Wikimedia CUG Rwanda Activity report for 2024-2025

Rwandan Wikimedians at the US Embassy in kigali

                                            Executive Summary

Open Source Knowledge Rwanda, operating as Wikimedia Community User Group Rwanda, is a registered non-profit dedicated to promoting open knowledge in Rwanda. Our mission focuses on enhancing content on Wikimedia Foundation platforms in Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili, while fostering educational and training initiatives, with a special emphasis on Kinyarwanda. From June 2024 to July 2025, we achieved significant progress in content creation, community engagement, and capacity building, emphasizing Kinyarwanda, English, and French Wikipedia projects. Key initiatives included establishing new WikiClubs, hosting events like Wiki for Human Rights 2024, Africa Wiki Challenge 2025, Wiki Loves Earth 2024, and WikiGap, alongside edit-a-thons and workshops. Despite challenges such as limited resources, our efforts enriched Wikimedia platforms, advanced digital literacy, and preserved Rwanda’s cultural heritage, reaching 2 million readers on Kinyarwanda Wikipedia.

Foreword from Our Executive Director & Founder

As we reflect on the 2024-2025 period, I am immensely proud of the transformative impact the Wikimedia Community User Group Rwanda has achieved in advancing open knowledge and preserving our nation’s rich cultural heritage. This year has been a testament to our unwavering commitment to making knowledge freely accessible, empowering communities, and amplifying Rwanda’s voice on the global stage. Through our dedicated efforts, we have significantly enriched Kinyarwanda Wikipedia, creating and improving content that resonates with our local communities while reaching an impressive 2 million readers on Kinyarwanda Wikipedia. This milestone reflects not only the growth of our digital presence but also the power of collective action in showcasing Rwanda’s history, culture, and natural beauty to a global audience. By empowering communities, particularly our youth, to contribute to Wikimedia projects, we have fostered a new generation of knowledge creators who are passionate about documenting and sharing Rwanda’s unique narrative. Our innovative initiatives, such as the WikiClubs program, have been pivotal in engaging students and educators across Rwanda, equipping them with the skills to contribute to Wikipedia and other Wikimedia platforms. These efforts have not only enhanced digital literacy but also instilled a sense of pride in preserving our tangible and intangible heritage, from historical sites to traditional practices. Our participation in global campaigns like Wiki Loves Earth, Wiki Loves Monuments, Wiki Loves Folklore, Wiki For Human Rights and the Africa Wiki Challenge has further elevated Rwanda’s cultural and environmental contributions, ensuring they are celebrated and preserved for future generations. None of this would have been possible without the strength of our partnerships. Collaborations with local institutions, such as the Rwanda Governance Board and National Library Services, and international organizations, including the Wikimedia Foundation and WikiFranca, have provided critical support, resources, and opportunities for growth. These partnerships have enabled us to expand our reach, train over 200+ contributors, and strengthen our role in the global Wikimedia movement.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our board members: Dr. Mugenzi Willy, Dushime Eugene, Rose Cyatukwire, Siboniyo Damascene, Serushyana Charles, my fellow co-founders: Rebecca Nyinawumuntu, Nyirahabihirwe Clementine and Boris Bahire and the core team members Niyubahwe Adiel, Uwimpuhwe Valentine, Rugamba Robert and Nishimirwe Liliane and all our community volunteers, whose tireless dedication has been the backbone of our success. Their passion for open knowledge and cultural preservation drives our mission forward. To our partners and supporters, both local and international, thank you for believing in our vision and enabling us to make a lasting impact. Together, we are reshaping Rwanda’s narrative, ensuring that our stories, voices, and heritage are shared with the world in an accessible, inclusive, and meaningful way. As we look to the future, we remain committed to expanding our efforts, deepening community engagement, and continuing to bridge knowledge gaps. With your continued support, we will build on this year’s achievements to create an even brighter future for open knowledge in Rwanda and beyond.

Derrick NDAHIRO Executive Director & Founder, Wikimedia CUG Rwanda

Key Activities and Achievements (June 2024 – July 2025)

The following sections organize our activities by the objectives they served from June 2024 to July 2025.

