LDH Mandika Community Mentorship (2025 - 2026)

This is the central documentation page for the mentorship relationship between the Mandika Wikimedia community and the Wikimedia Language Diversity Hub (LDH).

Overview

Mentored Language: Mandika
Mentorship Start Date: Dec. 2025
LDH Mentor(s): Tochiprecious
Primary Community Contact:
Community Page:
Related Projects:

Community Assessment Summary

(Based on initial diagnostic call)

Current Status & Strengths

Active Contributors: 10-15 active members, with a wider community of ~35 supporters.
Community Structure: An informal wiki gathering with motivated contributors who edit frequently.
Content Focus: Initial articles focus on politics and notable people, created from scratch.
Funding Experience: Has successfully received a Rapid Grant in the past.

Primary Goals

Graduate from the Incubator within 6 months.
Increase the number of editors, articles, and improve article quality.
Learn from the Nigerian Wikimedia community for peer support and strategy.
Establish a more structured and sustainable community.

Identified Challenges & Support Needs

Language Standardization: No standardized writing style, making it difficult to find consistent words and creating challenges for article cohesion.
Technical Access & Usability: Most members edit on mobile phones, and the Incubator wiki interface is not mobile-friendly. Lack of a dedicated physical keyboard further complicates editing.
Community Structure: Currently an informal gathering without defined roles or governance, which can hinder coordination and growth.
Volunteer Motivation: A cultural challenge where people are reluctant to engage in unpaid volunteer work.
External Connections: No current connections with local institutions (e.g., universities, cultural organizations).

Mentorship Action Plan

Phase 1: Foundation & Community Building (Months 1-3)

Objective: Stabilize the community, standardize language practices, and improve the mobile editing experience.

Action Item	Lead	Status	Notes/Deadline
1. Create a Simple "Village Pump" & Basic Style Guide	Community + Mentor	Pending	Set up a central discussion page and a collaborative guide for common words/phrases on the Incubator wiki.
2. Implement Mobile Editing Solution	LDH Mentor	Pending	Guide community on a better mobile editing experience.
3. Establish Communication Rhythm	Community + Mentor	Pending	Set up a Telegram group for daily comms and schedule a brief monthly voice call on weekends.
4. Facilitate Peer Connection	LDH Coordinator	Pending	Connect community with a mentor/key member from a successful Nigerian Wikimedia community (e.g., Yoruba, Hausa).

Phase 2: Growth & Content Strategy (Months 4-6)

Objective: Systematically increase content quantity and quality.

Launch a monthly "Translate-a-Thon" to translate simple English Wikipedia articles into Mandika.
Encourage creation of "Low-Hanging Fruit" content (local places, foods, festivals) to build article count.
Create a public-facing project page on the Incubator to aid in recruitment.
Prepare for a future Rapid Grant application by documenting activities and impact.

Phase 3: Sustainability & Outreach (Months 7-12)

Objective: Formalize community structure and begin building local partnerships.

Define and assign simple, rotating community roles (e.g., Social Media Promoter, Newcomer Welcomer).
Brainstorm and initiate contact with potential local partners (cultural organizations, language groups).
Host a Virtual Open Day to showcase achievements to the wider community.
Conduct a formal review of Incubator graduation requirements and create a final action list.

Meeting Notes & Logs

2025-11-24 Initial Assessment & Planning. Discussed the community's mobile editing challenges and lack of language standardization.

Key Resources & Links

LDH Mentorship Program Page: Wikimedia Language Diversity Hub/Activities

Contact

On-wiki: Tochi Precious
Community Lead:

This page is maintained collaboratively by the Mandika Community and the LDH team. Please feel free to add updates, notes, and reflections below.