LDH Náhuat (El Salvador) Community Mentorship
This is the central documentation page for the mentorship relationship between the Náhuat (El Salvador) Wikimedia community and the Wikimedia Language Diversity Hub (LDH).
Overview
[edit]- Mentored Language: Náhuat (El Salvador) — Not to be confused with Mexican Nahuatl (nah). The community self-identifies as Nahua.
- Current Wikimedia Label: "Pipil" — This is considered inaccurate and offensive by the community and is a critical issue to be addressed.
- Mentorship Start Date: December 2025
- LDH Mentor(s): Oscar Costero (Oscar .)
- Primary Community Contact: [Community Lead Name]
- Key Partners: Neima Paz, Leonardi Fernández
- Community Page: [Link to community project page]
- Related Projects:
- Wikipedia Incubator: Incubator:Wp/ppl (Note: Currently under "ppl" / "Pipil" code)
Community Assessment Summary
[edit](Based on initial diagnostic call)
Current Status & Strengths
[edit]- Stage: Advanced Incubator — Technically and socially ready to graduate to a full Wikipedia.
- Trained Contributors: 110 trained Wikimedistas through a school-based program.
- Sustained Output: Core group producing ~15 articles per month; 100+ edits completed for Language Committee review.
- Educational Pipeline: Strong institutional anchor with structured training and a steady stream of student contributors.
- Leadership: Centralized, stable, and highly motivated.
- Self-Taught Capacity: Community has reached this advanced stage largely through its own initiative.
Primary Goals
[edit]- Graduate the Náhuat Wikipedia from the Incubator to a full, recognized Wikipedia edition.
- Correct the language name and ISO-related identification to reflect the community's self-identity as Nahua/Náhuat, not "Pipil."
- Improve the technical quality and visual credibility of the Wikipedia (templates, homepage, Wikidata integration).
- Enable community members to participate confidently in regional and global Wikimedia spaces.
Identified Challenges & Support Needs
[edit]| Challenge | Severity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Language Recognition & Identity | Critical | Current "Pipil" designation is inaccurate and offensive. This affects morale, legitimacy, and long-term project identity. |
| Advanced Technical Skills | High | Community is self-taught but needs expert support for template creation, homepage customization, MediaWiki configuration, and Wikidata integration. |
| Governance & Sustainability | Medium | Activity is concentrated around the school program. Long-term sustainability beyond this institution needs deliberate planning. |
| International Participation Barriers | Medium | Limited English proficiency restricts access to global/regional Wikimedia spaces (Wikimania, Iberocoop, Meta discussions). |
| Volunteer Recruitment | Low | School-based pipeline ensures steady recruitment. |
| Technology Access | Low | No major barriers to devices or connectivity identified. |
Mentorship Action Plan
[edit]Phase 1: Graduation Readiness (Months 1-3)
[edit]Objective: Close technical gaps, complete Language Committee documentation, and formally address the language identity issue.
| Action Item | Lead | Status | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Draft Formal Community Letter on Language Designation | Community Lead + LDH Mentor | Pending | 3-4 weeks |
| Clearly articulate cultural/linguistic context and request correction of "Pipil" label through ISO/Wikimedia channels. | |||
| 2. Schedule Advanced Technical Workshop (Templates & Homepage) | LDH Technical Mentor + Community | Pending | 4 weeks |
| Focused session on MediaWiki templates, infoboxes, and main page customization. | |||
| 3. Define Lightweight Governance Structure | Community Lead | Pending | 4 weeks |
| Document roles beyond the school program: technical lead, content coordinator, community liaison. | |||
| 4. Create Graduation Checklist Progress Tracker | Community + LDH Mentor | Pending | 2 weeks |
| Transparent tracking of Language Committee requirements. |
Success Indicators (End of Phase 1):
- Community letter submitted to appropriate channels
- First technical workshop completed with documented outcomes
- Governance roles defined and filled
- Clear visibility on remaining graduation requirements
Phase 2: Visibility & Capacity Expansion (Months 4-6)
[edit]Objective: Strengthen governance beyond the institutional anchor and enable international participation.
