Wikimedia Foundation elections/2021/Meetings/Candidates meet with the the Sub-Saharan, Middle East and North Africa Communities Report

Chat Log

01:08:36 Cornelius (he/him): like this o/

01:09:18 Vicki Doronina: o/

01:09:48 Sam Oyeyele (he/him): or like I just did

01:11:08 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): لا توجد ترجمة عربية

01:11:33 Ravan (She/Her): ميشيل يترجم للعربية

01:12:35 Ravan (She/Her): اضغط على علامة الكرة الأرضية واختر اللغة العربية

01:12:54 Adam Wight (they/he): +1 to scrambling or reversing :-)

01:13:07 Vicki Doronina: its' complicated

01:13:17 Ashwin Baindur: Vicki :)

01:13:19 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): it can by by surname, first name, wiki name...

01:13:20 Vicki Doronina: in the order on the screen is easier

01:13:24 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): many variations available

01:13:43 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): order on screen makes sense too, ofc (but we used it once, I think)

01:14:54 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): I thought I was called early. :)

01:15:03 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Zita - don't worry, it is confusing :)

01:24:12 Ashwin Baindur: Zita, Ravishankar is also a candidate :) just for info 01:25:30 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): I find ‘pass the mike’ confusing - I’m being passed where? ;-)

01:25:38 Farah Jack Mustaklem: :-)

01:29:51 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): are we really sticking strictly to the limits given?

01:31:49 Adam Wight (they/he): My final point was just, "diversity": achieved by distributing *much* more than the current < 8% of revenue, and giving control over resource decisions to local organizations, similar to Dariusz's oi point. 01:34:32 Cornelius (he/him): (use the hand feature or write this o/)

01:34:40 Adam Wight (they/he): How many answers will you take?

01:34:43 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): not everyone at once!

01:35:01 Reda Kerbouche: maybe questions fom meta ?

01:35:05 Reda Kerbouche: from meta

01:35:11 Adam Wight (they/he): +1 ^ there are 4 questions on meta

01:35:18 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): أسئلتي موجودة في الميتا

01:36:10 Ravan (She/Her): تستطيع أن تطرحها هنا أيضا يا عادل وسيترجمها ميشيل

01:36:14 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): There are many questions on meta, with >4 questions on them … is there a specific list for this call?

01:36:19 Cornelius (he/him): (en) What is your strategy to promote (increase) representation of underrepresented communities in various boards and committees ?

(ar) ما هي استراتجيتكم فيما يخص تشجيع تمثيل المجتمعات ضعيفة التمثيل في مختلف المجالس واللجان

(fr) Quelle est votre stratégie pour favoriser (augmenter) la représentation des communautés sous-représentées dans les différents conseils et comités?

01:36:34 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): ah, found it: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2021/Meetings/Candidates_meet_with_the_the_Sub-Saharan,_Middle_East_and_North_Africa_Communities#Questions_for_candidates

01:37:33 Paulo Santos Perneta: o/ when it is possible, I have a question to the candidates related to the Portuguese speaking countries and communities in Africa

01:37:45 Paulo Santos Perneta: (if it is possible)

01:38:57 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): الكيف هو سؤالي

01:39:02 Mervat (her/she): Please write your question Paulo

01:39:06 Michel Bakni: Please speak slowly

01:39:21 Oby Ezeilo(her/she): Please did you say one westerner or non westerner?

01:39:28 Ravan (She/Her): Ashwin Rosie Lorenzo Vicki Ravish Adam Douglas

01:39:48 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): I said that I was the first non-Westerner ever elected to the Board

01:40:07 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): أرجو أن يعطونا الخطط وكيفية الوصول إلى الهدف وليس خبرتهم السابقة

01:40:08 Ravishankar Ayyakkannu: For people in Asia, Poland may also be considered west :)

01:40:13 Vicki Doronina: +1

01:40:26 Vicki Doronina: Poland is EU

01:40:47 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): am trying to work out if all candidates are answering all questions - which means fewer questions - or if we’re trying to have fewer answers and a wider variety of questions.

01:40:54 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Yes, as it probably should now - it was not though for the first 20 years of my life, more or less, which is when most people learn what privilege is.

01:41:04 Mohammed Serdar: My question is, what are your plans for small wiki communities? It is high time for Wikimedia foundation to engage and work more with them.

01:41:15 Mervat (her/she): your voice is breaking down

01:41:31 Ravishankar Ayyakkannu: Mohammed, there are 4 questions in meta

01:41:32 Vicki Doronina: We have a deficit of questions so far

01:41:40 Ravishankar Ayyakkannu: which question r u mentioning?

01:42:01 Ravishankar Ayyakkannu: I would like to answer MOhammed’s question

01:42:09 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Mohammed: yes, I agree that we need to have the courage to invest in smaller communities and projects, and not be just driven by traffic numbers. Small changes can go a long way.

01:42:17 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): how?

01:42:39 Paulo Santos Perneta: Question: 10 years ago we had communities from the Portuguese speaking African countries, but those have faded into complete extintion in Wikipédia by now. There are starting/potential small communities or isolated members in some countries. Generally they have no desktops, though cell phone use is generalized there. Often they speak Portugues,e but no English and no French, This has been hindering a lot progression in these places, along with the fact that there's nobody in the region available to give training. What would be your aproach to help including those non-represented and underrepresented communities in the Wikimedia projects and movement?

01:42:47 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): By prioritizing tech changes needed by small projects, but also by making sure that our elevtive bodies have people who understand tchem.

01:43:28 Ravishankar Ayyakkannu: Mohammed, is your question everyone is answering now? or is it a different question?

01:43:38 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): ما هي هذه الوسائل؟

01:43:39 Ravishankar Ayyakkannu: growing small communities and having representation for them are related issues

01:43:43 Ravishankar Ayyakkannu: but different issues

01:44:20 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): كيف يمكن للمجموعات أن تنمو؟

01:45:02 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): هذه أقله جواب صافي

01:45:05 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Paulo: my approach would be to significantly increase funding in these areas, including trainings (part of my program is leadership programs). All in all, ht is not effective to artificially create communities, but when people are already thre - helping them works so much better.

01:46:00 Mohammed Serdar: My question is for everyone @ravishshankar

01:46:01 Paulo Santos Perneta: Darius: Why increase funding in a place where there is no established communities yet? How do you plan to do that?

01:46:43 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Paulo: if there is NOONE, I don't think it is practical (as I wrote), I assumed there already are people who are doing a bit.

01:46:46 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): @ravishshankar طرح بحجز مقاعد تخصصية

01:46:57 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): We have a bad history of trying to start a community from a scratch artificially

01:47:06 Rosie (she/her): 1. I think Hubs offer a unique opportunity for Leadership Training, as “one size does not fit all”.

01:47:16 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Rosie - thanks :)

01:47:19 Pascale Camus-Walter: @paulo : do these portuguese speaking people communicate with other lusitanian speaking contributors ?

01:47:27 lorenzo: @Paulo, if there are still people and they have not completely disappeaared, we should support them to grow a new community from that. Collaboration with other local communities and with portuguese-speaking communities can be very useful.

01:47:32 Paulo Santos Perneta: Dariuz: As I wrote, the communities that once existed dissapeared. there are people interested, but no training available (no trainers)

01:47:35 Anass (he/him): A question to all: Will you (once a board member) advocate to the idea that "board members" shall be accountable? In other terms, how can we know that you will do what you are saying? :)

01:47:40 Vicki Doronina: too fast

01:47:52 Paulo Santos Perneta: Lorenzo: I don't think there's anyone left

01:48:20 Paulo Santos Perneta: Darius: What would be your approach, then?

01:48:37 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Paulo: the who idea of leadership trainings, which I postulate in my statement, is based on fostering initial exisiting interest, and treating it in local hubs.

One approach is using neighboring strong chapters, if there are any

01:48:52 Mervat (her/she): 30 sec left Adam

01:48:54 Alice Kibombo: Paulo : There are some actually, but they are Mozambicans based in SA

01:48:59 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Pascale yes, most of them are in touch with us here in Portugal

01:49:04 lorenzo: @Paulo: then it is a bigger problem. Creating a community from nothing is very risk, and should be approaced with caution. However, I still tink that working with adjacent communities is key.

