Wikimedia Community User Group Tanzania/Annual Report 2021/2022

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Activities done by Wikimedia Tanzania for the year 2021/2022[edit]

Month Activity/Project Explanation Link
June 2021 Africa Wiki Challenge 2021 in Tanzania Wikimedia Tanzania participated in Africa Wiki Challenge 2021. This was done as part of the international online campaign that aims at generating African-related content on Wikipedia. This project was a photo, video and audio contest on Tanzania Landmarks (such as historical, cultural, geographical and places of national significance to Tanzania and to any other part of the Africa continent).The project took a duration of 23rd May to June 30th 2021. Africa Wiki Challenge 2021 in Tanzania
JULY 2021 WikiForHumanRights 2021 in Tanzania #WikiForHumanRights 2021 in Tanzania was part of the global #WikiForHumanRights 2021 global contest that aimed at writing on Swahili Wikipedia about human rights, environmental health and diverse communities impacted by environmental issues around the world.This contest in Tanzania was focused on adding more content related to human rights, environmental health and diverse communities impacted by environmental issues around the world into Swahili Wikipedia. WikiForHumanRights 2021 in Tanzania
JULY 2021 Wiki Loves Earth 2021 Wiki Loves Earth in Tanzania was an annual photographic competition part of the global Wiki Loves Earth competition. The goal of the competition was to engage Tanzanian photographers to collect photos of local natural heritage and scenic landscapes in Tanzania and to train them on how they can contribute their photos and content to Wikimedia commons hence strengthening the local Wikimedia community. These photos were anticipated to be used by Wikimedians to improve WMF projects such as using them in different Wikipedia articles that lack photos. Submitted photos for the WLE 2021
AUGUST 2021 East Africa Wikimania 2021 Pre-Conference in Tanzania (didn’t happen-COVID 19) Wikimania 2021 Pre-Conference in Tanzania was expected to be an East Africa regional in-person gathering that could have brought together Wikimedians from the East Africa region to increase awareness on what Wikimania is and the important topics that were to be discussed during the Wikimania Conference in August 2021. The regional conference was intended to go in line with Wikimania 2021's theme which was 20 years of Wikipedia.  The conference was aimed to raise awareness and bring a common understanding on different global recommendations, initiatives, topics, discussions, ideas, steps and future plans that Wikimedia movement works on to ensure that ‘‘By 2030, Wikimedia will become the essential infrastructure of the ecosystem of free knowledge, and anyone who shares our vision will be able to join us’’

Wikimedia Tanzania in collaboration with other communities within the region, took lead in almost activities related to organizing this event including working on the preparatory logistics and assistance of the other community members towards the conference.

East Africa Wikimania 2021 Pre-Conference in Tanzania
AUGUST 2021 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Wikimedia Tanzania members supported the foundation on its Board of Trustees elections through translation of its pages into Swahili language as well as participation of the community members in the voting process. This was an opportunity for the community members to vote in order to  fill the four seats on the Board in 2021 hence to increase the possibility of  improving the representation, diversity, and expertise of the Board as a team. Chaguzi za Wikimedia Foundation 2021
AUGUST 2021 East Africa Wiki communities scholarship application to attend theVirtual Wikimania 2021 There have been several discussions on strengthening the cooperation and collaboration among its member communities from the East Africa Region and the neighboring countries. Some of the key in person gathering we had in East Africa include meeting Following the call for Wikimania scholarship for WMF affiliates, and following the permission/call for one affiliate to apply on behalf of other communities/individuals that aren’t eligible for the Wikimania scholarship for the year 2021, East Africa Wiki communities held several discussions on how they can participate in one of the historical virtual Wikimania ever. The decision was made among the East Africa Wiki communities that Wikimedia Community User Group Tanzania apply on behalf of the other 11 wiki communities within the region, then the fund was to be distributed to the individual communities based on the budget they submitted. Going in line with Wikimania 2021's theme which is 20 years of Wikipedia, this scholarship application seeked inclusion of the communities that could have been left behind to be able to participate in that important global conference. Also the application is done for the purpose of increasing participation in global recommendations, topics, initiatives and conversations that affects a large number of Wikimedians.

Key activities done:

  • Coordinating the 11 wiki communities on the application
  • Emphasis and reminders to the communities to participate on the main global conference
  • Emphasis and reminders to the communities to hold Pre and Post Wikimania local events
  • Logistical follow up to ensure every community was well prepared
  • Coordination of report writing per each community
  • General documentation of the whole project
Report for each of the 11 Communities
AUGUST 2021 WIKIMANIA 2021 The user group participated actively in the first online ever Wikimania 2021 through program submission, taking the role as speakers and online participation of its members to the conference.

