execution but also clear follow-up strategies and ways for continued participation. Through this track, I hope to learn how to design more sustainable, action-driven projects that keep communities engaged over time.

How do you plan to apply what you learn after the event?

• After the event, I plan to use what I learn to organize more structured and meaningful community activities, such as technical workshops, edit-a-thons, and onboarding sessions. I’ll also focus on mentoring newcomers, improving project follow-up strategies, and sharing knowledge with others in my community to strengthen our collective ability. My goal is to create lasting initiatives that meet local needs and support the broader goals of the Wikimedia movement.

(Optional) Are you open to mentorship (either receiving or offering it)?

• Yes, I am open to both receiving and offering mentorship. I believe mentorship is a strong way to grow both individually and as a group. I’m eager to learn from experienced Wikimedians and I’m also happy to support newcomers by sharing my knowledge and experiences.