The Wiki Loves Women Skills Focus programme is a practical, group-based online training programme that is designed to build specific skills among community members involved in Wikimedia and Open movements. The programme emphasizes learning by doing and creating, helping participants produce tangible results that improve how women are represented online.

The WLW Skills Focus programme builds on the experience of the Wiki Loves Women Focus Group. While the Focus Group creates a space for ongoing exchange, reflection, and peer learning, this programme is structured within a short timeframe to transfer and develop targeted skills with clear deliverables. Each cohort is centred on one theme, with participants working towards a defined final output.

For the 2026 edition, the focus is on audio storytelling through podcast production. Participants will be guided through the full process of creating a podcast episode, from idea to publication.

The WLW Skills Focus programme is part of a wider approach by Wiki In Africa to supporting communities with practical tools and knowledge. The aim is to ensure that participants are able not only to learn new skills, but also to apply them in their local contexts and share them with others.

Key points

The programme is run as a small cohort (approximately 10–15 participants).
It is intended for intermediate and advanced participants, not beginners.
Participants should already have some experience in Wikimedia, communication, or content creation.
Applicants are expected to be connected to an existing volunteer group, user group, or organisation, and to share what they learn.
The programme combines weekly training sessions and independent work.
Each participant is expected to produce and publish one completed final audio episode.

2026 Skills Focus: Podcast Production

In this edition, participants will produce a short audio episode that highlights the story of a woman connected to their community or workplace.

During the programme, participants will:

Develop a clear story idea
Identify and confirm a guest
Prepare and conduct an interview
Record and edit their audio
Prepare the episode for publishing
Develop a communications plan for publishing their audio

The training is structured in four sessions covering:

Story development and guest selection
Interview preparation and structure
Recording tools and sound quality
Editing and communication

After the training phase, participants will complete their episodes independently, with optional support available.

Outputs and outcomes

One completed audio episode per participant
Practical experience in storytelling and audio production
Skills that can be reused and shared within communities
Contribution to increasing the visibility of women’s stories

Language

The programme will be conducted in English.
Participants may produce their final audio in the language of their choice.