Some of the submitted programs the user group members participated actively include:

1.East African regional commitments for the future, a human collaborative reality

Speakers: Douglas Ssebaggala, Antoni Mtavangu and Winnie Kabintie

2.The Afrocine Project: Learnings from organizing a Pan-African Campaign

Speakers: Sam Oyeyele, Winnie Kabinte, Antoni Mtavangu, Alaafiabami Oladipupo, and Camelia Boban

3.Wikimedia and GLAM in the Global South

Speakers: Nassima Chahboun, Houcemeddine Turki, Olushola, Isaac, Joy Agyepong, Isla Haddow-Flood, Antoni Mtavangu, Ayokanmi Kaizen, Alice Kibombo, Clifford Anderson

Wikimania 2021 programs
SEPTEMBER

2021

Distribution of Wikimania fund, fund arrival confirmations follow up and Post Wikimania local events planning 1.Sending the Wikimania applied funds to the EA communities

2.General Planning and local evaluation for local Tanzanian Wikimedians to participate in two post Wikimania local events that were happened on October 16 and 17 2021.

Send and receive confirmation for 11 EA Wiki Communities
OCTOBER

2021

POST WIKIMANIA EVENTS Wikimedia Tanzania facilitated the grant application on behalf of 11 wiki communities in East Africa that was used for participating in the main Wikimania conference and local pre and post Wikimania events. Wikimedia Tanzania two post-Wikimania events that were held on 16th and 17th October, 2021. REPORT
OCTOBER

2021

Translation MCDC pages Wikimedia Tanzania applied for grant to engage some of the Tanzanian Wikimedians to translate into Swahili the candidates' pages (candidates' statements specifically) for the candidates who were seeking to be on the Movement Charter Drafting Committee.The translated list can be found in the report. Some of the translated pages
NOVEMBER 2021 Wikiindaba 2021 Wikimedia Tanzania community members participated actively in awareness creation about Wikiindaba 2021 as well as engaged in submitting and being in charge on some of the programs. Additionally, one member was selected to be on the Wikiindaba 2021 COT.Some of the programs that was submitted and led by Wikimedia Tanzania participants include:

1.https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiIndaba_conference_2021/Program/Wiki_Heritage_in_Africa speakers:Yamen Bousrih, Antoni Mtavangu, Nassima Chahboun, Phephile Tshabangu, Christopher Ssebuyungo

2.East Africa Wiki Communities Collaboration Discussion

Antoni Mtavangu, Winnie Kabintie, Douglas Ssebagala

3.Swahili Wikipedia for SADC Countries

Antoni Mtavangu, Aneth David, Geoffrey Kateregga, Winnie Kabintie, Prof. Mutembei(UDSM), Abel L. Mbula, Ingo Koll

  1. Wiki_Heritage_in_Africa
  2. Watch this session on YouTube
  3. Watch this session on YouTube
NOV

2021

Wikimedia European Affiliates Cooperation/European Regional Event November 2021 Wikimedia Tanzania along with Wikimedia Uganda and Wikimedia Kenya were invited to join the fourth Wikimedia European Affiliates Cooperation event which took place virtually on 18 November 2021 from 16:00 CET until 19:00 CET. The main role for this meeting was the three representative countries for the EARTH Hub to talk about the reasons for starting a hub, to discuss the the challenges each hub initiative met and the lessons learned through the process Wikimedia European Affiliates Cooperation/European Regional Event November 2021
DECEMBER 2021 Facilitation of Pre and Post Wikimania report writing in EA region Our user group took a lead on ensuring all 11 individual community reports are written following the completion for the Wikimania pre and post Wikimania local events. Facilitation of Post Wikimania report writing
DECEMBER 2021 Igniting Swahili Wikipedia and Capacity Building in Kenya/Project This project was inspired by a 2021 WikiIndaba session and a collaboration through the Wiki4Universities campaign that was part of the Swahili Wikipedia for SADC countries where some of the speakers were User:Ms Kabintie, User:Cmwaura, User:Jadnapac and User:Kipala, Geoffrey Katerrega, Aneth David, Abel Mbula.

This program in Kenya was part of the initial efforts towards the implementation of the bigger project WikiForUniversities (Wiki4Uni), a project intended to engage University students in Tanzania and the SADC countries at large on contributing to Swahili Wikipedia and other Wikimedia Foundation  sister projects.