1.Promote Free Knowledge Access

Wiki for Human Rights 2024

Date: July 1, 2024

Overview: Hosted in collaboration with the Wikimedia Foundation, this event focused on the theme “Right to Information and Community Participation in Environment Protection and Sustainable Land Use.” It engaged 33 community members and 15 new contributors from Kepler University and other institutions. Achievements :Created over 100 articles on Wikipedia, primarily in Kinyarwanda and English, addressing environmental issues and sustainable land use. Enriched Wikimedia Commons and Wikidata with Rwanda-specific environmental knowledge. Featured speakers, including Professor Beth Kaplin (University of Rwanda) and Chris Uwijuru (National Land Authority), provided expert insights. Impact: Empowered youth to contribute to free knowledge and raised awareness about environmental advocacy. Photos: Available on Wikimedia Commons.

More photos on WikiCommons.

Africa Wiki Challenge 2025

Date: Launched May 26, 2025

Overview: Part of the broader Africa Wiki Challenge by Open Foundation West Africa, this campaign focused on Rwanda’s history, culture, and trade under the theme “Africa Continental Free Trade.” Achievements: Created and improved articles on Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikiquote, emphasizing Rwanda’s role in African trade. Amplified local voices to reduce the African content gap (2.69% of Wikipedia’s articles). Impact: Increased Rwanda’s visibility on Wikimedia platforms and fostered community-driven narratives.

More photos on wikicommons

2. Capacity building

Core Team Building Workshop

Date: October 2024 (1-day event) Overview: Held at Sainte-Famille Hotel, Kigali, and facilitated by Lucie Nzaramba, an expert in development studies, gender transformation, and sociotherapy, this workshop focused on collaboration and communication. Achievements: Conducted interactive sessions with icebreakers, problem-solving, and role-playing activities. Enhanced teamwork, conflict resolution, and alignment with organizational goals. Brainstormed strategies to strengthen WikiClub initiatives and Kinyarwanda Wikipedia contributions. Impact: Strengthened team cohesion and improved communication and leadership skills.

OpenRefine Workshop with Harouna

Date: May 15, 2025 Overview: This virtual workshop, facilitated by Harouna from Wikimedia Cameroon, trained 25+ participants, including WikiClub members, in data cleaning and Wikidata contributions. Achievements: Added or improved 40+ Rwanda-specific Wikidata entries. Enhanced digital literacy and community collaboration. Impact: Strengthened cultural heritage preservation through Wikidata.

WikiClub Initiative

Overview: Led by Rugamba Robert and Nishimirwe Lilian through the WikiVibrance project, this initiative established WikiClubs in schools in Rwamagana and Gicumbi Districts to promote knowledge creation among students.

Achievements: Established four WikiClubs in high schools in Eastern and Northern provinces. Recruited 90 students and 32 teachers, resulting in 200 edited and 83 created articles on English, French, and Kinyarwanda Wikipedia. Showcased at the Wiki Student Summit in Tanzania by Derrick Ndahiro. Impact: Boosted digital literacy, research capabilities, and Kinyarwanda content creation.

video:

Wiki clubs Testimonials

Photos;Available on Wikimedia Commons.

Refresher training for WikiClub Mentors and Leads

Date: March 2025 Overview: Hosted at our Kacyiru head office, this training engaged mentors and students from GS Ruhunda, GS Gishari, GS Nyinawimana, and Kageyo TSS to foster knowledge sharing and digital literacy.

Achievements: : Trained teachers and students in research, writing, and digital content creation. Strengthened WikiClub initiatives in Rwamagana and Gicumbi Districts. Impact: Enhanced local knowledge documentation in Kinyarwanda. Photos: Available on Wikimedia Commons.

3. Preserve Cultural Heritage

Wiki Loves Earth 2024

Date: May 30 – June 30, 2024

Overview: This photographic contest encouraged participants to upload images of Rwanda’s natural areas, flora, and fauna to Wikimedia Commons. A Rwandan jury evaluated submissions from June 30 to July 2024, selecting the top 10 for international consideration. Achievements: Uploaded 304 high-quality images showcasing Rwanda’s national parks, protected areas, and endemic species, including Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park. Enriched Wikimedia Commons with diverse visual content. Impact: Promoted Rwanda’s natural heritage globally and encouraged community participation in open knowledge sharing.

Some of the donated photos :

Photos: WLE 2024 in Rwanda donated photos.

Wiki Loves Monuments 2024

Date: May 30 – June 30, 2024

Overview: This global photography contest promoted Rwanda’s historic sites through Wikimedia platforms. Rwanda participated for the fourth time, inviting submissions of monument photos from October 1 to October 31. Achievements: Uploaded 123 high-quality images showcasing Rwanda’s monuments, museums, and statues of religious, social, economic, and political significance. Enriched Wikimedia Commons with cultural content. Impact: Enhanced global visibility of Rwanda’s cultural heritage and fostered community engagement. Some of the donated photos

Photos: WLM 2025 in Rwanda .

