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Wikiesfera Grupo de Usuarixs (ESP-WE) received official recognition from the Affiliations Committee on May 9, 2018. This year, 2023, marks the eighth anniversary since its formation as a stable working group at the former municipal culture center, Medialab Prado, in Madrid, Spain. It has also been five years since it became an officially recognized group.

Since its establishment in 2015, Wikiesfera has achieved noteworthy accomplishments in its contributions to Wikipedia and in fostering a feminist community of Wikipedians, gaining recognition as an influential entity within Spain.

Visión de Wikiesfera
Vision of Wikiesfera

We compile the MOST SIGNIFICANT DATA:

  • 110 edition marathons have been organized (84 editatonas and 26 editathons) in 16 cities in Spain (Madrid, Zaragoza, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Murcia, Getafe, Pinto, Torrejón de Ardoz, Seville, Córdoba, Pamplona, Barcelona, Valencia, Huesca, Santander, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Málaga), 4 cities in Ecuador (Quito, Ríobamba, Archidona and Esmeraldas) and 1 city in Portugal (Lisbon), thanks to more than 40 institutions and public and private organizations that have wanted to collaborate with us.
  • During these meetings, supported by public and private institutions, especially in the educational and cultural fields (universities, cultural centers, libraries...), more than 1,500 people participated in the collaborative creation of some 1,200 articles, with a special focus on the publication of biographies of women and articles on the tangible and intangible heritage of various places.
  • We have approximately 50 permanent active editors and dozens who participate more sporadically, with whom we have had more than 300 face-to-face meetings and close to 100 virtual meetings, in which we have trained more than 650 Wikipedians.
  • The group that has been built up over the years has published in Wikipedia more than 5,600 articles and improved more than 30,000 articles; created in Wikidata about 2,500 items and improved about 10,400 items, and about 3,500 files have been uploaded to Commons, all with an approximate impact of 18 million visits to the pages created.
  • We work together through a mailing list with more than 260 people and a Telegram group with 40 participants. In addition, we have developed a database with about 1,000 registered members, who receive our monthly newsletter of activities, and to which we must add about 2,000 followers of our social networks (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube).
  • Our presence in local, national and international media already counts with more than 260 news, reports and interviews, both in the written press (180), radio and podcast (48), and television and video (38).

The following report shows the most relevant achievements of Wikiesfera during the last year, from July 2022 to June 2023, although a detailed list of activities can also be consulted in this link.

Meetings

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La Fabulosa

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After experiencing some challenges at Medialab, especially after relocating to the Matadero culture center, the group decided to explore alternative options to improve their meeting place. Throughout the 2021-22 academic year, we attempted to adapt to the new circumstances, but found it unsustainable to continue there. Our primary goals were to resume meeting on Mondays and select a location that would be convenient for the majority of the group members. Eventually, we came across a recently opened bookstore in the center of Madrid that offered sufficient space to accommodate our gatherings, making it an appealing choice for our group.

Starting from September 2022, Wikiesfera holds weekly meetings at La Fabulosa bookstore, where they have also organized various activities such as editatonas and talks. The bookstore serves as an alternative cultural space that warmly welcomes our initiatives and proposals. To contribute to the sustainability of La Fabulosa, in addition to paying a competitive rent for its location, Wikiesfera has successfully negotiated an appealing discount. This discount allows us to provide each participant in our editatonas with a book relevant to the theme of the activity, creating an engaging and enriching experience for all involved.

Zoom

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Reunión virtual de Wikiesfera en febrero de 2023
Wikiesfera virtual meeting in February 2023

Aside from our regular weekly face-to-face meetings, we have also incorporated two virtual meetings per month to facilitate ongoing engagement for those who have previously attended in-person gatherings, be it weekly meetings or editatonas. This approach ensures continued connectivity with Wikipedians who have joined us from locations outside Madrid and currently lack a stable working group in their respective cities. By providing virtual meeting opportunities, we aim to sustain relationships and foster collaboration regardless of geographical constraints.