01:49:07 Michel Bakni: Please use simple words

01:49:19 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Paulo: One idea that we know works is wiki editathons and trainings run by sister chapters

01:49:46 Ravan (She/Her): Ivan Farah Reda Michael

01:49:55 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Darius: The neigbouring chapters speak diferente languages, so they are not really na option on that

01:50:05 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Paulo: if there is no-one in place though… It is very difficult, and easy to do wrong. So if there are SOME people a bit involved, there is a fire we can try to foster

01:50:05 Rosie (she/her): 2. When you think about all of the Wikimedians who have held leadership position in the movement, on committees and on boards, it’s unfortunate that -so far- we haven’t benefited from documenting their experience. I think if we develop a program which includes “Outboarding” people in leadership positions and including the learnings that they share, others could benefit. For example, as a member of AffCom over the last 6 years (1 year as Secretary; the last 2 years, I am the Chair), I have learned a lot and would love to share that learning with others!

01:50:30 Adam Wight (they/he): ^ Love this idea from Rosiestep

01:50:38 Rosie (she/her): “Outboarding” —> “Offboarding" 01:51:02 Mervat (her/she): 30 sec left for you Douglas

01:51:05 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Rosie: yes, that is a great idea, I actually postulated it a while back to start using former trustees and FDC members as trainers… It didn't work at the time, as we just started working on the Movement Strategy

01:51:07 Anass: A question to all: Will you (once a board member) advocate to the idea that "board members" shall be accountable? In other terms, how can we know that you will do what you are saying? :)

01:51:37 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): @mohammed i strongly believe we need different models of contribution to encourage growth in small communities

01:51:40 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: I'm all for accountability, how could this work in practice?

01:51:42 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): @Douglas Languages is good idea for divertissement

01:51:53 Paulo Santos Perneta: @lorenzo: adjacent communities speak different languages, and ppl usually do not understandd each other - do you think it would still work?

01:51:55 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): production of free knowledge doesn’t need to be insisted to come from free labour

01:52:00 Pascale Camus-Walter: @Paulo : for the french language we have a network called Wikifranca which shares infos, make events and distributes small grants. It comes from the grassroot not the Foundation. Perhaps a successful example of cooperation ?

01:52:11 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): the free labour / volunteer model only works for developed countries

01:52:17 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Paulo: for CEE group we're actually using English :)

01:52:39 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): We have seen good growth in some projects / communities when the editors are supported more

01:52:42 Adam Wight (they/he): @Anass: I would like to add "direct democracy" tools to the WMF Bylaws, especially Recall which means that a trustee can be voted out before the end of their term.

01:52:52 lorenzo: @Paulo: I mean adjacent either by geography or by language. I think you need both, because they can help in different ways (they have different things in common)

01:53:08 Mervat (her/she): 30 sec for Ivan

01:53:08 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): For example, as a staff at WMF, I started a partnership program with Google, which gave free laptops and reimbursed internet bills for volunteers

01:53:27 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): It increased content and that model of support is rolled out in more countries now

01:53:29 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: it definitely will not happen before these elections, and would be hard to enforce in the bylaws. I'm not saying I oppose it, I'm just thinking practically.

01:54:26 Anass: @Dariusz - This can mean that what is said in these meetings now is written and mapped towards what is done until next elections. In other terms, board members having their terms ending should somehow present what they did Vs what they said/told the community they will do.

You as candidates, do you support this idea? Will you make it happen if you will be in the board?

01:54:42 Adam Wight (they/he): @Dariusz: if we were a membership organization (as the WMF was for its first 3 years), it would be easy to enforce in the Bylaws, it's normal that the "general assembly" of members can remove trustees.

01:54:47 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Ravi: yes, and I think the communities at large need to start getting back for their contributions. For many, a solid structured system of leadership/finance training is something useful. But for many tech access is key. The WMF does have small programs with computer distribution, but these may need to expand

01:54:59 Vicki Doronina: +1

01:55:02 Anass: @Dariusz - Well if this is not happening then all people in this meeting can say many nice things, that probably might never happen :))

01:55:24 lorenzo: @Anass having a retrospective on your board work make sense. For people re-running is actually more interesting than a statement on the future

01:55:37 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: I think that reporting on the plans is generally a good idea. I did it voluntarily in my terms on meta, and I'd suport it. I can't warrant making it happen, but I can endorse it.

01:56:05 Adam Wight (they/he): @Anass: you can also study candidates' actions on-wiki to date, to get an idea of their interests, character, and accomplishments. 01:56:11 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): @Dariusz Yes, WMF needs to expand many of its pilot progras

01:56:12 Anass: Also those running need to commit to it IMO, as it can be a good practice and participate into having a more transparent and accountable board

01:56:25 Iván Martínez (he/him): @Anass yes, they must be. I think that for now many members of the community outside the Board do not know what the position of a certain trustees is. We often see only minutes and names of those who voted, but for the whole of the community, the Board's activity takes place somewhat privately.

01:56:41 lorenzo: @Adam it is normally possible, in theory, for a general assembly to remove trustees, but I have never seen that happen... and I a member of many association

01:56:44 Rosie (she/her): @Anass - I am all for advocating in support of what you believe is right! My understanding is that once you become a WMF board trustee, (1) you are encouraged to advocate your views, AND (b) you are required to support the consensus vote. Perhaps @Dariusz can share an opinion on this statement as he is a current board trustee in case I got it wrong.

01:56:49 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Pascale yes, I know about Wikifranca, but AFAIK it is based in Wikimedia France, which is profissionalized. At this point I don't think it is feasible here in Portugal to support that, we are all volunteers

01:56:50 Adam Wight (they/he): +1 @Ivan, I would like to make the Board meetings mostly public.

01:56:51 Anass: @Adam- This is not a question for y own knowledge, I thought about it as a presentation to the community, as it is the community voting

01:57:17 Adel Nehaoua (he/him): @Pascal, l'idée de Wikifranca est génial

01:57:53 Pascale Camus-Walter: @Paulo Is Brazil part of the movement ?

01:57:57 Paulo Santos Perneta: @dariusz I think I missed your idea on how to foster communities in entire countries with no apparent initial community, such are the cases with pretty much all Portuguese speaking African countries, besides Guinea-Bissau which has some interested people, but with no training

01:57:59 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: I just checked and I did post my ambitions and bow they were fulfiled during my term, as they were going :) So yes, all for that - reporting and accountability

01:58:24 Paulo Santos Perneta: @lorenzo: thanks

01:58:29 Ashwin Baindur: @Anass, mapping what candidates say vs what they do is a measure of accountability, however, it must be realised that the Trustee can only advocate the view they believe in, they cannot guarantee its success.

01:58:53 Pascale Camus-Walter: @Adel Oui il faut le développer et faire tourner les postes de pouvoir.

01:59:08 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Paulo: what I said was that if there is ZERO people, we know from experience that the WMF will not be very successful at animating artificially.

What I HOPE could happen is sister organizations suport, like it happens in some regions, and can be funded by the WMF (with a dedicated funding line)

01:59:29 Adam Wight (they/he): If the Board meetings were public, then journalists could attend, summarize, and publish each trustee's role in a discussion.

02:00:30 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): I like the way this meeting is organised

02:00:33 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Very professional 02:00:40 lorenzo: @Ashwin true.. The board is composed by 10-16 people, so it is impossible that everyone completely do what they say if they have different opinions :-) (and hopefully we will have people with different opinions)

02:00:41 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Kudos for all the facilitators

02:00:59 Zita(She/her): thank you @Ravi

02:01:05 Oby Ezeilo(her/she): Yes well organised

02:01:21 João Alexandre Peschanski: thanks 02:02:06 Kelly (she/her): I have to go - many thanks to the facilitators, translators and candidates! 🙏🏽

02:02:34 Paulo Santos Perneta: @darwiusz - so, in your vision, entire regions without anyone participating in the Wikimedia projects, will remain forever ourt of Wikimedia, until by some casuality someone from these regiosn decides to connect with us?

02:03:15 Paulo Santos Perneta: *Dariusz

02:03:21 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Paulo: Not at all. As I said, I believe more in sister organizations being able to animate participation locally, rather than the WMF trying to do it from San Francisco

02:03:45 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Dariusz: What kind of sister organizations?

02:03:47 Adam Wight (they/he): +1 to Dariusz's response, I think that established communities are the best point of contact for emerging communities.

