Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda/Events & Projects/Wikimania 2022/BalukuBrian/Report

Username

BalukuBrian

Event Name

Wikimania 2022 that took place from Thursday, August 11 through Sunday, August 14 2022

How I attended Wikimania 2022

I attended most of my sessions via YouTube and a few via Pheedloop but a few via Zoom. Pheedloop was challenging to navigate at first and also it had a lag than Youtube. I got a chance to meet other Ugandan Wikimedians through the in-person event organised by the Wikimedia User Group Uganda at Capital kitchen in Kampala Uganda where we learnt, shared more about the Wikimedia movement and also how to contribute more to different Wikimedia projects.

What I spent my scholarship funds on

Wikimania 2022 was my second wikimania to attend. I managed to attend the Wikimania after I received a scholarship through the Wikipedia Community User group Uganda which enabled me to purchase internet connectivity bundles, purchases small electronics such as headsets, transport to Capital Kitchen in Kampala Uganda for the Wikimania in-person event.

Takeaways from specific sessions

• Thinking about digital security: This sessions made me think more about the information I share on different platforms; Be mindful of my digital habits such as updating software, protecting passwords, and personal information, and being mindful of clicking; guided me on how to assess the tools and softwares to use whether such as is it Open Source, has end-to-end encryption, do they store share or leak any data; how to create strong passwords and how we lose them.

• Understanding DEI in Wiki loves Monuments and federated campaigns at large:I learnt more information about Wiki love monuments for example Who uploads the pictures; who judges the images we upload; what does it take to organise Wiki Loves Monuments such as the pages required, timelines,the number of jurors,prizes; funding sources; how to reach people to contribute; Technological issues faced when organising Wiki love monuments such Navigation on mobile, stable internet, devices used to take the images.

• Can we interest you in trying something new together? How we introduced a new software feature to editors through a community-driven campaign on German-speaking Wikipedia: I learnt more the challenges problems the organiser faced such as No reactions to the new tools and updates made because it makes hard to know the number of people that saw the features and who tried it out; How they solved the Announcements issues such as: are too long, boring, no clear call to action, too “dry” by added more visuals, videos, clear call to action; struggles they faced such as Information overload for editors, Feedback came from experienced editors yet new editors’ feedback was also needed.

Outcomes and lessons learnt

• I got more information about the Wikimedia projects i would love to contribute to such as; Wiki Loves Monuments, WikiData, Wiki Loves Earth, Afro Cinema
• How to navigate the Pheedloop platform
• How to improve my digital security through thinking about the information I share online, the tools i choose to use, Digital habits such as updating software, protecting passwords, and personal information, and being mindful of clicking
• Learnt more about the Ukrainian culture
• Learnt more about the organising of different events such as Wiki Loves Monuments
• I got to know that Art can help people with mental health
• Learnt how to create sound logos and the terminologies used in music such as keys-major/minor, tempo/speed, instruments/timbre
• I learnt more about Wikilearn

Connecting during Wikimania 2022

I attended most of the sessions via YouTube than Pheedloop because Pheedloop was lagging due to my poor internet connection. But on the Wikimedia User Group Uganda in-person event, I connected with other Wikimedians from the Wikimedia User Group Uganda who have always encouraged and mentored me to continue contributing to the different Projects of the Wikimedia Movements.

Social media post(s) about Wikimania

Twitter

• https://twitter.com/BALUKUBRIAN6/status/1557657275719983106?s=20&t=68tmIk07YCXK17roVTo3gA
• https://twitter.com/BALUKUBRIAN6/status/1557682122965614597?s=20&t=68tmIk07YCXK17roVTo3gA
• https://twitter.com/BALUKUBRIAN6/status/1558859835873132545?s=20&t=68tmIk07YCXK17roVTo3gA

LinkedIn

• https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:share:6965593939760287744?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_share&utm_content=post

Facebook

• https://www.facebook.com/100006802239320/posts/3332140497022659/?flite=scwspnss

Special thanks

My special thanks go to the Wikimedia movement, my fellow contributors to in the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda especially the administrators who have always guided, motivated and inspired us to continue contributing to the Wikimedia Movement.

Other sessions attended

Other sessions I attended included;

Day 1:

• The Opening Ceremony
• Explore Ukrainian culture, start with Wikipedia
• Arunachal Pradesh Festival
• Thinking about digital security
• Gettings started with wiki love monuments
• SPIF #Art4Good
• Sound Logo Production Masterclass
• Wikilearn

Day 2:

• Wikimedia user group Uganda in-person event at Capital Kitchen
• Centering Race and Equity at Art+Feminism
• Don't cite it, write it! What professors think about Wikipedia
• How to organize a “Wiki Takes a City” event
• Wikidata for everyone: a methodology to teach different communities

Day 3:

• The Wikivibrance project
• Education program of GLAM Macedonia
• Can we interest you in trying something new together? How we introduced a new software feature to editors through a community-driven campaign on German-speaking Wikipedia
• Leadership Development Working Group: What are we doing and why?

Day 4:

• Understanding DEI in Wiki loves Monuments and federated campaigns at large