In numbers

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In addition to our existing members, there is a steady influx of individuals interested in learning how to edit Wikipedia who regularly join our group. Throughout the 2022-23 course, we have conducted a total of 37 face-to-face meetings (with 274 participants) and 19 virtual meetings (with 147 participants), with an average attendance of 8 people. These gatherings are not bound by predefined objectives; instead, they are designed to cater to the specific needs and interests of each attendee. Participants have the freedom to work on aspects they desire, whether it's initiating article edits, resolving doubts, sharing progress, or discussing challenges they encounter.

At Wikiesfera, we are dedicated to supporting Wikipedians in their learning journey and introduction to the Wikimedia universe. Our open and welcoming meeting space is fostered by a close-knit community of volunteers, ready to provide guidance and assistance throughout the process.

Activities

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Editatonas

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Foto de grupo de la Editatona de mujeres gitanas 2023
Group photo of the editatona of gypsy women 2023

Since 2015, Wikiesfera has been actively combating the gender gap in Wikipedia through a series of editatonas centered on various topics. These activities serve the purpose of raising awareness about the gender disparity issue while also striving to encourage more female editors to join the project. With a playful and engaging approach, the meetings (totaling more than 80 since the inception of Wikiesfera) aim to create an experiential learning environment. The emphasis lies on the participants enjoying the experience of successfully publishing an article, which acts as a catalyst for them to learn how to edit and publish more content. Collaboration is highly encouraged during these gatherings, fostering group work for data localization and collaborative development of the text.

This unique format has garnered significant attention, leading many individuals to contact Patricia Horrillo, Wikiesfera's Project Manager, with requests to include it in different publications. For example, it has been featured in the academic paper Sobre Lorente, P. (2020) Historia de Wikipedia. Paidós y sobre Horrillo Guerra, P. (s/d) ¿Cómo hacer una editaton feminista?, La aventura de aprender by Mariela Farina from Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (UNTREF) in Argentina.

During the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, a total of 18 editatonas were held, with 16 being face-to-face gatherings in 7 Spanish cities (Madrid, Zaragoza, Santander, Tenerife, Malaga, Valencia, and Murcia) and 2 being virtual events. These meetings collectively involved 221 editors who contributed to the creation of 194 new articles. The continued success of these initiatives reflects Wikiesfera's ongoing commitment to making Wikipedia more inclusive and diverse.

2022

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  1. September 26, 2022 I Editatona sobre autoficción #26S. Librería La Fabulosa (Madrid)
  2. October 17, 2022 I Editatona de escritoras #17O. Librería La Fabulosa (Madrid)
  3. November 19, 2022 | Editatona de aragonesas en las artes escénicas #19N. Gobierno de Aragón (Zaragoza)
  4. November 26, 2022 | Editatona de artistas de Cantabria #26N. Fundación Banco Santander (Santander)
  5. November 28, 2022 I Editatona de activistas de palestinas #28N. Librería La Fabulosa (Madrid)

2023

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  1. February 10, 2023 | Editatona de canarias STEM #10F. Instituto Universitario de Estudios de las Mujeres (Tenerife)
  2. February 11, 2023 | Editatona virtual de aragonesas STEM #11F. Gobierno de Aragón (Zaragoza)
  3. February 13, 2023 I Editatona de mujeres STEM #13F. Librería La Fabulosa (Madrid)
  4. March 8, 2023 I Editatona de artistas de Málaga #8M. La Térmica (Málaga)
  5. March 27, 2023 I Editatona de dramaturgas #27M. Librería La Fabulosa (Madrid)
  6. April 14, 2023 I Editatona de mujeres gitanas #14A 2023. Medialab Matadero. (Madrid)
  7. April 15, 2023 | Editatona de autoras #15A. Prodigioso Volcán (Madrid)
  8. May 6, 2023 | Editatona de mujeres relevantes EVAP. EVAP (Valencia)
  9. May 12, 2023 | Editatona de artistas visuales murcianas #12M. Centro Cultural El Carmen (Murcia)
  10. May 19, 2023 | Editatona de pensadoras #19M. Medialab Matadero (Madrid)
  11. June 2, 2023 | Editatona decolonial #2J. DigitalFems (Madrid)
  12. June 22, 2023 | Editatona de autoras de fantasía y sci-fi #23J. Medialab Matadero (Madrid)
  13. June 28, 2023 I Editatona de temática lésbica #28J. Medialab Matadero (Madrid)

