Tamazight Wikimedia User Group/Gestion/Reports/Report 2024-2025

Meetings

20 November 2024

Date: 20 November 2024
Time: 19:00–21:00 (CET)
Location: Online (Zoom)
Facilitator: Reda Kerbouche
Note-taker: Farida Ouassini

Attendance

Reda Kerbouche
Adel Benamer
Amine Bensalah
Nadia Aït Lounis
Yacine Mebarki
Farida Ouassini
Karim Bouzid
Samira Chenni
Rachid Zerrouki
Laila Benamara

Agenda

Reflections after participation in WikiArabia 2024 (Oman)
Preparing a contribution plan for The Million Wiki Project
Strategies for strengthening photo and Wikidata contributions
Community engagement and future activities

Discussion

Reflections on WikiArabia 2024

Members who attended shared their experiences from the conference in Oman.
Akhrouf Miloud Zakaria and Reda Kerbouche reported on presentations given about Tamazight Wikipedia and regional collaboration.
The group recognized the importance of strengthening partnerships with other North African user groups.
Lessons learned: need for more structured presentations and earlier preparation.

The Million Wiki Project

The group discussed ways to align with the global initiative.
Three main contribution areas were identified:
- Photos: organize local photo walks and upload under relevant categories (heritage, landscapes, cultural practices).
- Wikidata: focus on items related to Tamazight language, culture, and Algerian heritage.
- Articles writing: thematic campaigns around history, biographies, and literature in Tamazight Wikipedia.
Decision: create a yearly contribution plan with clear targets for each area.

Strengthening photo and Wikidata contributions

Rachid Zerrouki proposed a small pilot project to train members on structured data on Commons.
Agreement to set up an internal workshop in December 2024.
A call will be opened for members to list monuments and cultural objects that need Wikidata coverage.

Community engagement and future activities

Laila Benamara suggested involving schools and youth cultural clubs to expand contributors’ base.
The group agreed to prepare a collaboration proposal for early 2025.
A newsletter will be launched to keep track of Million Wiki Project contributions by group members.

18 February 2025

Date: 18 February 2025
Time: 19:00–21:00 (CET)
Location: Online (Zoom)
Facilitator: Rachid Hamatou
Note-taker: Karim Bouzid

Attendance

Reda Kerbouche
Adel Benamer
Amine Bensalah
Nadia Aït Lounis
Yacine Mebarki
Farida Ouassini
Karim Bouzid
Samira Chenni
Rachid Zerrouki
Laila Benamara

Agenda

Discussing the group's potential participation in the upcoming Wikiconvention francophone conference in Benin
Update on Reda Kerbouche's futurte participation in Wikimania and coordination meetings
Organizing an internal workshop on QuickStatements 3.0
Establishing a team to participate in the WikiCollection competition

Discussion

Participation in the Wikiconvention francophone (Benin)

The group discussed the potential for participating in the Wikiconvention francophone taking place in Benin.

The following benefits were identified:

- Enhancing the visibility of the Tamazight community within the francophone Wikimedia sphere.
- Establishing partnerships with other user groups in Francophone Africa.
- Gaining access to training and knowledge-sharing sessions on Wikimedia projects.

It was decided to survey members to identify those interested and available to attend (either in person or virtually).

Reda Kerbouche's Participation in Wikimania

Reda Kerbouche will be attending the international Wikimania conference.

He will present a report on our community's activities and challenges.

He is scheduled to hold coordination meetings with our group before and after the event:

- Pre-Wikimania Meeting: To refine key messages and identify key people/groups to connect with.
- Post-Wikimania Debrief: To share a comprehensive update and plan the implementation of acquired knowledge and contacts.

Internal Workshop on QuickStatements 3.0

Acknowledging the importance of Wikidata for enriching and interlinking content, the group approved the organization of an internal training workshop.

This workshop will focus on the QuickStatements 3.0 tool, which allows for efficient batch creation and editing of Wikidata items.

The workshop will be led by an experienced member and held online for a half-day session.

The goal is to train at least 5 to 7 members to significantly increase our Wikidata contributions.

Participation in the WikiCollection Campaign

The group decided to participate in the WikiCollection competition (focused on collectibles), which aims to document collectible objects on Wikimedia projects.

A dedicated task force of 3 members was established. They will be responsible for:

- Coordinating contribution efforts (photos, articles, Wikidata entries).
- Identifying priority Algerian and Tamazight collections to document (e.g., carpets, pottery, traditional jewelry).
- Motivating and supporting the wider community throughout the campaign duration.

The names of the volunteers for this task force will be finalized by the next meeting.

28 July 2025

Date: 28 July 2025
Time: 19:00–21:00 (CET)
Location: Online (Zoom)
Facilitator: Rachid Hamatou
Note-taker: Samira Chenni

Attendance

Reda Kerbouche
Adel Benamer
Amine Bensalah
Nadia Aït Lounis
Farida Ouassini
Samira Chenni
Rachid Zerrouki
Laila Benamara

Agenda

Finalizing the Wikimania Participation Plan
Formalizing the WikiCollection Task Force
Update on the Million Wiki Project-Funded Photo Tour in Algeria

Discussion

Finalizing the Wikimania Participation Plan

The group finalized the strategy for Reda Kerbouche's participation at Wikimania.

