WikiIndaba Conference 2018/Joy Agyepong/Report

Event Name

WikiIndaba Conference 2018

My Input

I led a presentation on the topic “Using festivals as a tool in telling the African story” as a representative for Open Foundation West Africa. Although I arrived in Tunisia for the first time 30 minutes to my presentation, I am glad I got the message across. Some participants showed interest and were eager to learn more. I am of the hope that this project will be approved and the African community will make it a success.

Participant Connections

• Networking/Opportunities

I met Faycal Rezkallah, an outstanding photographer and a Wikimedian from Algeria, took 10 secs to get me behind an ordinary curtain together with his smartphone for an awesome portrait. For me this proved that Wikimedians are indeed creative.

Although I was working with May Hachem via internet, meeting her at Indaba provided detailed discussion on our plans to execute the just ended campaign on #VisibleWikiWomens Challenge in our various countries.

My connections with Katherine Meher, Kacie Harold, Isla and Duminasi got lit up as we had several discussions on activities within our communities over lunch.

To amazing persons like Yamen and Emna both part of the organizers from Tunis. I'm glad they helped solve our reimbursement issues through advise and kind gestures.

Not forgetting, the Wikimedia Tunis Team. Well done!! I appreciate your efforts to make this a success and making me a participant amidst all the hustle especially with my travel issue to get to Tunis. I also appreciate the diversity drive you included with regards to selection of participants.

• Adventure

A little fun won’t be harmful right! :) Although I am not a Clubbing person, Tunis found a way to turn the pointer right at me; I loved their food, great music, outstanding DJ and sociable people. The Club was about 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel and that made it awesome to fulfill our night for the three (3) days spent. To my team of great dancers; Erina, Shola, Mompati, N’fana,May Hachem, Julian and Katherine who joined the last night to my departure, I say cheers and many more fun times ahead while we learn as well.

We also visited Sidi Bou Said were we had offered in hand a glass of hot herbal tea on a hilltop while observing the amazing site and embraced with extremely cold breeze. Yes! Tunis is that cold.

Outcome

• How to use GIF as a marketing tool for my community thanks to the amazing Zack McCune.
• Reach out to coding institutions who can train girls to code
• I had the opportunity to meet and capture the images of some notable women who didn’t have articles on Wikipedia thanks to the VisibleWikiWomen's challenge, an initiative of WhoseKnowledge.
• Insights from Blossom of Nigeria User group during the Gender gap session stated that, we should try to meet with journalists and teach them Wikipedia and eventually robe them in as partners. This is something we have started.
• I acquired new connections with people such as Erina of Uganda, N’fana DIAKITE from Mali and Antoni a Tanzanian.
• I intend to share insights acquired during the Wiki Loves Africa's discussion with my community.
• Wiktionary is yet to be taught and utilised in my community. I am of the hope that i will teach this during the Summer Open School being organised by Open Foundation West Africa this September.

Photos

• My Photo Appearances
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  Time with Anass
• 
• 
  Back to Back with Erina