WikInvisibles

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Cartel de WikInvisibles, un encuentro coordinado por Wikiesfera para identificar las brechas de género en Wikimedia
Poster of WikInvisibles, a meeting coordinated by Wikiesfera to identify gender gaps in Wikimedia.

Wikiesfera organized the WikInvisibles meeting, a collaborative event aimed at exploring academic research on the gender gap within Wikimedia projects. The meeting was made possible with support from the Women and Wikipedia project and in partnership with Medialab Matadero. The event took place on Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, at the Aulario de Medialab in Matadero, Madrid. The conference brought together scholars, experts from the Wikimedia community, and enthusiasts who shared valuable insights, data, and knowledge concerning the gender gap in Wikipedia and related projects. It featured five presentations and one practical workshop, fostering an environment of shared learning.

The event saw the participation of 31 individuals, with 80% of attendees being women and over 80% being aged 35 and above. Although the majority came from Madrid, there were also participants from three other Spanish cities (Barcelona, Alicante, and Valladolid), as well as from two other countries: Italy and Portugal. Various organizations were represented at the meeting, including Wikimujeres UG, Cuarto Propio and WikiDonne (Italy), along with the Wikiproyecto LGBT, Amical Wikimedia, and Wikimedia España, among others. The diverse participation highlighted the global interest in addressing the gender gap in Wikimedia projects and the commitment of these organizations to the cause.

The two-day gathering proved to be both engaging and thought-provoking, as we collectively delved into the exploration of gender gaps within Wikimedia. Throughout the event, there was a vibrant exchange of knowledge, experiences, and ideas among academics, experts, and members of the Wikimedia community, fostering a rich and essential sharing of perspectives. WikInvisibles provided an invaluable platform for reflecting on the challenges, studying them in depth, and proposing potential solutions to address these gaps effectively. The meeting's significance was underscored by the crucial discussions surrounding research findings, experiences, and concerns related to the gender gap issue.

In the closing session, beyond simply drawing conclusions, all attendees actively collaborated to brainstorm potential solutions for the situations and challenges identified during the event. This collaborative effort further exemplified the commitment and determination of the participants to make meaningful progress in closing the gender gaps within Wikimedia projects.

Talks and workshops

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Over the past year, Wikiesfera has been actively engaged in sharing knowledge through talks, workshops, and round table discussions focusing on content gaps in Wikipedia. In the current academic year, 2022-23, our group has received invitations from 12 diverse institutions across various fields, including education, culture, and technology, seeking our participation in these valuable interventions.

IES Santa Bárbara de Málaga
IES Santa Bárbara de Málaga (Málaga, Spain)

Education

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  • Universidad de Salamanca, to give an introductory workshop on Wikipedia with students of Anthropology of Gender.
  • Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, to give a talk on Wikipedia and the gender gap in the framework of the Semana de la Cultura Digital UC3M for students of the Master in Cultural Management.
  • Universidad Camilo José Cela, to give an introductory talk about Wikipedia to students of their masters.
  • Instituto de Educación Secundaria Santa Bárbara de Málaga, to give an introductory talk about the gender gap in Wikipedia to teenagers.
  • Escuela de Formación del Ayuntamiento de Madrid, to give an introductory workshop on Wikipedia in the program "Nuevas experiencias bibliotecarias" with library staff of the Community of Madrid, which took place at the Iván de Vargas Municipal Public Library in Madrid.
Editatón de artistas de Canarias ‘Isla de Arte’
Editatón of Canarian artists 'Isla de Arte' (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain)