The Afrocreative 2024

Date: August 27 – September 14, 2024

Lead Organizers: Jack Niyigena, Alice Mukeshimana Overview: Supported by The Africa Narrative, and the U.S. Embassy in Kigali, this initiative aimed to enhance African cultural representation on Wikipedia, focusing on film and television. It included an in-person workshop, an online session, and a contest. Achievements: The first workshop introduced 22 new members to Wikipedia and created 60 new articles on African film and culture. The online session engaged 44 participants, including filmmakers and festival directors, expanding the project’s reach. The contest resulted in 154 new articles and 257 edited articles on English and Kinyarwanda Wikipedia. Impact: Strengthened African cultural representation and fostered collaboration within the creative sector.

Photos available on wikimedia commons

Wiki Loves Africa 2025

Date: March 1 – April 30, 2025 Overview: This contest focused on documenting Rwanda’s food culture from farm to plate. Achievements: Uploaded 196 high-quality images to Wikimedia Commons. Engaged communities through social media campaigns. Impact: Strengthened Rwanda’s representation in global knowledge repositories. Photos: Available on Wikimedia Commons.

Wiki Loves Folklore Photographic Contest 2025

Date: February 2 – March 31, 2025 Overview: This photography competition celebrated Rwanda’s folk culture, including festivals, dances, music, and traditions. Achievements: Uploaded 159 high-quality images documenting Rwanda’s folk culture, including fortune telling, folk dance, and traditional music. Engaged communities through social media campaigns. Impact: Enriched Wikimedia Commons with culturally significant content, strengthening Rwanda’s global representation. Photos: Available on Wikimedia Commons.

Field Visits to Rwanda’s Cultural Sites

Date: February 20, 2025

Location: Gicumbi District, Rwanda Organized by: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy (Inteko y’Umuco) Overview: Represented by Niyubahwe Adiel, we visited the Rutare Heritage Site, Kaniga Hill, and the National Liberation Museum to document Rwanda’s cultural and historical landmarks. Achievements: Contributed images and content to Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia. Strengthened partnerships with Inteko y’Umuco. Impact: Enriched Kinyarwanda Wikipedia and amplified Rwanda’s heritage to 2 million readers globally.

Inkera y’Imihigo

Date: March 21, 2025 Overview: Represented by Niyubahwe Adiel, we participated in this event at the RPF Conference Hall in Nyanza to celebrate International Poetry Day and honor cultural contributors. Achievements: Recognized youth contributions through the Urugerero program. Strengthened partnerships with Inteko y’Umuco. Impact: Enhanced cultural documentation on Wikimedia platforms.

Open Access to Cultural Heritage Project by Creative Commons Rwanda Chapter

Duration: September – November 2024 Overview: This project engaged GLAM institutions to promote open access through Creative Commons licenses and Wikimedia platforms. Achievements: Conducted three GLAM workshops in Huye, Nyanza, and Kigali City, engaging 40 participants from 10 institutions. Uploaded 100+ images from Rwandan GLAMs to Wikimedia Commons and improved 50+ Wikipedia articles in Kinyarwanda and English. Impact: Enriched Kinyarwanda Wikipedia and strengthened partnerships with GLAM institutions.

National Library Services Open Day 2024

Overview: Represented by Nyirahabihirwe Clementine, we participated in this event to promote literacy and cultural heritage, showcasing the National Library’s resources. Achievements: Strengthened partnerships with Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy. Engaged communities through book clubs and workshops. Impact: Supported global access to Rwandan knowledge and fostered a reading culture.

4. Community Engagement

Youth Engagement Workshop on Good Governance and Quality Service Delivery

Date: December 21, 2024 (Half-day event, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM) Overview: Organized with the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) at Gasabo District Hall, this workshop convened student members to discuss governance, service delivery, and youth’s role in nation-building. Achievements: RGB representatives outlined roles in transparency, accountability, and governance coordination. Participants identified challenges like limited youth involvement and proposed solutions such as debates and technology use. Strengthened partnerships with RGB for future collaborations. Impact: Enhanced Kinyarwanda content on public services and positioned Wikimedia CUG Rwanda as a key player in Rwanda’s governance ecosystem.

JADF Nyarugenge General Assembly Meeting 2024

Date: November 12, 2024 Overview: Our Partnership and Community Engagement Director, Rebecca Jeannette, participated in this meeting at Sainte-Famille Hotel, Kigali, engaging stakeholders to review the 2024-2025 JADF and Stakeholders Action Plans and align with Nyarugenge District’s initiatives. Achievements: Aligned our open knowledge mission with district development goals. Strengthened partnerships and enhanced digital literacy efforts. Impact: Reinforced our role in sustainable community growth and cultural preservation.

