Wiki Loves Africa 2021 (Ghana)

IMPORTANT: Please note that while the threat of contracting COVID-19 is still present globally, we encourage participants to exercise EXTREME CAUTION. Do not attend in-person events or take photographs anywhere without a mask. We would prefer that you use images from your archive or as you go about your daily practices. Please do not place yourself (or any person with you) at risk or in danger. #staysafe.

Wiki Loves Africa is an annual contest where anyone across Africa can contribute media that relates to the theme for the year. Media (in the form of photographs, video and audio) that illustrate the specific theme are uploaded on Wikimedia Commons for use on Wikipedia and its sister projects. Each year the theme changes and is chosen by the community from universal, visually-rich and culturally-specific topics (for example, markets, rites of passage, festivals, public art, cuisine, natural history, urbanity, daily life, notable persons, etc).

This year, the contest is focused on Health and Wellness.

Open Foundation West Africa once again is organising 2021 virtual workshops and Office Hours to help participants during upload sessions.

Wiki Loves Africa In Brief

This year, the project will begin on Feb. 15th 2021 and end April 15th 2021. Sign up to the Dashboard here

What should we contribute ? Pictures, Audios and Videos. Find out more about the rules here

Theme

The theme this year is Health and wellness.

2020 was a year focused on illness, sickness, fear and loss. For Wiki Loves Africa’s 2021 theme, we intend to take a positive view of where we are and how we can be into the future. If nothing else, 2020 brought to the fore the importance of our health and wellness. Not only ours, but how our health systems and personal wellness affect those around us - people we know and love, and the complete strangers who we come into contact with whilst working, shopping, walking from one place to another.

The theme for Wiki Loves Africa 2021 is to visually interrogate all those factors that contribute to health and wellness. What is the difference between health and wellness? Health is seen as the state of physical, mental and social well-being in which disease and infirmity are absent, whereas wellness is the state of living a healthy lifestyle through enhanced well-being.

Here's a summary of this year's theme. For more information on this year's theme, click here

Health

For Health, we would like photographers to consider the traditional and modern medicines to the individuals that ensure our health: doctors, nurses, caregivers, pharmacists, paramedics, researchers, cleaners, etc..

Health can encompass environmental health, physical health, social health, emotional health, intellectual health, and spiritual health, as well as sexual and reproductive health education.

Individual actors: Doctors, nurses, caregivers, pharmacists, paramedics, researchers, cleaners, patients, etc..

Structures: Public health systems, hospitals, clinics, medical centres, institutions, schools and universities, research laboratories, mobile units, ambulances, etc.

Medications and supplements: Drugs, vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc.

Materials : Masks, respirators, hospital bed, needles, etc.

Essential practices: PPE, etc.

Healthy environments: Natural spaces, living conditions, etc.

Role of science

Traditional health systems: Traditional healers, tools, materials, and practices

Alternative health systems: Homeopathic, naturopaths, etc.

Wellness

Wellness is the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal.

Wellness is taking positive actions towards a healthy and fulfilling life by becoming aware of and making specific choices that keep the body and mind as healthy as possible. This is where preventative health practices towards Wellness can be captured by photographers. Daily and weekly practices that help to keep the mind and body fighting against illness.

Diet : Healthy food, traditional foods, Organic food culture, etc.

Exercise: Sports, practices, recreational activities, etc.

Sleep practices: Mindfulness, meditation, stress-reduction practices, etc.

Healthy outdoor spaces

Education: hand washing, food choices, sexual health options, etc.

Vitamins, minerals, herbs : local or traditional herbs

Self-care strategies include:

Personal and communal hygiene

Food safety and choices

Complementary and alternative medicine

"Healthism"

Mindfulness

Organic food culture

"Salutogenesis"

Workplace wellness

Wellness tourism:

Wellness travellers may seek procedures or treatments using conventional, alternative, complementary, herbal, or homeopathic medicine.

Spas, resorts, businesses, activities, etc.

Physical fitness and sports

Beauty treatments

Healthy diet and weight management

Relaxation and stress relief

Spiritual tourism, including meditation and yoga, whether classical or as exercise; health-related education.