Culture

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  • The cultural space La Térmica of the Diputación de Málaga to participate in the round table entitled MUJERES VISIBLES | La invisibilidad/visibilidad histórica de la mujer en las artes y la tecnología together with the multidisciplinary artist María Gimeno and the actress Nathalie Poza.
  • Consejería de Cultura de la Comunidad de Madrid to participate in the round table on heritage META REGIÓN: Paisaje y tecnología, which took place in the Auditorio Lolita Franco of the Complejo El Águila in Madrid.
  • Casa de Colón of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria to give a talk-colloquium entitled ¿Está realmente todo en Wikipedia? and to coordinate an editathon on artists from the Canary Islands present in the exhibition 'Isla de Arte', in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
  • Centro de Formación de la Cooperación Española en Montevideo (AECID) and LAAAB-Gobierno de Aragón, to participate in the Conversatorio vector TEC/DIGITALIZAR of the cycle "Cómo transformar tu equipo en un laboratorio con seis vectores" (How to transform your team into a laboratory with six vectors).
  • The communication agency Prodigioso Volcán, to give an introductory talk on Wikipedia with the title ¿Qué sabemos de la enciclopedia libre? (What do we know about the free encyclopedia?).
Editatona decolonial
Decolonial editatona (Madrid, Spain)

Technology

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Wikimedia movement

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LGBT

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While Wikiesfera has been actively promoting visibility of the LGBT collective since 2019, the academic year 2022-23 marked a significant step forward in strengthening ties with the Wikiproyecto:LGBT community in Spanish. During one of our virtual meetings, organized in collaboration with Medialab Matadero, we had the privilege of hosting María Sefidari, the founder of Wikiproyecto:LGBT, and MiguelAlanCS, the current promoter of the initiative. This special session allowed us to gain insights into the project's origins, its current status, and explore potential collaborations and alliances.

In September 2022, we actively participated in Wiki Loves EuroPride 2022, and in October 2022, we were present at the Queering Wikipedia 2022 Meeting for LGBT+ Wikimedians and allies. Building on this momentum, in June 2023, in celebration of International LGBT Pride Day, we coordinated a virtual Editatona centered around lesbian-themed content. This event garnered the participation of 14 individuals, leading to the creation of 23 articles focused on this important aspect of LGBT history and culture. The increased engagement and collaboration with the Wikiproyecto:LGBT community have been instrumental in furthering our efforts to raise awareness and promote inclusivity within Wikipedia.

Conferences

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Throughout this year, Wikiesfera has actively engaged in several international meetings within the Wikimedia movement. In July 2022, we had the privilege of attending the inaugural Wikimedia+Libraries International Convention, thoughtfully organized by Núria Ferrán-Ferrer and Laurie Bridges. These two intense days took place on the campus of Maynooth University, situated west of Dublin, Ireland.

Subsequently, in September 2022, Wikiesfera made a significant contribution to the Wikimedia Summit 2022, an annual event hosted by Wikimedia Deutschland in collaboration with the Wikimedia Foundation. For this particular edition, the first after the COVID-19 pandemic, the summit adopted a hybrid format, with participants joining both on-site in Berlin, Germany, and virtually from various locations worldwide.

Lastly, in February 2023, we were thrilled to take part in the Iberoconf 2023 conference, an inspiring gathering organized by Wikimedia Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. This event provided an exceptional opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing within the Ibero-American Wikimedia community.

Overall, these international meetings have allowed Wikiesfera to forge valuable connections, exchange ideas, and contribute to the broader Wikimedia movement on a global scale.

Projects

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Cárcel de Ventas

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In November 2022, Wikiesfera actively participated in the gathering Cárcel de Ventas: brindis por la memoria, organized by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in collaboration with EUROM and historian Fernando Hernández Holgado. The event took place at the Ateneo La Maliciosa in Madrid. Its main objective was to introduce the website www.carceldeventas.org as a virtual "place of memory" dedicated to preserving the history of Republican female prisoners held in the prison Cárcel de Ventas in Madrid. During the forties of the twentieth century, this place was the most populous female prison in Spain.