Two key objectives were established:

Network with Tamazight Wikimedians: A proactive effort will be made to identify and connect with other Wikimedians of Tamazight (Berber) background to discuss potential collaborations and strengthen the global Tamazight contributor network.

Connect with the "Maghreb Climate Change Competition" Team: A specific goal is to schedule a meeting with the organizers of this regional initiative to explore a formal partnership and discuss how our group can contribute to or benefit from this environmental focus.

Action Item: Reda will prepare a brief introductory document about our group's activities to share with these contacts.

Formalizing the WikiCollection Task Force

The team for participating in the WikiCollection competition was formally confirmed.

The three members of the task force are:

Rachid Hamatou

Zinou Yahoui

Akhrouf Zakaria

The group is tasked with beginning their planning immediately, focusing on identifying the first set of collectibles (e.g., traditional jewelry, pottery, carpets) to document on Wikimedia Commons and Wikidata.

Update on the Million Wiki Project-Funded Photo Tour

Rachid Hamatou provided an update on his upcoming photo expedition.

The project, which is funded by The Million Wiki Project, involves a tour of several Algerian cities to photograph cultural heritage sites, monuments, and everyday life.

The primary goal is to massively increase high-quality, freely licensed images related to Algeria on Wikimedia Commons, directly supporting the goals of The Million Wiki Project.

The group expressed strong support and will help by identifying specific locations and themes for the photo walk to ensure comprehensive coverage.

30 September 2025

Date: 30 September 2025
Time: 19:00–21:00 (CET)
Location: Online (Zoom)
Facilitator: Reda Kerbouche
Note-taker: Adel Benamer

Attendance

Reda Kerbouche
Adel Benamer
Amine Bensalah
Nadia Aït Lounis
Farida Ouassini
Samira Chenni
Rachid Zerrouki
Laila Benamara

Agenda

Decision on Applying for the Next Round of the Wikimedia Foundation Annual Grants
Report Back from the Wikimedia Convention in Benin
Update on Partnership with the Maghreb Climate Change Initiative
Recap of International Women's Day Campaign Results

Discussion

Decision on Applying for the Annual Grant

The group held a strategic discussion regarding applying for the next round of the Wikimedia Foundation Annual Grant.

After reviewing past activities and future ambitions, it was unanimously agreed that the group will proceed with an application.

The grant will be sought to fund key initiatives for the upcoming year, including:

Scaling up the photo tour project to more regions.

Hosting in-person editing workshops in major Kabyle-speaking cities.

Covering costs for outreach materials and small-scale community events.

Action Item: A grant writing committee will be formed to draft the proposal.

Report from the Wikimedia Convention in Benin

Reda Kerbouche and Rachid Hamatou provided a comprehensive debrief on their participation.

Key outcomes included

Networking: Successfully established connections with several Francophone African user groups, opening doors for future cross-cultural collaborations.

Knowledge Sharing: Rachid Hamatou presented our group's successful photo initiatives, gaining positive feedback and interest from other communities.

Visibility: The presence of the Tamazight User Group was significantly raised within the Francophone Wikimedia community.

Update on the Maghreb Climate Change Initiative

Following up from the connections made at Wikimania, the group has formally decided to participate in the Maghreb Climate Change Initiative.

This collaboration will focus on creating and improving content related to climate change impacts, environmental policies, and conservation efforts in the Maghreb region on Tamazight Wikipedia.

Our group's initial role will be to lead translation efforts and ensure the topics are well-covered from a local Algerian perspective.

Recap of International Women's Day Campaign

The group celebrated the success of its campaign for International Women's Day.

The primary achievement was the translation of over 60 articles into the Kabyle language.

These articles focused on biographies of notable women from around the world and topics related to women's health and rights.

This effort significantly enriched the available content on these important subjects for Kabyle-speaking readers.

Conference Representatives

Report on Tamazight User Group's Participation at Wikimania 2025

The Tamazight User Group played a pivotal role at Wikimania 2025, actively championing the global Million Wiki Project. A primary focus was on building strategic bridges with other communities, most notably through a highly productive meeting with the Algerian user group. This collaboration culminated in a concrete plan to launch a joint writing contest, a "edit-a-thon roadshow," designed to create content across Algerian, and Tamazight Wikipedia languages. This initiative directly supports the Million Wiki Project's goals by fostering cross-community collaboration and significantly boosting content creation in underrepresented languages.

Furthermore, our participation was instrumental in advancing several key partnerships central to our mission. We successfully connected with the organizers of the Maghreb Climate Change Initiative to formalize our involvement and began crucial discussions with the nascent Tunisian community to encourage their official recognition as a user group. Beyond partnerships, we conducted targeted outreach, showcasing our projects to a global audience and distributing promotional materials that highlighted our successes. These efforts at Wikimania have successfully integrated our local initiatives into a broader, collaborative framework, ensuring the Tamazight community is a key contributor to the worldwide Million Wiki Project.

