Volunteer Supporters Network/Activities/VSN Wikimania 2026 Preconference event

Volunteer Supporters Network preconference at Wikimania 2026

Time & place

• When: July 21, 2026, from 14:30 to 18:30 UTC+2
• Where: Room 2 at the venue of Wikimania, Paris.

We will also have an online option, please register below.

Register for our preconference event here.

Please note that if you are attending in person, but are NOT registered for the main Wikimania event, you MUST register by July 7.

Meetup & Mapping Volunteer Support Roles in the Movement

The Volunteer Supporters Network (VSN) is an open network of Wikimedians who support Wikimedia volunteers. As a Hub pilot, our mission is to enhance volunteer support in the Wikimedia movement. We want to improve the conditions for online and offline participation of volunteers, to increase diversity and to strengthen the spirit of global cooperation and innovation. By taking part in this session, you’ll be directly contributing to the work of the Hub pilot, and helping us to shape work being done to support people just like you.

There are any number of ways to describe those people doing work in the movement to onboard, train and support volunteers, and any number of things that that job entails! So whether you're a Volunteer manager, Community Coordinator, Trainer, or work in Community Engagement, we'd love to see you. You do not have to already be a member or liaison of the VSN to attend.

More information about the VSN and the Hub pilot can be found on Meta here.

Agenda

• 14:30 - 15:00 - Introduction to the VSN, and a summary of what we've been doing as a Hub pilot
• 15:00 - 16:30 - Meetup: Opportunity to meet with others working in volunteer support in the movement, to share our experiences and learn from each other
• 16:30 - 17:00 - Break
• 17:00 - 18:00/18:30 - Mapping: Contribution to a mapping exercise to understand more about what volunteer support looks like across the movement. Tell us more about your role, and about the knowledge & skills that you feel you need.

Audience

This session offers a rare opportunity for those who work (at Chapters and User Groups in particular) to support volunteers in the movement - working in different roles, sometimes paid, sometimes as a volunteer themselves - to meet others doing the same work as them.

This is primarily a face-to-face event, aimed specifically toward creating and improving networking and connection between those in the movement who support Wikimedia volunteers. We will also be engaging in a mapping exercise to find out more about what volunteer support looks like across the movement.

You do not need to be a member or liaison of the VSN to attend this event, but please note that is aimed towards those whose work involves supporting volunteers.

Registration and attendance

This session is an official Wikimania preconference event, and will take place on July 21, 2026, from 14:30 to 18:30 in Room 2 at the venue of Wikimania 2026 in Paris.

You can register for the event here.

Please note that if you are attending in person, but are NOT registered for the main Wikimania event, you MUST register by July 7

Can I attend online? If there is demand, we may be able to provide an online option - please register here and let us know.

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