As a result of this meeting, the idea emerged to form a group of individuals interested in this historical topic. Their aim was to address the content gaps related to Historical Memory on Wikipedia. To achieve this goal, an introductory workshop on Wikipedia was conducted in March 2023. Volunteers from the Association of neighbors "La Atenea" in the District of Salamanca, Madrid, enthusiastically participated in this initiative.

In parallel, Wikiesfera engaged in discussions with various organizations associated with the project. These conversations focused on planning a meeting centered on women's prisons during Franco's dictatorship. This significant event is scheduled for September 2023. During the meeting, Wikiesfera will coordinate an editathon dedicated to preserving Historical Memory, further contributing to the remembrance and documentation of this crucial aspect of Spain's history.

Paisaje de la Luz

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IX editatón del Paisaje de la Luz
IX editatón of Paisaje de la Luz (BPM Eugenio Trías, Madrid, Spain)

Following the success of the initial phase of the Wikiesfera y el Paisaje de la Luz heritage training project, conducted for the Madrid City Council, Wikiesfera continued with a new phase in the second half of 2022. This time, without the support of Medialab Matadero, the project expanded to three different locations: the Madrid City Hall, the Eugenio Trias Municipal Public Library, and Casa Arabe. The primary objective of this edition was to collaborate with additional institutions interested in shedding light on the material and immaterial heritage related to the Paisaje de la Luz of Madrid through Wikipedia.

Over the course of the project, eight editathons were organized, with participation in editathons V and VI held in June, VII and VIII in September, IX and X in October, and XI and XII in November and December. A total of 27 individuals took part in these engaging sessions. Throughout the duration of the project, numerous elements associated with the Paisaje de la Luz's heritage, including places, buildings, works, people, and plants, were documented, resulting in the creation of 40 new articles and significant improvements to existing ones. Additionally, 16 images were uploaded to Commons, contributing to the visual representation of this cultural heritage.

The collective efforts of the group had a substantial impact, with articles created or edited by the team attracting a remarkable 850,000 visits. Through this collaborative initiative, Wikiesfera has contributed significantly to preserving and promoting Madrid's rich cultural heritage on Wikipedia.

Aspasia (WikiAragón)

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Editatona de aragonesas en las artes escénicas
Editatona of Aragonese women in the performing arts (Zaragoza, Spain)

In 2020, Wikiesfera took on the coordination of the editatonas for the Aspasia Project, an initiative promoted by the Laboratory of the General Directorate of Open Government and Social Innovation (LAAAB) of the Government of Aragon, in collaboration with the Aragonese Institute for Women (IAM). The primary objective of the project was to spotlight noteworthy women from Aragon in various domains on Wikipedia, while also encouraging the involvement of new female editors who could join the working group.

Since then, WikiAragón has successfully completed its second year, and two additional editatonas have been organized. In November, an editatona centered on Aragonese women in the performing arts was conducted, followed by another editatona in February dedicated to Aragonese women in STEM fields. These two events added to the previous eight editatonas, creating a valuable and ever-expanding collection of articles that showcase the significant contributions of women from Aragon.

The continued efforts of Wikiesfera in collaboration with the Aspasia Project have contributed substantially to making the achievements and influence of remarkable Aragonese women more visible on Wikipedia, while also fostering community engagement and growth within WikiAragón.

Citizen innovation

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I Informe de Innovación Ciudadana del Estado español
I Report on Citizen Innovation in Spain

The impact and collaborative nature of Wikiesfera as a citizen initiative have garnered attention within various innovation circles in Spain. In the latter half of 2022, an esteemed invitation was extended to us by ColaBoraBora de Bilbao (País Vasco) to contribute to the first state citizen innovation report for the city, aptly titled "¿De qué va esto de la innovación ciudadana? Un panorama ilustrativo de experiencias y casos prácticos en el Estado español" (Citizen innovation: What the fuss is all about it? An illustrative overview of experiences and case studies in Spain). This comprehensive research, which highlights 28 selected cases, including Wikiesfera, was made possible with the support of the Foundation Daniel and Nina Carasso and the Basque Government. This inclusion in the report stands as a significant recognition of Wikiesfera's remarkable efforts throughout its 8-year existence.