02:03:48 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): I want to see regional hubs - deciding about financing, trainings, and development

02:04:11 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): depending on the region - but one of the tasks of regional hubs definitely SHOULD BE expanding into new territories

02:04:21 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): not to overtake, but to help initiate

02:04:38 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): the WMF can't do it and we know it from experience

02:04:58 Rosie (she/her): Regional hubs, definitely, but also thematic hubs, e.g. Francophone community.

02:05:06 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): @Paulo to answer your question from earlier, really it needs local people involved in solving it - so helping (funding/supporting) already active people in the local area (if there are any), or the nearest neighbours if not (not necessarily geographical - linguistic also works). Then they are enabled to do training and bring in new people. But it sounds like mostly it needs a better mobile interface/technical solution, if there aren’t so many desktops there - mobile for the Wikimedia projects has been terrible for a long time. That needs adjusted priorities within the tech group at the WMF, and maybe extra funding there (I don’t know the situation in detail since it’s not published!).

02:05:11 Reda Kerbouche: or we contenu with meta

02:06:10 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): kudos to the interpretation team! <3

02:06:48 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): WMF needs to invest more in technology and better user interface design so new editors are encouraged to interact

02:07:08 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): @Anass I’d hope to stay part of the community if elected to the board. ;-) so accountability could happen directly in the community, but would also want things to be more transparent to start with from WMF board and organisation (board minutes published regularly and in a timely manner, for example).

02:07:10 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): We will have better engagement if we think like other online tech majors rather than thinking like offline NGO

02:07:28 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Google or FB doesn’t run training programs educating their users how to use their products

02:07:56 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Right now, Wikimedia interface looks the same like 20 years back

02:08:08 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): It doesn’t help

02:08:28 Oby Ezeilo(her/she): Exactly Ravi 02:08:50 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): I’m lost now, we have 4 questions to answer at once?

02:08:53 Ola Mahadi: What are your plans to help communities in areas related to acess Internet and hard ware cost

02:09:05 Cornelius (he/him): Switch to "English"

02:09:10 Cornelius (he/him): to hear Nadel's question

02:09:19 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): @Ola I hope you read my answer for that question above

02:09:20 lorenzo: For the moderators: could you please write down the current question?

02:09:26 Adam Wight (they/he): My client does not show the globe.

02:09:32 Ola Mahadi: Right now, Wikimedia interface looks the same like 20 years back +1

02:09:55 Pascale Camus-Walter: Translation is horrible.

02:09:58 Vicki Doronina: Our users who read Wikipedia don't need courses. Editors do. We are not Google, we are Mozilla foundation, which trains volunteers

02:10:26 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Mozilla doesn’t rely on volunteer developers to develop Firefox

02:10:34 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): It has full time staff developing their products

02:10:41 Ashwin Baindur: Hi Zita, since my microphone is not working any longer, I am leaving the meet. However, I will provide my answers to the questions on Talk page of the Event. I thank MENA & Africa community for this meeting. :) 02:10:44 Ravan (She/Her): Rosie Reda Farah Douglas Ravi Michael

02:10:54 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): For us, content is product 02:11:21 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): really not sure how this hand raising is working … I raised my hand during the 2nd question, rather than waiting until the 4th ended, yet I’m last again? :-/

02:11:25 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): @Ola , please go through https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Growing_Local_Language_Content_on_Wikipedia_(Project_Tiger_2.0)

02:11:38 lorenzo: Mozilla is not a volunteer-led organization. There are things we can learn from them but we are structurally quite different

02:11:43 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): This is a WMF project I initiated to support small communities

02:11:48 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Such programs should be rolled out world over

02:12:11 Zita(She/her): Thank you @Ashwin for joining the call and see you on the wikis!

02:12:38 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Ravi: super cool!

02:12:59 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Vicky: very much agree

02:13:58 Anass: Question to all: Do you support that WMF creates hubs? Some communities cannot create hubs themselves and should not be left to themselves. Who of you agrees that it is WMF that should create hubs for communities who need support (Especially marginalized)

02:14:07 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Ravi: Project Tiger, according to my understanding, was successful - we should develop it more, but one more point: WHY don't we have a place where other regions of the world could learn the best practices like that?

That's why I postulate cross-semination of ideas

02:14:14 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): @Dariusz Thanks, hope you can still push this message inside the current board :)

02:14:16 Rosie (she/her): I think HUBS should be created by those entities who feel they want to unite. It should not be arbitrary or someone else’s decision.

02:14:38 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @ANass: hubs are best created by communities, obviously. CEE is a good example

02:15:05 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: there has to be some chemistry :) You cannot force it from the US

02:15:09 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): @Anass why should the WMF create hubs? They’ve already been forming organically so far, I think the opportunity to create more should be established, but it needs to be driven by the local communities.

02:15:09 Paulo Santos Perneta: It's still also not clear for me how hubs can help develop communities in places where very few wikimedians exist, and don't speak the língua franca of the hub

02:15:16 Iván Martínez (he/him): @Anass I think that hubs are useful as long as their members organically find spatial, linguistic or even temporal affinities. It should not be forced.

02:15:57 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): In India, we have seen all models of organisations: Chapter, user groups, unorganised communities, a sister org supporting chapter to route funds, WMF itself opening an office

02:16:02 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Paulo: if there is not enough people locally, it is not going to work. But if there are some, it can be initiated - even in a common foreign language. My Polish colleagues run workshops in English for other wikimedians

02:16:11 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): and, we have lot of lessons what works

02:16:16 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): and doesn’t

02:16:16 Anass: Hubs are best created by the BIGGEST and STRONGEST communities. My question was about communities who want tp have a hub but do not have the capacity (chapters, employees, etc.). Will you just let then to themselves?

Who of the candidates thinks that WMF need to support these communities create their hubs?

02:16:22 Rosie (she/her): CEE is a good example of a hub-like structure, BUT I think it isn’t a given. For example, if the countries in the southern area of CEE believe they would be better served as a unique HUB, then I think they should go for it. Be bold!

02:16:29 Vicki Doronina: But people should know their options, most don't

02:16:36 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Ravi: yes, and we don't have good structures and procedures how to learn from that.

02:16:40 Adam Wight (they/he): I'm committed to distributing resources, but not convinced that we need the "hubs" layer. A Global Council outreach committee could direct funds to any initiative that communities come up with, including an established community directly supporting an emerging community.

02:16:51 Paulo Santos Perneta: Exxtreme care must be taken to ensure that HUBs don't became private clubs for a selected group of friends, actually excluding and not including everybody which is not in their line

02:16:56 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): @Dariusz, right now conferences like WIkimania are the only way to exchange practices otherwise everything gets lost in meta :(

02:16:57 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Rosie: agreed. Nothing forced or planned at the top

02:17:17 Vicki Doronina: @Ravi +1

02:17:25 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): @anass in those cases, it probably needs to start smaller than a hub - focus on the individual countries/communities to start with, and build up the region that way, rather than just saying ‘here, have a hub, job done’.

02:17:30 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Ravi: but it is not a procedure. it is a coincidence. I'm dreaming specifically of best practices fairs and knowledge management systems

02:18:04 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Ravi: many organizations are already doing it very well, we can add it to our menu :) but the key is regional hubs, as we need an intermediary

02:18:07 Anass: Creating a hub requires HUGE amount of time and effort that volunteers cannot commit to. CEE-Iberocoop and so on have many chapters and people working full-time on these areas. What about Africa? Should we leave the small user groups to themselves because they don't have staff working 8 hours/day on this? I believe it is not the fairest way..

02:18:31 Anass: * working and being paid

02:18:38 Rosie (she/her): @Ashwin told us that there are more than 2 dozen language Wikipedias in India. If India wants to be a HUB, in my opinion, it should go for it. Same with Russia. Same with Lusophone (Portuguese language) community.

02:18:47 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: there should be a very substancial increase in funding in regions where we are unsuccesfull

02:18:56 Vicki Doronina: @Rosie +1

02:19:02 Adam Wight (they/he): Regional hubs sound specifically bad for the case mentioned in the original question: Portuguese-speaking communities would probably want to connect with Portugal and Brazil.

02:19:03 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: in fact, the budget published right now is a huge jump

02:19:39 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Adam: "regional" is probably a bad word. These do not have to be geography based

02:19:59 Vicki Doronina: It could be not geographical, but language-based as well. For example, a hypothetical Russian hub can be both, while CEE is geographical.