Wikimedia CUG Rwanda Board Meeting and End of Year Celebration

On December 22, 2024, we held our annual board meeting and end-of-year celebration at our office in Kacyiru, Gift House, Level 1, bringing together general assembly members to review the year’s progress, discuss challenges, and seek strategic recommendations. The meeting highlighted key accomplishments, including the creation of over 500 articles on Kinyarwanda Wikipedia, the upload of more than 750 images to Wikimedia Commons. Discussions addressed challenges such as resource constraints and editor retention, while gathering valuable recommendations for expanding WikiClubs and improving access for rural contributors. This event strengthened community cohesion, aligned organizational goals, and fostered a shared sense of purpose for our 2025 initiatives, marking a significant step in advancing our mission to promote open knowledge and cultural preservation. Photos :

Group Photo

More photos available on Wikicommons

Umuganda and Mutuelle Donations

Overview: Participated in Umuganda with Gitega sector leaders in Nyarugenge, planting over 1,000 trees and supporting health insurance for 106 families.

Impact:

Enhanced social welfare and environmental sustainability.
Acquired Medical Insurance for 106 Needy families

PHOTOS :

Gutera igiti 07.jpg

Movement Strategy Implementation in the Africa Great Lakes Communities (Phase 2)

Duration: March 2024 – June 2025

Main Activities: Conducted a multilingual survey (Q1 2024) with ~1,000 respondents to assess community needs. Held Wikidata workshops in Rwanda (November 6–11, 2024), Burundi (December 8–14, 2024), and Goma, DRC (November 29–30, 2024), training over 20 participants per session. Conducted Africa Growth Initiative workshops in Goma (March 1, 2025) and Bukavu (March 8, 2025), engaging 30 new Wikimedians. Held photography and Wikimedia Commons workshops in Goma (March 21, 2025) and Bukavu (March 29, 2025), training 30 participants. Developed the Wiki’buntu mobile app for offline access.

Achievements: Recruited over 300 potential Wikimedians, with 500+ expressing interest. Trained 40+ certified members in Wikimedia platforms and 20+ in advanced Wikidata skills. Developed a 2025–2030 strategic plan aligning with Movement Strategy Recommendation 6. Impact: Positioned the Africa Great Lakes as a hub for Wikimedia contributions and enhanced regional collaboration.

5. Advance Multilingual Content

Le Mois de la Contribution Francophone 2025

Date: March 2025 Overview: Supported by a WikiFranca Rapid Fund, this initiative established WikiClubs at IPRC Gishari, UNILAK, and the Catholic Institute of Kabgayi, engaging over 30 students and teachers to enhance French-language content. Achievements: Boosted French-language contributions on Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikisource. Strengthened Rwanda’s francophone presence through university partnerships. Impact: Empowered youth and reinforced our leadership in the francophone Wikimedia ecosystem.

6. Foster Strategic Partnerships

WikiIndaba 2024 Conference

Date: November 2024 (3-day event) Overview: Held in Johannesburg, South Africa, under the theme “!ke e: /xarra //ke” (United in Diversity), this conference focused on collaboration within the African Wikimedia community. Nyirahabihirwe Clementine shared insights on Rwanda’s initiatives, including WikiClubs. Achievements: Facilitated best practice exchanges in content creation, community engagement, and leadership. Strengthened connections with other African user groups. Impact: Amplified our impact and fostered regional collaboration.

Wikiconvention Francophone 2024

Date: October 31 – November 3, 2024

Overview: Our Project Coordinator, Nyirahabihirwe Clementine, attended this conference in Québec City, Canada, organized by WikiFranca and Wikimedia Canada. Achievements: Highlighted Rwanda’s contributions to multilingual Wikimedia projects. Gained WikiFranca affiliation, connecting with 25 French-speaking groups. Impact: Strengthened global ties and enhanced capacity for multilingual content creation. File:Wikicon2024 a Québec Preconférences 16.jpg

Wikimedia Youth Conference 2025

Date: May 16–18, 2025

Overview: Ndahiro Derrick attended this conference in Prague, Czech Republic, organized by Wikimedia Czech Republic and the CEE Hub, focusing on youth engagement strategies. Achievements: Shared Rwanda’s youth-driven initiatives, including WikiClubs. Enhanced skills in content creation and leadership. Impact: Strengthened global connections and youth engagement strategies.