The completed report was officially presented in June 2023 as part of the Ekosistemak23: Hacia un ecosistema de ecosistemas event, organized by Medialab Tabakalera in Tabakalera, San Sebastian. The invitation and involvement in this groundbreaking initiative underscore the influential role played by Wikiesfera as a catalyst for citizen-driven innovation, further affirming the group's contributions to the larger Spanish innovation landscape.

Patricia Horrillo en el encuentro Identidades Comunes
Patricia Horrillo at the Identidades Comunes meeting

Simultaneously, in September 2022, Wikiesfera received an invitation to introduce itself at the meeting Identidades Comunes: II Encuentro Nacional de Ciencia Ciudadana, Ciencias sociales y Humanidades (Common Identities: 2nd National Meeting of Citizen Science, Social Sciences, and Humanities). At this event, Wikiesfera presented itself as a citizen innovation group with ties to technology and knowledge. The gathering was organized by the Ibercivis Foundation, the Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Government of Spain, the University of Zaragoza, the City Council of Zaragoza, and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT). It was held at the Etopia Art and Technology Center in Zaragoza.

During this event, Wikiesfera had the opportunity to be included in the database of initiatives maintained by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT). A few months later, in January 2023, partly connected to the earlier process, Wikiesfera was also incorporated into the Hexagon of Public Innovation (HIP) of the Government of Aragon. The HIP is a model designed to expedite systemic change in organizations, conceptualizing innovation as networks of conversations encompassing shared desires, visions, and affections. This inclusion further solidified Wikiesfera's status as a recognized and influential participant in the field of citizen innovation and public innovation networks.

Communication

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Mailing list

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The Wikiesfera mailing list was established in 2015 with the purpose of serving as an official communication channel for the user group. Additionally, it provided a valuable tool for internal communication among group members, facilitating the exchange of editing queries and other topics of interest to the community. With the receipt of a grant from the Wikimedia Foundation in 2023, Wikiesfera anticipated an increase in its activities. In response to this growth, the group recognized the necessity of enhancing the communication system to make it more user-friendly and efficient.

The updated system aimed to accommodate both individuals seeking to stay informed about group activities and those who desired a secure space for more active interaction and communication with fellow Wikipedians.

Furthermore, we have established a new mailing list to ensure a secure and supportive environment where individuals can freely exchange knowledge and address their questions regarding Wikipedia editing. Membership to this list is entirely voluntary, requiring interested parties to request access by completing a designated form. We are delighted to share that as of June 2023, the mailing list has seen a remarkable response, with 57 people becoming members—a number that has far surpassed our initial expectations. This thriving community fosters a conducive atmosphere for collaborative learning and continued growth among its participants.

Newsletter

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Taking all these considerations into account, at the end of March 2023, we introduced the Wikiesfera Newsletter as a means of providing registered individuals with information about upcoming events organized by our group during the last week of each month. Beyond event announcements, we decided to incorporate chronicles of past activities and details about our weekly meetings, enabling interested participants to join when convenient for them. This comprehensive approach allows for maximum accessibility and engagement.

Additionally, the event and meeting information is subsequently published in the news section of our blog on the Wikiesfera website, ensuring easy access for individuals who are not subscribed to the newsletter. These blog posts have been published for the months of April, May, and June.

The inaugural newsletter was sent to approximately 800 people, our mailing list's size at that time. Impressively, the first edition garnered a remarkable 70% open rate and a Click-Through Rate (CTR) of over 10%, indicating significant interest in Wikisphere's activities within our contact base. Only 4% of recipients chose to unsubscribe, reaffirming the genuine interest in Wikiesfera's endeavors.

By June 2023, the newsletter was already reaching nearly 1,000 people, maintaining similarly positive results with an open rate ranging from 60% to 70%, a CTR above 10%, and an unsubscribe rate of just 1%. These statistics demonstrate the sustained engagement and enthusiasm of our growing audience for the Wikiesfera Newsletter.