02:20:05 Rosie (she/her): @Adam, If Portuguese-speaking communities want to connect with Portugal and Brazil, they should feel free to do so. That should not prohibit them from being part of other HUBS, e.g. Lusophone.

02:20:07 Adam Wight (they/he): @Dariusz: would they be language-themed, then? That would be bad for smaller languages...

02:20:10 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Vicky +1, yeah

02:20:20 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Adam: we don't have to pre-define one criterion

02:20:27 Ravan (She/Her): Michael Ivan

Lorenzo

02:20:32 Rosie (she/her): If the Caribbean community wants to be part of LatAm HUB and part of North America HUB, it should be free to do so.

02:20:33 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): if I were to choose one criterion, I'd say "chemistry" :)

02:20:54 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Adam - In my experience people in these communities want to connect with both

02:21:11 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): And that's ok. You can have overlapping criteria

02:21:13 Anass: Funding is different from hubs. We do not only need money to create a hub (in our case), we need legal advise, protection and other resources. The answer is not: well if you want a hub create one. So my question is: Will we be left to ourselves because we don't come from democratic countries where creating an association can be dangerous?

If you want a hub create one feels to me like not wanting to help, or at least this is my feeling

02:21:35 Adam Wight (they/he): +1 more time :-)

02:21:50 Reda Kerbouche: I think with the courent political situation the Hub including Russian must to be in Asia (Kazakhstan for example)

02:22:21 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: yes, that is definitely true. Legal shields, etc. should be provided just like financial resources. "Funds" is a cover word for the resources most needed.

02:23:24 lorenzo: @Anass, I think that the point is that an hub should be created if the communities wants it - not that they have to do it alone. Support is important, and it is definetely not only funding (which is the most often talked about part but not always the most critical)

02:23:32 Vicki Doronina: There are few editors in Kazakhstan. Id' say Ukraine, we have a board member from there

02:23:33 Anass: @Dariusz - Yes they should be, but how? This meeting is to answer these questions. Can the candidates explain HOW they plan to do it?

It is nice to hear nice things, but it is important to make sure the people we will vote for will do these things

02:23:35 Michel Bakni: slow please

02:24:22 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: the existing system for legal funds relies on ad-hoc funding given in specific cases.

02:24:41 Pascale Camus-Walter: +1 Michael !

02:25:26 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: What I believe should happen, is making the community have more to say over the distribution of the cake: what is actually needed (is it money? is it legal suport? local communities know it better).

02:25:35 Anass: If you want to have a funding, you need to have a legal status, which is a barrier in many countries. it is a catch 22 that we really would like to overcome.

Creating a hub does not happen with a rapid grant :)

02:25:58 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: I realize it is not possible to have local decision making without a local community. I don't know what to do if there are NO sister organizations with similar culture or language.

02:26:00 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Anything that needs an org is an additional burden on a already smaller community

02:26:07 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): The chapter in India was dissolved

02:26:18 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): as the volunteer community could not manage it

02:26:18 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass; Oh, but a hub does not even have to be formal

02:26:19 Michel Bakni: please speak slowly

02:26:23 Anass: So the question is: Communities wanting to create a hub but do not have employees and chapters (and therefore no time). How will you help them once you are in the board?

02:26:29 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass a hub can be "a local FDC" for all practical purposes

02:26:48 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): I think people speak fast because only 2 minutes are given :)

02:26:54 Pascale Camus-Walter: @Anass That's because microgrants programs as we have for french speaking isolated or small projects work.

02:27:03 Iván Martínez (he/him): @Michael sorry, I tried to cover all the points :/

02:27:04 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: I will create an organizational structure taht will basically say that the WMF should pay for what the informal organization agrees upon

02:27:22 Rosie (she/her): @Anass. I apologize for not being more precise. I didn’t mean to imply not wanting to help. I meant that communities should feel free to associate with others communities in ways that are meaningful for them — the WMF shouldn’t arbitrarily decide who belongs where. I think supporting hubs after they decide to form is vital., Some of this (the support) may be delineated in the (yet to be written) Movement Charter.

02:27:29 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): There are lot of chicken and egg problems in Wikimedia

02:27:30 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): "a local FDC" is legit enough for me even if it is not "legally incorporated"

02:27:31 Anass: @Dariusz -Thank you Dariusz for your answer. Does any other candidate have a plan?

02:27:34 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): @Anass in those cases, I think creating the hub is probably not the right answer - it’s creating structure before content. Better to focus more on growing the local community - getting those staff and forming those chapters, and getting things done - rather than trying to jump to a hub.

02:27:45 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): A good org needs a good community needs a good org

02:28:38 Anass: Question to the candidates: Why is it not possible anymore to have new chapters? Would you help changing this if you will be in the board?

02:29:07 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): ANass: it should be, absolutely. It was stalled temporarily, afair

02:29:22 Vicki Doronina: Why? 02:29:44 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @VIcki: because I think people should be given free choice to self-organize.

02:29:48 Anass: many candidates answer from their background (where they have chapters and staff). In many countries, we are only volunteers and we cannot do big things while volunteering (because we have a life :D )

02:30:01 Paulo Santos Perneta: I was not aware AffCom was not approving any new chapters 🤔

02:30:03 Rosie (she/her): Putting my AffCom Chair hat on: Several User Groups are in the Chapter application process, e.g. developing their Bylaws, etc.

02:30:12 lorenzo: @Anass: it is theoretically possibile. Wikimedia Korea and Wikimedia Thailand where created in 2018 and 2019 (or 2019 and 2020, i don't rremeberd).

02:30:20 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: funny story - I only engaged in Wikimedia because the FDC was formed, as I never engaged in the chapter :)

02:30:25 lorenzo: The question is why it is not happening...

02:30:27 Rosie (she/her): @Paulo, correct. There is no moratorium on new Chapters.

02:30:40 Rosie (she/her): Ditto, no moratorium on new Thematic Organizations. 02:30:48 Iván Martínez (he/him): @Anass I think it's a governance-related issue that the foundation avoided discussing for years. I hope that the Charter of the Movement and the Global Council can enter into it and if I am elected to the board I will motivate that work to happen.

02:30:56 Anass: Yes Lorenzo, my question was why it was paused, the reason?

02:31:19 Anass: And what will the candidates here do to change this?

02:31:29 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): @Anass The UK didn’t have a chapter when I started. ;-) You have to start small and build on that, you can’t jump to having bureaucratic structures without developing the need for them first.

02:31:30 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): In practical terms, since the FDC was frozen for a year, also new applications of larger chapters were frozen

02:31:31 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Rosie thanks

02:31:51 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): @Anass I’d support re-enabling chapter recognition, it’s been a bad idea to restrict it from the start.

02:32:02 Cornelius (he/him): "What would be the strategy of the candidates to create awareness of Wikimedia in Africa? Mostly, what I would like to ask them how to have more affiliates, like in the US or in Europe."

02:32:08 Anass: @Michael - in UK if you are jobless the state gives you a min to live with. In my country if you are jobless you do not have what to eat :D

02:32:29 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): One of the things I pushed for as the FDC chair was radical simplification of reporting requirements

02:32:39 João Alexandre Peschanski: @Anass chapter recognition is not paused, as far as I know. Brazil is applying for chapter recognition right now

02:32:58 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): For grants of up to 20,000 USD we should have a 2-pager, if the chapter is in very good standing

02:33:07 lorenzo: @Anass: on chapters I wrote a few days ago a longer answer on https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2021/Meetings/Candidates_meet_with_Middle_East_and_North_Africa_(MENA)

02:33:09 João Alexandre Peschanski: Not Anass, sorry, Mike

02:33:14 Iván Martínez (he/him): @Anass About being a volunteer without staff or budget, I understand, perfectly I worked for many years under those conditions and I know it is really tiring and generally you need to put your own funds. It is a situation that can burn anyone.

02:34:12 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): what question is currently being answered?

02:34:30 Cornelius (he/him): I think Abel's question

02:34:31 lorenzo: I think the one written by Cornelius above

02:34:34 Anass: @Dariusz - I think awareness

02:34:35 Cornelius (he/him): ("What would be the strategy of the candidates to create awareness of Wikimedia in Africa? Mostly, what I would like to ask them how to have more affiliates, like in the US or in Europe.")