1.Igniting Swahili Wikipedia and Capacity Building in Kenya/Project

2.WikiForUniversities (Wiki4Uni)

JAN

2022

EA Regional and Thematic Hub (EARTH) The User group engaged actively in the regional discussions within the future of The East African Regional and Thematic Hub (EARTH). EARTH hub seeks to bring together communities in the East Africa region and will also cover various thematic areas as identified by members on the ongoing Gallery
JAN

2022

The WikiVibrance/Africa Youth Month/2021 The user group participated in The WikiVibrance African Youth Month project that aimed to recognize and commemorate the African Youth Month (AYM) 2021 in the Wikimedia movement by working with Wikimedia communities in Africa to engage their young people in a series of events that required them to build their capacity and improve content related to the 4E's of the AYM namely Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Engagement. It will also share how the movement, people, and work have contributed to the 4E's in Africa.

The approach of having mentors 5 (experienced editors from the user group) to mentor 5 newbies was fruitful as newbies was able to understand better on how to contribute to Wiki projects.

The WikiVibrance/Africa Youth Month/2021
FEB 2022 Wikimania 2021-General report creation Creation of Wikimania general report for the Pre- and post Wikimania events Wikimania 2021 General report
FEB 2022 More support for EARTH Engagements on going global hub structure discussions and strategic planning. Hubs/Ongoing
FEB 2022 Wikimedia Tanzania/#WikiForHumanRights 2022 in Tanzania #WikiForHumanRights 2022 in Tanzania was part of #WikiForHumanRights 2022 global contest that aimed at writing on Wikipedia about human rights, environmental health and diverse communities impacted by environmental issues around the world with a focus on making sure that everyone has access to neutral, fact-based, and current information around Right to Healthy Environment theme.This contest will focused on adding content related to human rights, environmental health and diverse communities impacted by environmental issues around the world into Swahili Wikipedia.

The Main Goals were recruiting new editors to join the user group,existing editors to participate in this engaging project in Tanzania and to use the opportunity to discuss and create awareness about Human rights topics in Tanzania

Wikimedia Tanzania/#WikiForHumanRights 2022 in Tanzania
MARCH 2022 EAST AFRICAN REGIONAL AND THEMATIC HUB RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATION After various  discussions within the East Africa region, the user group was selected among member communities to take an active role in  applying for the East Africa Regional and Thematic Hub (EARTH) research grant. The  proposal is focused on doing extensive research on identifying the existing problems facing East African communities and finding out whether having an EARTH Hub might be a solution to some of these existing problems within the region.

The user group is still taking lead in resource distribution, coordination of stakeholders, participation in its ongoing research and will be responsible to submit the final results report after its completion in June 2023.

East Africa Regional and Thematic Hub (EARTH) Research grant
APR

2022

Wiki Loves Africa 2022 in Tanzania Wiki Loves Africa 2022 in Tanzania was part of Wiki Loves Africa annual contest where any Tanzanian can join us to contribute with free media (photographs, video, and audio) that illustrate the Home and Habitat theme.

The main aim of this project for the year 2022 was:

  • Introduce Wiki Loves Africa 2022 Home and Habitat theme to the existing and new contributors of wiki commons, raise awareness about Wiki Loves Africa and its Impact on reducing African content gap in Wikimedia projects.
  • Recruit new and existing editors especially (professional and non-professional photographers) to Wikimedia projects.
  • Increase photography skills for existing and new photographers/editors taking part in this project
  • Improve the content on Swahili Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and English Wikipedia.
Submitted photos for Wiki Loves Africa in 2022
MAY 2022 EARTH HUB and Strategic planning as per the Community programs wish list Continued engagement and involvement on ongoing EARTH project and Strategic planning on the implementation of the Wikimedia Tanzania community wish list as per the User group general meetup in January 2021. Strategic planning on how to implement the community programs wish list

General Achievements[edit]

  • Increased number of articles in Swahili Wikipedia
  • Increased number of contributors to Swahili Wikipedia
  • Increased awareness to community members on global topics and involvement
  • Increased experience for the User group to handle global movement issues such as organizing activities, resource distribution and conferences
  • Continuous collaboration with Jenga Wikipedia ya Kiswahili in mentoring Swahili Wikipedia contributors to produce good quality content
  • Increased awareness about Wikimedia projects and how to contribute to it

Future plan[edit]

  • The User group intends to continue working to secure more partnerships, evaluation and learning from the movement on how the User group can better implement the community's programs wish list activity, initiatives and plans.
  • Continue to engage in global topics within the movement to acquire more experience
  • Continue to explore new initiatives and programs that directly impact the content creation and capacity building

Special thanks[edit]

The user group would like to thank and appreciate the Wikimedia Foundation for its support to the activities implemented and warm thanks to all people within the movement who have been collaborating with us. We look forward to more engagement and collaboration.