Social networks

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Over the past year, we have made significant strides in enhancing our presence on social media platforms, particularly after receiving funding from the Wikimedia Foundation. This increased support has enabled us to allocate more resources towards effectively communicating and disseminating information about our activities, as well as promoting the visibility of our projects.

In 2022, Wikiesfera initiated its official Facebook page, Twitter account, and YouTube channel. Following that, in September 2022, we launched the Wikiesfera Instagram account, and in February 2023, we expanded our reach by establishing a LinkedIn account. These additions were aimed at engaging a more diverse audience interested in our initiatives and widening the reach of our efforts to combat the gender gap on Wikipedia.

As of June 30, 2023, we are proud to have garnered a substantial following across various platforms: 949 followers on Twitter, 610 on Facebook, 278 on Instagram, 91 on LinkedIn, and 48 subscribers on our YouTube channel. These growing numbers reflect our concerted efforts to connect with a broader audience and raise awareness about our mission and activities on multiple fronts.

Press Clipping

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Numerous activities orchestrated by Wikiesfera have received notable coverage across local, national, and international media platforms. These include written press (newspapers and digital media), radio and podcasts, as well as television and video appearances. We diligently maintain a comprehensive press clipping archive since 2015, which now boasts over 260 news articles, reports, and interviews.

Below, you will find a detailed compilation of press (46), radio (6), and television (9) appearances spanning the period from July 2022 to June 2023:

Newspapers and digital media

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Radio and podcasts

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Television and video

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Funding and governance

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In September 2022, Wikiesfera took a significant step by applying for an annual grant from the Wikimedia Foundation to ensure the project's long-term sustainability. Under the proposal Wikiesfera - Combatiendo juntas la brecha de género en Wikipedia (Wikiesfera - Fighting together the gender gap in Wikipedia), the objective was to develop the group's activities in a structured and continuous manner, reducing dependency on a single individual, which had been the case until then.

Editatona de pensadoras (Madrid), que se rige por la política de espacios seguros
Editatona de pensadoras (Madrid), que se rige por la política de espacios seguros de Wikiesfera

While the grant was eventually approved, the awarded amount was only half of the initially requested sum. As a result, some of the planned progress as part of the group's sustainability and growth strategy had to be scaled back. Nonetheless, this first grant marked a significant shift in the group's operations, allowing Wikiesfera to establish and expand its permanent learning community in Spain. This included weekly editing activities, occasional impactful events, and collaboration with institutions that garnered attention from local and national media.

In conjunction with the grant commitment, Wikiesfera began developing a governance system that fosters a collaborative approach to the group's operations and oversight. Emphasizing transparency and active member participation, the "Consejo de sabias" (Council of Wise Women) was formed, consisting of the ten most involved Wikipedians within the group. This council plays a crucial role in overseeing Wikiesfera's progress and financial accounts. Additionally, the group approved the Safe Spaces Policy, which applies to all weekly meetings and other activities coordinated by Wikiesfera, ensuring an inclusive and supportive environment for all participants.

Future challenges

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Wikiesfera is steadfast in its commitment to expanding and strengthening all activities that solidify our position as a prominent feminist reference group in Spain, championing the battle against the gender gap in Wikipedia, as well as advocating for the visibility of LGBT individuals and underrepresented minorities within the free encyclopedia. However, the reduction of our funding request for the year 2023 by half presents a clear constraint on this progress. As of now, our resources only support a part-time paid role (Patricia Horrillo), limiting the group's potential for growth beyond recent achievements.

Relying solely on a single figure also introduces the risk of endangering the group's long-term sustainability. To ensure our continued impact and success, it is crucial that the Wikimedia Foundation grants funding in line with our genuine growth capacity, enabling us to establish a stable team of collaborators. This support is vital to Wikiesfera's lasting influence and ability to maintain its mission, empowering marginalized voices and promoting inclusivity in Wikipedia.