02:34:53 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): thanks! :)

02:35:01 Anass: nobody answered my question about why chapters were paused

02:35:10 Cornelius (he/him): (which is a question that covers both awareness and creating structures...)

02:35:30 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @ANass: I sort of did - as the funding was frozen, for all practical purposes setting up a new entity proved difficult

02:35:38 lorenzo: @Anass I did on Meta. I can repeat it here but probably it's better to link what I have already written.

02:35:48 Adam Wight (they/he): @Anass Dariusz's answer seemed reasonable: the FDC has been paused, which was required for the large grants a chapter needs.

02:36:27 Anass: Thank you for the answers

02:36:38 lorenzo: @Dariusz, Adam: I'm not convinced by that. Chapter candidates are already user groups and already have some funding.

02:36:51 Anass: But since it is a meeting with Africa and MENA, please know that our situation is much different than most of yours

02:37:04 Rosie (she/her): @Anass - As the Chair of AffCom, the organization that recognizes new Affiliates, including Chapters, I can state unequivocally that there is NO PAUSE in Chapter recognition. There are several User Groups in the process of seeking recognition, e.g. they are creating Bylaws, etc. 02:37:19 Mikaeel Sodiq: @Douglas, thank you for that head point answers

02:37:27 Anass: we are volunteers, and working offline as a volunteers is not sustainable, think about it when you will be in the board

02:37:32 Ravan (She/Her): Ivan Dariusz

02:37:46 Anass: (this was an advice for all :) )

02:38:33 Paulo Santos Perneta: volunteers doing function of staff that don't even have the right to vote in these elections, if they don't have regular wikipedia activity 😔02:38:42 Anass: @Rosie- Thank you for the answer. We hope to see many chapters soon hopefully :)

02:40:29 Pascale Camus-Walter: I like your ideas Douglas ! And I would also add that chapters are mainly local associations with membership. Their funding must come at more than 50% from other sources than the Foundation !

02:41:00 Anass: Most of African and MENA affiliates (volunteers) do the same work (event organization, administration) that staff is doing in the west.

However, we cannot expect volunteers to do the same thing for a long period, and blame them later if they cannot create a hub for themselves, because they don't have the same time and resource as those having many employees.

02:41:14 Douglas Ian Scott: Thank you for the positive feed back

02:41:28 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Pascale: Where would those more than 50% resources come from?

02:41:48 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Pascale: if 50% of the budget had to be membership fees, we would not have any chapters outside of the (old) Western Europe and the US

02:41:56 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): I haven’t answered yet.

02:42:05 Pascale Camus-Walter: From local governements and donors. 02:42:06 Ravan (She/Her): Ok after Reda

02:42:14 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): always I am last. :)

02:42:26 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): That is impossible to get in countries with little tradition of donating and foundations

02:42:27 Paulo Santos Perneta: @darius - not even in Europe. That would never work here in Portugal (fees)

02:43:17 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Pascale: not really. That's a no solution in many, many countries.

02:43:25 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): I was an ED of Collegium Invisibile - Soros Foundation (European HESP) have us 50%, and the other 50% came from the local Soros Foundation gave us the other 50%. That's how it can work only, IMHO

02:43:29 lorenzo: @Dariusz Also in Italy membership fees are 1% of the budget... I think only for Wikimedia Germany they have a lot of weight

02:43:39 Michel Bakni: Please speak slow

02:43:42 Pascale Camus-Walter: @Dariusz : except Germany which has a lot of members, the budget does not come from membership fees but from projects or donations.

02:44:17 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Pascale - the last time I checked Germany was solid old Western European country with LOTS of foundations and grants

02:44:25 Anass: If the communities ask for help (to create a hub, meaning they WANT it), why would we tell them to do it themselves like the BIGGER and RICHER communities are doing? While the resources are completely different

02:44:47 lorenzo: Anyway, I think what wherever possible chapters should raise funds locally. But not everywhere is possible. That's not a solution for Africa, and acturally not for most of the world.

02:45:13 João Alexandre Peschanski: Thank you all for this lively discussion. It was helpful. See you August 1st :)

02:45:28 Adam Wight (they/he): IMHO, it's problematic that Wikimedia Germany charges membership fees. It feels almost like a poll tax. I would prefer that we take donations, and that membership would be free.

02:45:42 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Pascale: The case of Germany is not really replicable to many other places

02:46:31 Anass: This is basic elections 101 :))

02:47:19 Mervat (her/she): we have a few minutes left, please make your answers for this last question shorter to give the chance to all

02:47:41 Iván Martínez (he/him): I think I answered before, but I insist, in addition to transparency, it is a personal decision of each candidate what they can legally share in public without jeopardizing any matter that strategically should have privacy.

02:47:42 Ravan (She/Her): Rosie Lorenzo Vicki Douglas Farah Adam

02:47:48 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Mervat: I apologize if I got carried away :( I found this question important, and not "easy"

02:47:57 Pascale Camus-Walter: @Anass A hub is not a chapter. But generally speaking, if people band together, it's for any reason : same language, geographically neighbours, a common project.... So see what is your common denominator and knock on all doors and construct your hub ( it takes times).

02:48:04 Mervat (her/she): No problem Darius

02:48:07 Paulo Santos Perneta: @Adam - That's how Wikimedia Portugal works… Inituially it had fees, but the burden of them was not woth the very few associates thatw ere paying. And they were acting as na obsctacle than anything else

02:48:29 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Rosie: yes, +1 to that. Past record is a very good approximation of future behawior.

02:49:47 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Rosie: also, a very important point added about the consensus-supporting. "Accountability" is not pushing blindly because of committment. It is being honest and reporting, too.

02:50:10 Paulo Santos Perneta: I agree that membership fees are generally not a feasibel solution (or not even a godo solution, even when feasible)

02:50:17 Paulo Santos Perneta: good*

02:50:29 Pascale Camus-Walter: @Paulo @Dariusz I just spoke about Germany as an absolute exception (we are all jealous :-)

02:50:36 Rosie (she/her): Thanks, Dariusz. I believe past behavior is “telling”. Have you historically supported the global community? Which one(s)? How?

02:50:50 Iván Martínez (he/him): Sorry, I need to go, for me they are still working hours. Many thanks for this opportunity, thanks organizers, translators and my fellow candidates! See you in the next chance.

02:51:13 Mervat (her/she): thank you for your participation Ivan

02:51:16 Pascale Camus-Walter: Au revoir Ivan ! 02:51:22 Rosie (she/her): Bye Ivan!

02:51:52 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Rosie: what do you mean by the global community? I've supported, for instance, the community-led decision making in funding (including oversight over the WMF)

02:52:16 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @ROsie: I also volunteered to run different workshops on strategy for chapters

02:52:31 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): but unsure if that's what you're asking 02:52:49 lorenzo: I remember attending one many years ago, it was interesting!

02:52:51 Vicki Doronina: bye ivan

02:52:59 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Lorenzo: many thanks :)

02:53:17 Rosie (she/her): By global community I mean the opposite of local-only.

02:53:34 lorenzo: +1 on the importance of having the minutes, and having them detailed and published timely

02:53:46 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Rosie: ok, so it ifts 02:54:03 Anass: +1 for the minutes. We hope that those being elected will push towards it

02:54:42 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Anass: the minutes have been a weak point of this board… for years. And I personally failed to change that.

02:55:31 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): the reason why it takes ages is that it is being prepared by the Staff, and then edited, and then EVERYONE has to vote on it

02:55:37 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): but it is a poor excuse

02:55:41 Vicki Doronina: Do the board memebrs not want them? Or everybody is too busy to take them?

02:55:58 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): no, everyone is supportive of the minutes being published timely

02:56:02 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): @Dariusz first item on the agenda for the next board meeting, at the least. ;-)

02:56:08 lorenzo: It is common to have minutes voted upon at the next meeting.

02:56:16 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @MIchael: it was on the board agenda many times

02:56:32 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Lorenzo: which means 3 months later.

02:56:36 lorenzo: In that way they are publishable not later than at the following board meeting

02:56:48 Joy Agyepong: I have a question but can't speak where I am.

02:56:57 Douglas Ian Scott: Thats a good point Adam. I think it certainly worth considering becioming a membership organisations again.