2026 Cohort


Name	Country	Biography
Raveloaritiana Mamisoa	Madagascar	My name is Raveloaritiana Mamisoa, I am a Wikimedia contributor from Madagascar and the Francophone Community Coordinator at Africa Wiki Women. Through my involvement in the Wikimedia movement, I work to strengthen participation and collaboration within Francophone communities, and I love organizing and participating in Wikimedia initiatives and campaigns. As a contributor, I create and improve content on Wikimedia platforms, including articles about my country and its heritage.
Chinmayee Mishra	India	I am Chinmayee Mishra, an Odia Wikimedian and community organiser from India, and have been actively contributing to the Wikimedia movement for a decade now, particularly around knowledge equity, gender gap, community development, technological advancements and capacity building. I have been involved in initiatives including Wiki Women Camp 2023, WikiConference India 2026, Wiki Women* Task Force 2025, and the Let’s Connect peer learning programme, and I’m particularly interested in creating more inclusive spaces for learning and participation within the movement.
Julia Lemekwane	South Africa	Based in Pretoria, South Africa, Julia Lemekwane is an award-winning author, final-year Information Science student at the University of South Africa (UNISA), publisher, and founder of Royal Bookstore. She is a chapter member of Wikimedia South Africa and participated in the SADiLaR-Wikipedia-PanSALB (SWiP) Train-the-Trainer mentoring and coaching programme. As a SWiP facilitator, she leads Wikipedia mini-workshops that promote open knowledge, digital literacy, and the representation of South African languages and underrepresented communities on Wikimedia platforms. Her work combines librarianship, publishing, and information literacy to expand equitable access to knowledge.
Falaka Issaka	Togo	Je m'appelle Falaka Issaka, jeune géographe togolais et membre de la communauté Wikimedia depuis 2023. Je contribue à la promotion des connaissances libres et m'intéresse particulièrement aux thématiques liées à l'environnement, au climat et au développement durable. À travers Wikimedia, je souhaite accroître la visibilité des contenus africains et contribuer à un accès libre et inclusif au savoir.
Amina Alhassan	Ghana	My name is Amina Alhassan from Ghana. I am a Wikimedian, Student- teacher, and a contributor to the Dagbani Wikipedia, where I am passionate about promoting indigenous languages and improving access to free knowledge. I enjoy contributing to Wikimedia projects and supporting initiatives that empower communities through open knowledge.
Kannenwa Moutassala	Tchad	Je m'appelle Kannenwa Moutassala (Kannenwa Rachel sur wikimedia) communicante et contributrice Wikimedia au Tchad. Membre de Wikimedia Tchad depuis 2024, je participe à des initiatives visant à promouvoir la connaissance libre, à documenter le patrimoine africain et à accroître la visibilité des femmes et des communautés africaines sur les projets Wikimedia.
Oumarou Tahirou Rakifatou	Niger	Je suis passionnée par le partage des connaissances et les initiatives qui favorisent l'accès libre à l'information. Mon engagement envers Wikimedia consiste à contribuer à des contenus fiables, à promouvoir la collaboration et à soutenir la diffusion du savoir au bénéfice de tous.
Bashir Muhammad	Nigeria	My name is Bashir Yahuza Muhammad. I am an active Wikimedia editor with over 50,000 edits across Wikimedia projects, contributing as an administrator on Hausa Wikipedia and a New Page Reviewer on English Wikipedia. For the past three consecutive years, I have organized the Wiki Loves Women #SheSaid campaign in the Hausa community, and I also volunteer with the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria as a member of its Programmes Team.
Juliet Acom	Ughanda	A volunteer with the Wikimedia Community User Group of Uganda (WCUGU) since 2022, I am passionate about open knowledge for development - I believe in equitable, diverse and inclusive knowledge exchange and sharing.
Camelia Boban	Italy	My name is Camelia, Wikipedian since March 18th 2007 and wikimedian since September of the same year, I served as Wikimedia Italy's first coordinator for Education in Lazio region from October 2015 since March 2017. On August 2016 I founded the WikiDonne project in Italian Wikipedia, becoming in November of the same year the founder and Chair of WikiDonne User Group. I'm supporting many User Groups engaged in diversity, serving as contact for WikiClassic and Wikigrannies. WMIT member from the beginning (2007), member of WLM Italy preliminary jury for ten editions from 2012 to 2022, WMSE member since 2017, WMAR and WMCH member since 2018, then WMDC, WMNY & WMBE. AffCom member since 16 january 2017, I served as treasurer in 2018 and 2020 and as it's Chair in 2022; with my colleagues I love help affiliates to organize themselves and solve conflicts (as a member of the Mediation SubCommittee). I think that user groups are the first entities to grow up our comunity, because they are present on the territory. From October 2022 I am one of the Northern and Western Europe Grants Committe members.
Nomsa Mwamuka	South Africa	I am educator, writer, and media practitioner with a background in communications, research, TV and radio production, and now venturing into digital storytelling. I am published author currently working on a book called Acts of Activism - to showcase and celebrate African women cultural activists. This is a project I hope can find life through this podcast training and its impact in empowering and collaborating with other women across the continent.
Merveille Dsamen	Cameroon	My name is Merveille, and I am a Wikimedia contributor and coordinator of the Yaoundé/Centre zone within the Wikimedians of Cameroon User Group. I contribute mainly to Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons and Wikiquote, with a particular interest in African culture, women’s history, and local knowledge. Through my coordination role, I also support community activities, training sessions, edit-a-thons and the engagement of new contributors, especially women.
Amarachi Doris Okoro	Nigeria	My name is Amarachi Doris Okoro. I am a Nigerian Wikimedian and campaign organiser passionate about open knowledge, gender equity, and increasing the visibility of African women and underrepresented knowledge. I am actively involved with Africa Wiki Women, and Igbo Wikimedians User Group. I have organised and led women-based programs like the EditHer Africa, International Women’s Day campaigns, and Igbo language and cultural knowledge projects, while also supporting training, partnerships, and community-led documentation.
Andikan Eduok	Nigeria	My name is Andikan Eduok. I am a graphic designer, Community and Social Media Manager, and Wikimedian passionate about open knowledge, digital inclusion, and community building. I am the Founder and Lead of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria – Akwa Ibom Network. I am a former Wikimedian-in-Residence with African Wikipedian Alliance, where I led the EmpowerHer project to increase the visibility of African women on Wikipedia and Wikidata. I am also a past Africa Wiki Women Fellow and former Administrative Co-Lead of Africa Wiki Women. Through my work, I support communities to contribute to open knowledge, preserve language and cultural heritage, and use technology for social impact. Thank you.

Training Programme

Please note that this training plan is indicative and may be adapted based on the cohort’s needs and progress. Additional office hours may be organised throughout the programme to provide participants with targeted guidance, practical support, and assistance where needed.

Date	Training	Trainer
04/09/2026 Done	Meeting with the members Objectiveː Welcome and connect with participants, introduce the programme, outline its main objectives and structure, and present the training plan and expectations for the cohort.	Afek Ben Chahed
11/09/2026 Done	Finding the Story & Choosing the Right Guest Objectiveː Help participants identify a compelling story, choose the right guest and define a clear concept for their podcast episode. Focus topics: Finding a story, rather than simply telling a biography Identifying the key moment or turning point in a guest’s experience Choosing the right guest using the four S’s: Standing, Story, Speech, and Situation Developing a clear episode concept and defining its central promise Thinking about the listener and planning context, explanations, and local references Listening for emotion, detail, and moments that reveal the story Preparing for a pre-interview and assessing whether a guest is the right fit Understanding consent, recording conditions, and practical preparation Learning from podcast examples and identifying what makes an interview engaging Session resources: Podcast Production Session 1 Slides Episode Concept 1 Pager (Template) Participant Pack Further Reading Guest Consent & Release (TEMPLATE)	Isla Haddow Flood
18/09/2026 Done	Designing the Conversation Objectiveː Help participants prepare and structure an engaging interview with their chosen guest.	Sandister Tei
25/09/2026 Done	Recording Tools & Audio Production Objectiveː Introduce participants to accessible tools and practical techniques for recording good-quality podcast audio.	Kuhle Ngqezana
02/10/2026	Editing, Branding & Communication Objectiveː Help participants turn their raw recording into a polished episode and communicate it effectively to an audience.	Rachel Zadok

Outputs and Outcomes

Doing...

Wiki Loves Women/Skills Focus

Key points

2026 Skills Focus: Podcast Production

2026 Cohort

Training Programme

Outputs and Outcomes

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