Advancing Evidence-Based Practices Workshop by East Africa Philanthropy Network

Date: September 12, 2024 Overview: Nyirahabihirwe Clementine attended this workshop at Sainte-Famille Hotel, Kigali, showcasing WikiClubs and WikiVibrance initiatives. Achievements: Equipped Wikimedia CUG Rwanda with robust evaluation tools. Strengthened regional partnerships. Impact: Enhanced credibility in open knowledge advocacy.

Major Milestones

One winning photo from Rwanda, by Roger Irakoze, emerged as the international winner in the Sub-Saharan Africa category for Wiki Loves Folklore and Mutijima Germain's photo emerged among winning photos in the Wiki Loves Africa challenge both which highlighting Rwanda’s cultural representation globally.

3rd prize : Abahwa by Rogerirakoze(Rwanda )

We acknowledge these Mutijima Germain & Roger Irakoze for showcasing Rwanda's culture to the world.

Community get-together picnic

In addition to the impactful initiatives outlined in this annual report, we organised a Community Get-Together Picnic in 2024, which played a vital role in advancing our mission of fostering community engagement and collaboration. Held as a relaxed and inclusive gathering, the picnic brought together volunteers, WikiClub members, partners, and supporters to celebrate our shared commitment to open knowledge and cultural preservation. This event strengthened community bonds, facilitated networking, and provided a platform for informal knowledge sharing, idea exchange, and recognition of contributors’ efforts. By fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie, the picnic reinforced volunteer motivation, enhanced team cohesion, and energized participants for future initiatives, aligning with our objective to build a robust and engaged Wikimedia community in Rwanda. The event’s success contributed to our broader goals of sustaining long-term editor engagement and promoting a collaborative culture, complementing our formal activities like workshops, edit-a-thons, and strategic meetings.

Challenges

Resource Constraints: Limited funding and technical resources hindered scaling events and supporting rural contributors.
Editor Retention: Maintaining long-term engagement was challenging due to volunteers’ competing priorities.
Content Quality: Ensuring high-quality Kinyarwanda contributions required intensive training and mentorship, straining organizational capacity.

Future Plans

Content Expansion: Increase Kinyarwanda Wikipedia articles by 20% by July 2026, focusing on quality improvements. Community Growth: Expand WikiClubs to all Rwandan provinces, targeting 100 new active contributors. Photographic Contests: Aim for 500+ photo uploads to Wikimedia Commons and 500 articles created. Technology Access: Partner with local internet providers (e.g., MTN Rwanda, Airtel Rwanda) to improve access for rural contributors.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Partnership with New York University Abu Dhabi

We established a partnership with New York University Abu Dhabi, which resulted in an edit-a-thon aimed at bridging gaps in open knowledge about Africa's data and technology information. This partnership brought together NYU Abu Dhabi students attending a regional academic seminar in Kigali, African Leadership University students, and our experienced members. The participants worked on creating, editing, and translating content for Wikimedia projects in multiple languages, including English, French, Arabic and other native languages of the participants. This edit-athon resulted in the creation of 78+ articles,287 edited, 2 photo uploads and 2 wikidata items created. This initiative is nurturing cross-cultural learning and strengthening bonds between academic institutions and local Wikimedia communities.

We strengthened our impact through strategic partnerships with local and international organisations, aligning with our mission to promote open knowledge and cultural preservation. We express heartfelt gratitude to our partners for their unwavering support in amplifying our mission to promote open knowledge and cultural preservation. The Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, facilitated seamless visa applications and recommendations, enabling our community members to attend international conferences such as Wiki Indaba in the Republic of South Africa. The Wikimedia Foundation’s Community Fund and the Community resources team that supported our major activities, while WikiFranca’s Rapid Fund and the WLM International Organizing Team’s microgrant that empowered initiatives like the International Francophone Contribution Month and Wiki Loves Monuments. Partnerships with Kepler University, Rwanda Governance Board, Open Foundation West Africa, National Land Authority, University of Rwanda, City of Kigali, East Africa Philanthropy Network, and National Library Services enriched events, trained 200+ contributors, and enhanced content quality. These collaborations expanded our reach on Kinyarwanda Wikipedia (reaching 2 million readers) and strengthened community trust.

ACTIVITY REPORT PDF VERSION

https://online.fliphtml5.com/vvqpp/lqyw/
Wikimedia CUG Rwanda annual report 2024 June -25 July pdf version

Wikimedia Community User Group Rwanda/events/reports