02:57:02 lorenzo: Yes, 3 months, but at least it is fixed. And it would be an improvement :-)

02:57:05 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): I think the minutes get approved on average quicker at this board, but still it is super slow.

02:57:08 Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): Unless I’ve missed something, the last WMF board minutes were from May 2020(!) - https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_board_meetings

02:57:13 Cornelius (he/him): @Joy: Unfortunately, we're already at the end of this meeting.

02:57:16 Adam Wight (they/he): @Vicki @Dariusz actually, I have asked previous Boards about minutes and recordings, and Jimmy Wales has said he opposes this because it makes trustees uncomfortable.

02:57:27 Pascale Camus-Walter: @Lorenzo Yes it is how it works in all boards that I've seen.

02:57:28 Joy Agyepong: Q. 1How will the board strategize to ensure adherence to compliance

Q.2 How will the board address issues of non - compliance without bias when they arise case study of communities, groups and administrators on and off wiki.

02:57:30 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Michael: well, the last year is a poor indicator. We'are at our last feet

02:57:39 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Thank you all

02:57:45 Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Have a nice weekend

02:57:48 Zita(She/her): https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2021/Candidates/CandidateQ%26A

02:57:48 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): @Joy: complaince to... law?

02:57:54 Anass: Thank you so much everyone, hopefully those of you who will be elected will be mindful of our problems and questions we shared here :))

02:57:57 Reda Kerbouche: Thank you for your questions

02:58:00 Joy Agyepong: maybe the board can answer this somewhere, sorry I missed the QnA

02:58:05 Ola Mahadi: Thank you all for the efforts to keep us updated

02:58:14 Zita(She/her): https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2021/Meetings/Candidates_meet_with_community_July_28

02:58:17 Nanour Garabedian (she/her): Thank you and good luck to all of you we need your efforts on the board.

02:58:25 lorenzo: When I was secreatary of the board of WMI I published the minutes just after the end of the meeting. I had the vote at the end of the meeting, and not in the following one.

02:58:26 Vicki Doronina: Thank you for organising, it was great

02:58:40 Vicki Doronina: And to all who asked questions, or just listened

02:58:43 lorenzo: But that is not always easy to do

02:58:46 Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): many thanks for a great meeting - and Anass, particularly thanks for pushing and not allowing easy answers :)

02:58:58 Pascale Camus-Walter: Thanks a lot for the meeting !

02:58:59 Douglas Ian Scott: Thank you everyone :-)

Transcript

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Cornelius (he/him): All right, welcome to the meet the candidates for the board of trustees session, my name is cornelius i'm just the technical.

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Cornelius (he/him): facilitator, this is the African and MENA edition and i'm handing over to Zita.

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Zita(She/her): hi everyone.

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Zita(She/her): Thank you for joining us, I am Zita, a facilitator with the movement strategy and governance team. I will be assisted by Mahuton, who will be our French interpreter Michel, who will also be our Arabic interpreter. We also have Mervat, Ravan and Sam who will be assiting with

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moderating and timekeeping.

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Zita(She/her): Oh, and we also have Cornelius, who is a zoom genius, so he will be providing us with technical support.

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Zita(She/her): Before we begin, I would like to mention a few logistics, which all participants should take note of. We advice that all participants should obeserve the Wikimedia friendly space policy, while this session is ongoing.

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Zita(She/her): The meeting as expected to last for two hours and during this two hours there's going to be a quick update and introduction to the ongoing board elections. After that candidates will introduce themselves before we delve straight into the QandA session.

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Zita(She/her): If you want to ask a question, please use the raise hand feature or type the symbolic raise hand feature in the chat. Please mute yourself if you're not the one speaking so we can hear whoever is speaking clearly.

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Zita(She/her): This session will be recorded as was mentioned, so if you're uncomfortable with your face showing in the video, please turn off your camera. You can also type your questions in the chat if you're uncomfortable speaking.

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Zita(She/her): Each candidate will be given a maximum of two minutes to answer a question.

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Zita(She/her): And to give each candidate a chance to speak, the time people would have to interrupt any candidate that exceeds this two minutes.

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Zita(She/her): We have some questions which was submitted on Meta and so we'll be picking a couple of questions from the submitted questions, in addition to a couple of questions which will be asked on this call.

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Zita(She/her): Now here is a quick update and introduction into the Wikimedia Board Elections.

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Zita(She/her): While the Wikimedia Foundation assists the Wikimedia communities in their work on the various Wikimedia projects,

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Zita(She/her): By taking care of the technical infrastructure legal challenges and the growing pains the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Wikimedia foundation.

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Zita(She/her): And it is in charge of overseeing the foundation's operations. Key roles performed by the board includes making high level decisions, monitoring and leadership capacity.

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Zita(She/her): There are currently 16 seats on the board; one of these seats is designated for the founder, eight of the seats are occupied by Community members selected by the Wikimedia community and the remaining seven seats are occupied by members selected by the Board.

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Zita(She/her): Each board member serves a three year term, and all Trustees at all times are supposed to act in the best interest of the Foundation.

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Zita(She/her): The ongoing 2021 board elections seeks to select 4 members from the Community, who will serve on the board.

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Zita(She/her): The election process began on 9th July 2021, when the call for candidates was announced, and the facilitation team did a lot of outreach and after two weeks.

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Zita(She/her): We had 20 candidates submitting their applications. These 20 candidates were confirmed by the elections committee to proceed to the next stage in the election process, and currently we are in the campaign period, so there are a lot of campaign activities ongoing in the movement.

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Zita(She/her): And today, we have the pleasure of introducing these 20 candidates sorry, we don't have all 20 on the call, but we have a good number on the call, so this would give the African and Middle East communities, a chance to get to know the candidates.

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Zita(She/her): At this point, i'd like to say once again, thank you to all the participants for joining and a big thank you to all the candidates who have taken this huge step to contest in the board elections and to be present on this call.

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Zita(She/her): May I now ask all candidates to briefly introduce themselves in one minute. Please note, if you exceed one minute. The time keeper would have to cut you so we move to the next person. So shall we begin in alphabetical order.

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Zita(She/her): Starting with.

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Zita(She/her): me.

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Ashwin Baindur: Oh, we have had alphabetical order in a previous one, so maybe reverse alphabetical order will be equitable.

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Zita(She/her): Sorry, I didn't get that.

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Ashwin Baindur: In a previous meeting, we have an alphabetical order.

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Ashwin Baindur: Now, you may like reverse alphabetical order so that people don't feel that they always push to them.

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Okay.

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Zita(She/her): that's a good idea, so.

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Zita(She/her): Please give me a minute to notice candidates on the call.

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Zita(She/her): Sorry it's quite hard with zoom.

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Zita(She/her): Vicki would you like to go first.

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Vicki Doronina: hello, my name is Victoria Doronina. I am originally from Bella rules which is between Poland and Russia.

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Vicki Doronina: And I made 120,000 agents across Russia Wikipedia English Wikipedia Russian dictionary and comments I am an admin on Russian Wikipedia.

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Vicki Doronina: I was twice an arbitration committee Member I was wikimedia grants committee Member and our Community fellow.

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Vicki Doronina: In my real life, I have a PhD in molecular biology and I work as a technical officer faculty over the key from Manchester metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, thank you.

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Zita(She/her): Thank you vicki don't move to Mike sorry Michael.

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Rosie (she/her): Did you may be skipped me.

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Zita(She/her): Sorry.

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Zita(She/her): Lucy.

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yeah.

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Rosie (she/her): Thank you Thank you everyone hi my name is rosie Stephenson good night, I am a visiting scholar at northeastern University in Boston.

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Rosie (she/her): i've been a wiccan median since 2007 an English Wikipedia administrators since 2009 I am the Chair of the affiliations Committee, the Vice President of wikimedia district of Columbia chapter and the co founder of women in read.

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Rosie (she/her): acknowledging my Wikipedia work centered on increasing content about women and combating harassment, I was honored as we comedian of the year in 2016.

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Rosie (she/her): And in 2018 that was knighted by Serbia my ancestors homeland.

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Rosie (she/her): While I was a member of the movement strategy Community health working group my focus areas were newcomers, such as readers editors and partners also leadership, training and structure for handling conflicts, thank you very much.

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Zita(She/her): Thank you Lucy and long to read up.

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Reda Kerbouche: Hello everybody, my name is where the kibosh.

