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

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)

Midterm Mentorship Check-in: Nawat Community

Date: July 17, 2026

Mentor: Héctor Martínez

Mentee: Timumachtikan Nawat

Facilitator: Tochi Precious

Participants:

Oscar Costero
Sadik Shahadu
Timumachtikan Nawat
Tochi Precious

Check-in Summary

The meeting focused on reviewing the progress of the Wikimedistas Nahuas community during the mentorship programme, identifying key achievements and challenges, assessing community growth, and co-creating priorities for the next six months.

Biggest Wins

The Wikimedistas Nahuas community has made significant progress in both community development and content creation.

One of the notable achievements has been the creation of a new logo for the Wikimedistas Nahuas community, contributing to a stronger visual identity and sense of community.

The community has also experienced substantial growth in both the number of trained Wikimedians and the amount of content created. The community has trained 136 Wikimedians and has developed more than 1,000 articles.

Additional achievements include:

Learning to use other Wikimedia platforms, including Lingua Libre and Wikimedia Commons.
Expanding audio recordings and contributions to Wikimedia projects.
Participation in regional and international Wikimedia conferences.
Participation in an in-person event in Riohacha, Colombia.
Upcoming participation in an in-person event in Paris, France.
Continued development of the Nawat Wiktionary.
Progress towards expanding content beyond Wikipedia and diversifying contributions across Wikimedia platforms.

Biggest Challenges

The community identified several ongoing challenges:

The language designation request for Nawat is still pending, and the community is seeking support with follow-up on the ISO process.
The community needs advanced technical training and more coders.
Members have largely been learning technical skills independently.
There is a need for support with the Wikipedia Page, MediaWiki configuration, and other technical aspects of Wikimedia projects.
Grant reporting remains a challenge.
The community requires guidance on the process for graduating the Nawat Wiktionary from the Wikimedia Incubator.
The language barrier presents an additional challenge when accessing technical and coding support, particularly where Spanish-language technical mentorship is limited.

What Surprised You Most?

The community particularly appreciated the personalised nature of the mentorship programme and the accessibility of the Language Diversity Hub coordinators.

Members valued the fact that they were able to communicate directly with real people and felt strongly supported by the Hub. At the same time, the language barrier remains a challenge, especially in accessing technical mentors who can provide support in Spanish.

Recommendations for the Language Diversity Hub

The community suggested several ways the Hub could provide additional support:

Provide assistance with following up on the ISO language designation request.
Explore support for changing the current official language designation, which the community considers pejorative.
Provide guidance and support with micro-grant reporting.
Offer orientation on the process for graduating the Nawat Wiktionary from the Wikimedia Incubator.
Provide additional technical mentorship, particularly in Spanish.
Support capacity building in Wikidata and other technical areas.
Provide guidance on how to establish a Wikimedia User Group.
Provide guidance on creating a village pump or similar community coordination platform.
Support the community in developing stronger technical and coding capacity.

Community Health

The community has demonstrated strong growth and engagement. The expansion to 136 trained Wikimedians and the creation of more than 1,000 articles indicate significant progress.

The community is also increasingly active across different Wikimedia platforms and has demonstrated growing international visibility through participation in regional and international conferences.

The community is now seeking to strengthen its organisational structure, expand its technical capacity, and transition from a growing community into a more formally established Wikimedia organisation.

Progress Review

Area	Current Status	Assessment
Active editors	136 Wikimedians have been trained, with continued growth in the community.	🟢 Strong growth
Content growth	More than 1,000 Wikipedia articles have been created, with continued expansion of the Nawat Wiktionary and audio recordings.	🟢 Significant progress
Technical milestones	Community members are learning to use Wikimedia platforms such as Wikimedia Commons and Lingua Libre. Further training is needed in coding, MediaWiki configuration, Wikidata and other technical areas.	🟡 In Progress
Community structure	The community has a Director and a Guidance Committee. It is working towards becoming an independent Wikimedia User Group.	🟡 Developing
Retention	Community growth and continued participation in Wikimedia activities indicate positive engagement. Further information on long-term retention is needed.	🟡 To be strengthened
Partnerships	The community has participated in regional and international Wikimedia events and is exploring further connections.	🟡 Developing
Funding	The community has received micro-grant support, but additional guidance is needed regarding grant reporting and future funding opportunities.	🟡 In Progress
Communication	The community remains active and engaged in Wikimedia activities, with a need for stronger coordination mechanisms.	🟢 Positive

Six-Month Co-Created Action Plan

Priority 1

Increase the number of articles to 2,241 articles by August 2026.

Priority 2

Diversify contributions across Wikimedia platforms, including Wikimedia Commons, Lingua Libre, Wikidata and other relevant projects.

Priority 3

Work towards becoming an independent Wikimedia User Group and establish the necessary organisational and legal structures.

Additional Priorities

Support the graduation of the Nawat Wiktionary from the Wikimedia Incubator.
Strengthen technical capacity, including coding, MediaWiki configuration and Wikidata.
Continue expanding the number of active contributors and trained Wikimedians.
Improve community coordination through the creation of a village pump or similar platform.

Support Requested from the Language Diversity Hub

The community requested:

Support with following up on the Nawat language designation request and ISO process.
Assistance with capacity building and advanced technical training.
Additional Spanish-language technical mentorship.
Guidance on Wikidata.
Guidance on graduating the Nawat Wiktionary from the Wikimedia Incubator.
Guidance on the requirements and process for becoming an independent Wikimedia User Group.
Support with grant reporting.
Guidance on creating a village pump to coordinate community activities.

Success Indicators (Next Six Months)

The community considers the mentorship successful if the following outcomes are achieved:

The Nawat Wiktionary successfully progresses towards or completes graduation from the Wikimedia Incubator.
The community makes substantial progress towards becoming an independent Wikimedia User Group.
The community reaches or surpasses its article growth target.
The number of active contributors and trained Wikimedians continues to increase.
Contributions are diversified across multiple Wikimedia platforms.
The community develops stronger technical and organisational capacity.
Progress is made on the Nawat language designation and ISO request.

Action Items

Action	Responsible	Deadline Propose the Nawat Wiktionary graduation process to the Language Committee (LangCom).
Language Diversity Hub	Pending	Follow up with the Language Policy and Legal team regarding the Nawat language designation and proposed name change.
Language Diversity Hub / Relevant Wikimedia partners	Pending	Provide guidance on the process and requirements for graduating the Nawat Wiktionary from the Wikimedia Incubator.
Language Diversity Hub / Mentor	Pending	Provide guidance on becoming an independent Wikimedia User Group.
Language Diversity Hub	Pending	Provide technical capacity-building support, including Wikidata and MediaWiki-related training.
Language Diversity Hub / Technical mentors	Pending	Support the community with micro-grant reporting.
Language Diversity Hub / Relevant grant support	Pending	Prepare and publish a Diff post documenting the community's progress, achievements and challenges.
Wikimedistas Nahuas community	Pending

Community Assessment Summary

(Based on initial diagnostic call)

Current Status & Strengths

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

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

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

Phase 1: Graduation Readiness (Months 1-3)

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

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

December 2025

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

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.