Wikimedia CEE Hub/Microgrants/Applications 2025/MG-14
statusfunded
Photographic Expedition to Iskanderkul for Wiki Loves Earth 2025 (Tajikistan)
The main goal of our project is to contribute high-quality, freely licensed photographs of the Iskanderkul Nature Reserve in Tajikistan to Wikimedia Commons as part of the Wiki Loves Earth 2025 international photography contest.
targetCommons, Wikidata, Wikipedia
proposed start date1 June
proposed end date1 July
budget (EUR)700 EUR
grant typeaffiliate
applicant• Tajik Wikimedians User Group
This is a generated Meta-Wiki page by the CEE Hub Staff. The page was copied from the specific Google Form, where grantees has submitted their application for the CEE Hub Microgrant programme. Please do not make any changes. Use the discussion page for your feedback.
Basic information
[edit]- You are applying as
- Wikimedia affiliate
- Your name(s)/Organisation name
- Your username(s)
- What is your role in the movement?
- Editor, Tajik Wikimedians User Group`s leader
- If you are a part of a WM community, please state its name here
- Tajik Wikimedians User Group
- Have you applied for any Wikimedia Foundation grant or any other grant before?
- No
- Name of your proposed microgrant project
- Photographic Expedition to Iskanderkul for Wiki Loves Earth 2025 (Tajikistan)
- Proposed start date of the project
- 1 June 2025
- Proposed end date of the project
- 1 July 2025
- In which CEE country/ies will the project activities be implemented?
- Tajikistan – the project will take place in the Sughd region, where the Iskanderkul Nature Reserve is located.
Project information
[edit]- What is the main goal of your project?
- The main goal of our project is to contribute high-quality, freely licensed photographs of the Iskanderkul Nature Reserve in Tajikistan to Wikimedia Commons as part of the Wiki Loves Earth 2025 international photography contest.
- Iskanderkul is one of the most beautiful and ecologically significant natural areas in Tajikistan, but currently, there are few freely available images of it on Wikimedia platforms. Through this project, we aim to document the reserve's landscape, flora, and fauna and make them accessible for use in Wikipedia articles and other Wikimedia projects.
- This project will also serve as a way to engage and encourage local volunteers to participate in photography and free knowledge initiatives. By organizing this expedition, we hope to inspire other Wikimedians in Tajikistan and Central Asia to contribute more actively to Commons and to increase awareness of the region’s rich natural heritage within the global Wikimedia movement.
- Describe which activities you plan to implement
- The project will be implemented by a core team of 5 people, including a photographer and Wikimedia contributors. We estimate capturing around 400–800 photographs of the Iskanderkul area, focusing on nature, landscapes, and biodiversity. Based on our plan, we expect to photograph 3–5 significant natural features daily, totaling 10–15 key sites during the trip. All quality images will be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons under the appropriate categories. Descriptions will be added in Tajik and English, and relevant Commons categories will be improved or created. We aim to ensure high-quality, geotagged uploads that can be used in Wikipedia articles in multiple languages.
- Describe your team
- Our project will be carried out by a small but experienced team of Wikimedians and local volunteers:
- Zolfeqar Fatihzadeh – WLE Supporter for Tajik Wikimedian User group, (Will support remotely)
- Responsible for overall project planning, coordination, and reporting.
- Will ensure proper categorization and uploading of media files to Wikimedia Commons.
- Мухаммадсолех Оев – Photographer, President of the Birdwatchers Association in Tajikistan
- Responsible for capturing high-quality photos of landscapes, flora, and fauna.
- Has previous experience in nature or travel photography.
- Zinhor Nasri – Logistics and Research Assistant
- Will assist in route planning, contacting local authorities, and managing transportation and accommodation.
- Will help identify the key natural objects and assist with documentation in the field.
- Ibrohim Kurbanov - New Tajik wikimedians, Photographer, Influencer
- Shavkat Ahmadov- New Tajik Wikimedian . Pr Support
- Zolfeqar Fatihzadeh – WLE Supporter for Tajik Wikimedian User group, (Will support remotely)
- All members of the team are familiar with the goals of the Wikimedia movement and committed to contributing valuable and freely licensed media content to the Commons platform. The work is collaborative, and all participants will contribute to the documentation, uploading, and promotion of the project results.
- For which Wikimedia projects is the project relevant? For which communities is the project relevant? What is your target group?
- The project is primarily relevant to Wikimedia Commons and we will use the photos in Wikidata items and Wikipedia articles.
- It is relevant to the Tajik Wikimedia community, Central Asian contributors, and the global Wiki Loves Earth community.
- Our target group includes nature photographers, new and existing Commons contributors, and Tajik-speaking Wikipedia editors who can use the images to illustrate local nature-related content.
- Do you have any metrics for the proposed grant proposal? If yes, please fill in the number of participants, editors, organisers and content contributions (Wikipedia articles, Wikimedia Commons images, Wikidata items, etc.)
- Wikimedia Commons images uploaded: 400-3800
- Categories created or improved within the contest scope: 5–10
- Images with detailed descriptions and geotags: 90%+
Financial information
[edit]- What is the amount that you are requesting for this grant proposal?
- 700 EUR
- Please provide the budget of your grant proposal
| Expense type | Expense details | Number of Units | Unit Price | Expense Total |
| Travel | Round-trip transport from Dushanbe to Iskanderkul (shared for 4 people) | 1 | €260 | €260 |
| Accommodation | 2 nights × 4 people = 8 nights | 8 | €20.62 | €165 |
| Food and beverages | Meals × 4 people for 2 days = 8 meals | 8 | €21.87 | €175 |
| Photography equipment, communication & permits | Shared use (batteries, memory cards, park entrance fees, internet, etc.) | 1 | €50 | €50 |
| Contingency | Unexpected shared costs | 1 | €50 | €50 |
| TOTAL | 700.00 | |||
Other
[edit]- Any additional comments or remarks about your project
- This project will not only enrich Wikimedia Commons with valuable images of Tajikistan’s natural heritage but also strengthen the local Wikimedia community by encouraging active participation and skill development. We are committed to transparency and sharing our results openly, contributing to the global free knowledge movement.