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Reda Kerbouche: I have been up since 2010 2010 I speak French Arabic Russian to share with I work in English and they learn German now.

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Reda Kerbouche: i'm a founding member and the manager of managers user group and the head of communication at wikimedia Algeria.

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Reda Kerbouche: I was in the organization for me to have wiki indaba and wiki Arabia and i'm also a member of weekend about Steering Committee and the phone number of the F bomb.

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Reda Kerbouche: I support all communities, mostly African indigenous languages in the posture I presented several projects at several conference around the globe about the comedian here in two year or two years ago I did a small presentation about wikimedia movement at the UNESCO excellent Thank you.

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Zita(She/her): Thank you read up now or.

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Zita(She/her): pass the MIC to Moscow.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: Moscow.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: A lot more she.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: say she Pascal Jimmy Delta, the lesson.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: She actually my mom or the consent and Miss tasha the leaky media awesome you can read me sennheiser she's.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: A she's a Co founder Hong Kong fairly community and definitely definitely not it, you may know me on the moon both SWAT mother is it shows, I will propose a pool sickle cell miss hustle you gotta see premium ah.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: dude who will burn starts on the Left foot vessel, a lack of unity there's emotional space, it has a box on the petition they portray a.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: Live person.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: He sold on this on your own mo was still.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: Electronic sister's wedding proposal for prism is not a prude simpatico see that Qatif.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: domino project a show to Paul knows who to ask a new number but slowly isn't T necessary in Africa example cornerback lucky, what is it is a plot opposition could remove affair agenda.

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Zita(She/her): Plus cold and no I pass the MIC to Michael.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): hi on.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): My deal both my real name and only good I.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): Am i've been with comedians since 2005 and i've been an admin on English Wikipedia commons wiki data.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And i've been on the wikimedia funds insemination committee for four years, and I was a Co founder wikimedia UK.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): i'm a trustee of that for five years and then by day i'm a radio astronomer based in Canary Islands and i've also lived in the UK and in Brazil.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): i'm standing to try to bring a Community perspective to the Foundation, both to try to help make the Foundation, more transparent and more engaged with the Community as a matter of course and in day to day.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): operations, as well as with the Foundation board itself and to try to encourage more diversification of the wikimedia organizational work from and just coming from the US to around the world to make best use of all countries, France thanks for listening.

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Zita(She/her): Thank you, Michael and now let's pass the MIC to Lorenzo.

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lorenzo: Hello i'm learning and i've been a volunteer on the wikimedia projects, since it doesn't inform you can find me mostly on Italian Wikipedia when.

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lorenzo: I am an administrator and when we get out i've been contributing in many activities, including as wiki loves monuments organizers England and educational partnerships and advocacy.

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lorenzo: i've been the President of wikimedia Italy and the Community elected member of the funds, the simulation committee of the wikimedia foundation.

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lorenzo: I strongly believe in the power of our communities and as a boat candidate, I hope to bring my experience and my commitment to wikimedia values and principles to support the surgeon medium.

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lorenzo: Thank you.

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Zita(She/her): Thank you, as a ransom Evan next.

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Zita(She/her): one.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): hello, thank you see.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): My name is Ian my penis i'm i've been Wikipedia and since 2006 and we can you see since 2009 mainly.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): Mainly contribute or on Spanish Wikipedia where i'm at me i'm also certified in the movement as a broker and Ombudsman.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): I found that the Mexican chapter in 2011 where I was 2011 years where I was involved with on many projects, including control sectors occasion and so on.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): i'm also founder and enthusiast of the Iraq network which gator many affiliates into American continent and Europe also I organized the weekend or 2015 in Mexico City.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): and professionally speaking since 2016 I am a human rights defenders at one of the leading organization in Latin America working at the intersection of technology and human rights.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): i'm involved with the projects related to human rights, rights as privacy, freedom of expression, misinformation access to Internet neutrality access to knowledge and many others that you to leave it to human rights and demoed think.

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Zita(She/her): Ensure event.

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Zita(She/her): i'd like to appeal to all candidates to put in me.

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Zita(She/her): In case I mispronounced your name.

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Zita(She/her): And now to fire.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: me and Botswana to so what.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: about his hair.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Think i'm going to speak in English because I believe the reverse translation into English is not turned on so.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: If you can bear with me, so I, my name is for Mr column, I am a Wikipedia and since 2005.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: And mainly active on Arabic and English Wikipedia has and on comments.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: I was a founding member or I am a founding member of the comedians of the Levant user group and the former treasurer of the group.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: I also started the education program in Palestine with with posting universities.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: And I am currently a member of the Arab comedians user group the newly created one.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: called was also a member of the have asked some of the affiliates commit the affiliations committee.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: And yeah my, I would like to bring to the board some some diversity of.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Different different places, people are from and different.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: different languages, I also would like to increase the the transparency of the of the Board communication with the Community.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: And finally, I am a digital rights activist abuses, so I would like to also increase the the collaboration between the wikimedia Foundation and the.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: digital rights activism movement, thank you.

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Zita(She/her): And now i'd like to pass the MIC to.

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Douglas Ian Scott: you very much.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Oh sorry I said the diary so myself.

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Zita(She/her): Douglas sorry now yes.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): sorry about that i'm.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): sure you pick or my name.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): So a high nourish me on it, I served as an admin bureaucrat check user steward ombudsman, Chair of the vc and currently as a trustee.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): But as a professor of management and faculty associated berkman client Center for Internet society at Harvard University I deal with open knowledge in tech strategy to and I actually wrote two books about Wikipedia.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): i'm running for the board as i'm actually best positioned to onboard the new CEO but also to make funds distribution much more local and not us based.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): To create leadership trainings for our communities as they deserved to get something back and also to introduce better consensus reaching and decision decision making tools aggregating feedback from our community at large, thank you.

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Zita(She/her): Thank you.

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Zita(She/her): Various i'd like to chip in here that sound candidate joining leads to our have to continue with the order those green wave if I come back to the candidates that joining leads so over to you Douglas.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Thank you very much.

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Douglas Ian Scott: So i've been a Wikipedia editors since 2006 i've been President of wikimedia South Africa, since from 2015 to 2020, during which time I was the lead organizer of wicca mania 2018 in Cape Town South Africa.

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Douglas Ian Scott: i've also been campaigning for copyright legal reform in South Africa, so as to make it easier to edit Wikipedia here.

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Douglas Ian Scott: For the past seven years i've led many projects aimed at growing and strengthening the free knowledge volunteer community in the southern African region.

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Douglas Ian Scott: i'm in my day job i'm a criminologist I work for a nonprofit organization.

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Douglas Ian Scott: And i'm running to give a stronger Community voice on the board make board more accountable, as well as to try and bring focus to the board on investing in growing the Community in the emerging world, such as in Africa, where i'm from Thank you.

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Zita(She/her): Thank you Douglas.

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Zita(She/her): Now over to Adam.

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Adam Wight (they/he): started as a volunteer software developer, and then worked for the wikimedia foundation as a software developer for five years and wikimedia Germany for two years.

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Adam Wight (they/he): But more interesting maybe as my unofficial background, as a community organizer I helped start a food cooperative.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Free school and I I tried to help start organize Workers Union at the wikimedia foundation.

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Adam Wight (they/he): And the reasons i'm running or that I would like, I would like to change the foundations by laws to have the entire Board of Trustees be elected I think that's.

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Adam Wight (they/he): that's sort of an interesting question, though, especially in this meeting, I think that democracy.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Just straight pop popular vote democracy does have issues with under representation, especially because our status quo is already skewed towards colonial languages.

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Adam Wight (they/he): But I think that the Foundation is not the right group to improve that situation by choosing its own trustees so what I would like to see something more like a.

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Adam Wight (they/he): much larger global Council, not the 777 proposal, but many more people make sure that every every affiliate every user group is part of that bigger body and then maybe broken up into committees, so that.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Smaller more manageable groups can give input into the overall discussions that happened in the global cancel.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Two other points that i'd like to make part of my platform or.

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Adam Wight (they/he): diaspora, I would like to see something like an open wiki farm that we support, and this would allow this would have a much lower barrier to entry.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Then the incubator process it wouldn't only be focused on our existing projects, but anyone who wanted say activist groups.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Regular scientists working.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Anyway, anybody could start a wiki and then we would provide the legal and safety support.

