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

Basic Information

Yes. I play an active role in leadership and facilitation within the Wikimedia movement. I support and facilitate the monthly DCW Conversation Hour, where I moderate discussions that connect Wikimedians with fellow wikimedians who are experts in their respective fields, fostering skills development and collaborative learning. As an advisory member of Wiki Club Jamia COT, I mentor students and new contributors, helping them navigate Wikimedia projects and build sustainable engagement. In March 2025, I was elected as a board member of Deoband Community Wikimedia, where I contribute to strategic decision-making, community growth, and advancing the Movement Strategy 2030 goals.

I am most interested in Track 1: Evaluation, Impact, and Data Storytelling because it connects closely with the work I am already doing. In the DCW Conversation Hour and Wiki Club Jamia, I try to create spaces for learning and community building, but I also feel it is important to understand how these efforts are making a difference. As a board member of Deoband Community Wikimedia, I want to learn better ways to check the results of our work, share stories of impact in simple ways, and use data to guide future plans. This track will help me explain the value of our initiatives more clearly to both the Wikimedia community and new people we want to bring in.

I have contributed to in a leadership role is Train a Wikipedian, a Wikimedia program by Deoband Community Wikimedia. As part of the organizing team, I helped design the overall structure of the event, coordinated different segments, and ensured that the sessions were smooth, engaging, and inclusive for participants. My role focused on creating a welcoming and safe environment, facilitating warm-ups and introductions, and supporting participants throughout the program so that they could learn effectively and feel part of the community.

From this training, I want to learn how to check the results of programs, measure their impact, and share those stories in a clear way. In my roles with the DCW Conversation Hour, Wiki Club Jamia, Train a Wikipedian, and as a DCW board member, I already help in planning and supporting activities. These new skills will help me improve the way I guide programs, show their value to others, and plan better for the future.And coonect with other wikimedia communities around the globe and try to present our work in a better way.

The challenge I faced was in showing the real impact of community programs. For example, while organizing the DCW Conversation Hour and supporting Train a Wikipedian, I saw that participants were learning and engaging well, but I found it difficult to measure this in a structured way or present it with data. Most of the feedback we received was informal, and I felt we were missing a chance to capture the long-term value of the program. This made me realize that even good initiatives can lose visibility if we are not able to properly evaluate them and share their outcomes. I want to grow in this area so that future projects are not only engaging but also have clear evidence of their impact that can guide improvements and inspire others.

After the event, I have planned to use what I will learn to improve how we check and share the impact of programs in Deoband Community Wikimedia. As a board member, this will help me make better decisions, plan projects more wisely, and keep them in line with community needs and Movement Strategy goals. I will also apply these skills in the DCW Conversation Hour and Wiki Club Jamia, so we can show results more clearly, involve new partners, and build stronger community participation.

Yes, I am open to receiving mentorship, as I believe it will help me grow in my current roles and contribute more effectively to the Wikimedia movement.