Report on Tamazight User Group's Participation at the Wikimedia Francophone Convention in Benin

The Tamazight User Group's participation in the Wikimedia Francophone Convention in Benin was a significant step in strengthening our ties with the wider Francophone Wikimedia community. A central outcome was the establishment of a new partnership with the Benin user group, culminating in a planned joint "Wiki Heritage Month." This initiative will focus on creating and enriching content related to the shared intangible cultural heritage of our regions, with contributions in both French and the various Tamazight languages. This collaboration marks a pivotal move towards deeper integration and mutual support within the Francophone sphere.

The convention also served as a crucial platform for advocacy and strategic networking. We conducted a presentation on our group's initiatives and the specific challenges of developing Wikimedia projects in a multi-dialect language environment, which fostered productive exchanges with other minority language communities. Furthermore, we held fruitful discussions with contributors from Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire to explore knowledge-sharing on our photo expedition methodologies. Our presence successfully elevated the profile of the Tamazight Wikimedia community and laid a solid foundation for future cross-continental collaborations.

Activities

Preserving a Tapestry of Cultures: A Wikimedia Journey through the Tuareg, Aurès, and Kabyle Heritage

In a landmark initiative to safeguard the rich and diverse tapestry of Amazigh heritage, our user group has launched a comprehensive documentation project focused on three pivotal communities: the nomadic Tuareg of the Sahara, the historic communities of the Aurès mountains, and the vibrant Kabyle people. This project moves beyond singular events, establishing a sustained effort to capture the unique languages, tangible crafts, and intangible traditions that define these cultures. The core mission is to combat the digital erasure of these identities by systematically building a permanent, open-access repository on Wikimedia platforms.

The project's methodology is twofold, targeting both digital and local impact. Firstly, we are generating a vast collection of original photographs, audio recordings of oral poetry and stories, and detailed Wikidata entries for cultural artifacts—from the intricate silverwork of Kabyle jewelry and the woven symbols of Aurès carpets to the distinctive Tagelmust of the Tuareg. Secondly, we are deeply engaged in local knowledge partnerships, collaborating with community elders and artisans to ensure the accuracy and cultural sensitivity of all contributions. This work is not merely an archival exercise; it is an active process of cultural preservation, ensuring that the living heritage of the Tuareg, Aurès, and Kabyle people is accessible for generations to come on the global digital stage.

⇒photo and report are here

Progress Report for WikiCollection Competition: Team 3

Team 3 has successfully established its operational foundation for the WikiCollection competition, creating a dedicated team page on Arabic Wikipedia to track participation and scores. The page confirms that the team is active and has begun accumulating points through initial contributions, which include creating and improving articles on various collectibles. This structured start demonstrates the team's commitment to organized participation and provides a clear platform for monitoring their progress throughout the campaign.

Internal discussions reveal that the team is currently in a strategic planning phase. A primary focus of their dialogue has been identifying the specific collectibles they will target, with a member explicitly asking, "What are the collectibles we will add?" This indicates a collaborative effort to define a thematic focus rather than working in a fragmented manner. The call for members to intensify their contributions underscores an awareness of the competition's demands and a desire to improve the team's standing through coordinated action.

Looking forward, the key to enhancing Team 3's performance lies in solidifying this strategic direction. The team would benefit from formally selecting specific categories of collectibles—such as traditional crafts, coins, or stamps—and creating a shared list of target items for members to work on. This will streamline efforts, prevent duplication, and maximize the impact of their contributions. With a clear and focused plan, Team 3 is well-positioned to significantly increase both the quality and quantity of their entries in the competition.

⇒ Team page
⇒ Stats Page

Report on International Women's Day 2025 and Associated Kabyle Language Contributions

The global Wikipedia community marked International Women's Day 2025 with a major collaborative campaign focused on addressing the systemic gender gap on the platform. This international initiative mobilized editors across multiple language communities to create and improve content about women's biographies, achievements, and women-related topics. The campaign followed a structured approach, providing participants with curated lists of notable women lacking articles, along with resources and guidelines to ensure content quality. This coordinated effort resulted in thousands of new articles and improvements across numerous language versions of Wikipedia, significantly enhancing the representation of women's contributions to history, science, culture, and society in the free knowledge ecosystem.

In a particularly notable contribution to this global effort, one dedicated editor created 62 comprehensive articles about prominent women in the Kabyle language. This substantial output represents a major advancement in both gender content and linguistic diversity within Wikimedia projects. By focusing on biographies of significant women from various fields and regions, this initiative has dramatically expanded the availability of knowledge about women's achievements for Kabyle-speaking readers. The effort demonstrates how global campaigns can inspire impactful local contributions, simultaneously addressing gender representation while strengthening underrepresented languages. This work stands as a powerful example of how individual dedication can create meaningful change in the pursuit of knowledge equity.

⇒ Stats Page