- Connect community with WMF Language Team for graduation pathway guidance.
- Facilitate Wikidata integration workshop for structured data and interlanguage links.
- Support community members' participation in regional calls (Iberocoop) with interpretation or bilingual facilitation.
- Draft a post-graduation sustainability roadmap.
Success Indicators (End of Phase 2):
- Community members actively engaging on Meta or regional Wikimedia calls
- Reduced dependency on the single school institution
- Continued steady article production (15+ per month)
- Wikidata items actively linked to Náhuat articles
Phase 3: Sustainability & Leadership Development (Months 7-12)
[edit]Objective: Shift mentorship from hands-on support to strategic advising; ensure long-term project resilience.
- Train emerging leaders from within the contributor base to take on coordination roles.
- Document the Náhuat model for other Indigenous language communities in Central America.
- Prepare for official graduation ceremony/announcement.
- Explore micro-grant support for participation in regional Wikimedia events.
Success Indicators (End of Phase 3):
- Independent planning and execution of technical improvements by community
- New leaders emerge from trained contributors
- Náhuat Wikipedia is recognized as a stable, credible, and legitimate project
- Language identity issue is resolved or has a clear path forward
Resource Needs Identified
[edit]| Need | Priority | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Mentorship | High | Targeted, expert-led workshops on templates, homepage, Wikidata, and MediaWiki configuration. |
| Language Advocacy Support | High | Guidance on ISO/Wikimedia language code correction processes. |
| English/Interpretation Support | Medium | To enable participation in global/regional Wikimedia spaces. |
| Micro-funding | Medium | For workshops, documentation, or international event participation. |
| Governance Documentation | Medium | Templates and examples of sustainable community governance models. |
Workshop Topics Most Relevant
[edit]- MediaWiki Templates & Infoboxes
- Wikidata for Language Wikipedias
- Preparing a Wikipedia for Graduation Review
- Participating in International Wikimedia Spaces
- Main Page Customization and Visual Identity
Collaboration Opportunities
[edit]| Partner | Purpose |
|---|---|
| WMF Language Team | Graduation process guidance, language code advocacy |
| Wikidata Specialists | Structured data integration for Náhuat content |
| Neima Paz & Leonardi Fernández | Peer learning, regional Indigenous language advocacy |
| Iberocoop | Regional network participation, Spanish-language Wikimedia space |
| Other Advanced Incubator Communities | Peer exchange on graduation readiness |
Communication Plan
[edit]| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Meeting Cadence | Monthly or bi-monthly check-ins (to be finalized) |
| Primary Channels | WhatsApp/Telegram for coordination; Email for formal communication |
| Languages | Spanish (primary), English (with interpretation support as needed) |
Success Indicators (Long-Term)
[edit]| Dimension | Indicator |
|---|---|
| Graduation | Náhuat Wikipedia graduates from the Incubator to a full Wikipedia edition. |
| Identity Recognition | Language designation is corrected to reflect Náhuat/Nahua self-identity. |
| Technical Quality | Wikipedia features functional templates, customized homepage, and Wikidata integration. |
| Governance | Clear leadership structure functions independently of the original institutional anchor. |
| Regional Participation | Community members regularly engage in Iberocoop and other regional Wikimedia spaces. |
| Replication | Náhuat model documented and shared with other Indigenous language communities. |
Meeting Notes & Logs
[edit]December 2025
[edit]Initial Assessment & Planning Discussed the community's advanced readiness and the critical importance of correcting the "Pipil" designation. Agreed that graduation and identity recognition are parallel, urgent priorities. Technical workshops and governance documentation identified as immediate next steps.
Contact
[edit]- On-wiki: Oscar Costero
- Community Lead: [Community Lead Name/Username]
- Regional Contacts: Neima Paz, Leonardi Fernández
- Affiliate Partners: [Wikimedia El Salvador / Iberocoop]
This page is maintained collaboratively by the Náhuat (El Salvador) Community and the LDH team. Please feel free to add updates, notes, and reflections below.