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Zita(She/her): Sorry, I don't have the time to catch in here one minute.

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Zita(She/her): i'd like to present my to ravi shankar.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Hello.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): hello, good evening everyone and ravi shanker and from India I started my wiki journey has a student a graduate student contributing good wikimedia products in common language South Asian language.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): In 2005 so i've been here since 2007 the last 15 years I have taken pride in kickstarting are contributing greatly to the community media projects, not as Wikipedia.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): But also dictionary wiki source and so on from there, I started working to the other communities in India, trying to implement the best practices.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): What we learned in common in other languages, and then they went on to work as the program director for Community India chapter.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): And then later I also joined wikimedia foundation as its head of strategic partnerships for the Asian and it's in European region and during this time I had the privilege to work on many projects that increase the US account, and also the number of articles on the.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Emerging language is only one for this election, with the hope that we have representation from all regions of the world and the Community was a boat, thank you very much.

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Zita(She/her): Thank you, revision.

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Zita(She/her): Car and finally to ushering.

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Cornelius (he/him): you're muted.

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Ashwin Baindur: Hello.

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Ashwin Baindur: My name is a shrimp i'm from India i'm a retired army officer i'm a volunteer on the English Wikipedia and comments i've got about 30,008 it's been online since 2006 involved with various Indian communities, and specifically the English company in India.

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Ashwin Baindur: I work offline since 2011 I helped organize the first video conference in India and I basically spent my time teaching basic editing skills mentoring young people.

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Ashwin Baindur: and advising communities, my country has got 27 languages and some predictions quite complex and diverse and it has been a great learning experience dealing with all the issues.

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Ashwin Baindur: In my real life I have had the opportunity to be an administrator of a national Defense college of my country we looked after the lively i've been the director of a museum come archives for eight years and also looked after school.

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Ashwin Baindur: I completely volunteer I do not have any positions or any posts, with the either the wikimedia foundation or chapter on a flood, and I hope to present a completely new and different point of view.

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Ashwin Baindur: If I get elected on the board of trustees I had the pleasure of visiting Africa i've been to four countries, Sudan, South Africa Zambian Lesotho in wanted spending a total of about three weeks so i'm really, really happy to be here amongst you Thank you so much.

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Zita(She/her): And thank you so much to all the candidates for that brief.

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Zita(She/her): introduction at this point, or like 202 rock band would be moderating the q&a session provided, please take it away.

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Ravan (She/Her): hi everyone, thank you for participating candidates and other attendees.

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Ravan (She/Her): So we will have now an open question and answer session everyone who wants to ask a question can raise their hands, that I will be taking questions.

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Ravan (She/Her): from raising hands and one question some will be taking from the chat so you can ask your questions in the chat either a specific candidate can be asked, or if you have a general question for any of the candidates, so we start now.

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Ravan (She/Her): Why is it's an open question and answer.

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Ravan (She/Her): No one has a question to any of the candidates.

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Ravan (She/Her): If I can come in.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): Maybe I can read some of the questions on matter.

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Ravan (She/Her): Okay, Sam you ask one of the questions, yes please okay.

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I hope you can hear me.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): So please ask questions that you feel that.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): are important to you in your Community or your movement in general that's the purpose of the call to sort of make the candidates and listen to what.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): The community wants, especially for the African community and the Middle Eastern community, which is like the focus of this call.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): So i'm just going to take a question on Meta which was asked by, I believe, a member of the Middle East and community and it says what is your strategy to promote or increase representation of underrepresented communities in various boards and committees.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): Before I pass it on to the other members of the candidate on the call, I would like to read the rest points of.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): One candidates that was unable to attend this over sort of like Center his answers or send their answers.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): This person says, building a more equitable movement demands a revision of the current power balance that in cubits underrepresented communities to which leadership positions.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): The creation of the hearts as support structures focus on a specific regions automatic areas should help in a capacity and leadership development among these emerging communities.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): There are also very successful initiatives like working now but, in this context, so before I pass it on to the candidates again to shed a thought on this questions I would I would read out the question again.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): What is your strategy to promote or increase representation of underrepresented communities in various boards and committees, I believe this means like various various boards and committees across the movement.

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yeah.

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Ravan (She/Her): Okay, so we won't go Daddy was raised his hand first so he will be given the chance and we just remind you all that every candidate have two minutes to answer please.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): First.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): I grew up in Communist Poland, I lived for $20 a day I.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): traveled to the western world, for the first time in my life when I was already an adult so I sort of know how different forms of privilege might work I don't know about the others, but I know they exist.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): And I know for sure that our movement, even though it's well meant, is not necessarily super well geared towards mobile Westerners awards.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): I was the first one westerner elected to the board of trustees and I think this is symptomatic if it's just elections, the majority always wins.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): The majority will often mean people from the United States from Western Europe and they will take the lead, so I think we need to have a system and we possibly need to have quotas.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Regional representation and regional divisions, I strongly believe in stimulating representation in those bodies, and I think that for us are one solution that can work.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): I think this solution has to be agreed upon with the communities at large, though, and i'm pretty sure the communities will be very reasonable about reaching them, thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you, so we have ashwin next.

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Ashwin Baindur: hello, can you hear me.

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Ashwin Baindur: Okay.

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Ashwin Baindur: The first thing that we have to do is look at the way the communities which are under the Center and start delving into their.

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Ashwin Baindur: Just.

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Ashwin Baindur: Just.

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Ashwin Baindur: Now the.

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Ashwin Baindur: story is when your voice.

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Ravan (She/Her): is not clear.

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Ravan (She/Her): We cannot hear you very well.

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Can you hear me now.

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Ashwin Baindur: Can you hear me now.

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Ravan (She/Her): Yes, yes please proceed yes.

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Ashwin Baindur: The first thing that I would.

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Ashwin Baindur: advocate if we want to increase the representation of underrepresented communities.

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Ashwin Baindur: In number one and peers, who have the experience, who got the knowledge, the skills or the opportunities to come and take on some of these positions at such high levels that.

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Ashwin Baindur: That they can make a difference, so for this, we would like to give training exposure opportunities help them become confidence, give them skills and experience and then mentor them through the process.

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Ashwin Baindur: In addition.

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Ashwin Baindur: system.

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Ashwin Baindur: and

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Ashwin Baindur: Regions and, as in the same case for the hubs and also engage to see that whether the end of represented communities can get a slightly better chance than perhaps the communities which are extremely well represented and, lastly, the third thing I would do is that what i'm developing.

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Ashwin Baindur: The.

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Ravan (She/Her): We are so sorry your your voices is cutting card, and we cannot hear you so we will go to rosie now please.

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Rosie (she/her): Thank you very much hi So the question is about what is my strength and my strategy.

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Rosie (she/her): would have two parts to it.

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Rosie (she/her): One would be a dramatic increase in training by training by offering more training to more people more people can take advantage of learning things and gaining the skills so that they would be able to.

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Rosie (she/her): Join boards and and become part of the leadership of various kinds of communities, but the second part of this, I think, is equally important, many people struggle with imposter syndrome.

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Rosie (she/her): And just reaching out to that person and suggesting to them to run for a certain position as I have during my last six years on F calm.

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Rosie (she/her): Each year when there's an election, I have reached out to someone said, I think you might be a good fit for an outcome, maybe consider it and think about whether or not you want to also run for a seat on an outcome, those are my two approaches thank.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you so much rosie, so now we can descend to Lorenzo.

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lorenzo: yeah Thank you and I think that the most important step.

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lorenzo: In increasing representation of communities is actually strengthening communities themselves and the links between different communities and between each community each local community and the global the global movement, and then we have to make sure that that.

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lorenzo: We give them ways to contribute to the global movement and especially.

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lorenzo: In terms of Google of the local communities that the each group can support each other, I don't like things that are tied up and.

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lorenzo: top down, I think.

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lorenzo: Different parts of the of our communities can work together to grow.

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lorenzo: legion the lobster would be very interesting, from this point of view, and I also think that we should have to ensure that the.

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lorenzo: affiliates about user groups and chuck della can developer and Google in every part of the water Well now, the other salons really skewed in towards some bad especially especially you open.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you, so we go to vicki know.

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Vicki Doronina: So.

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lorenzo: I think.

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Vicki Doronina: When we can see the strategy all right English Wikipedia and most of the Western world Wikipedia has has reached the peak and some time ago as well.

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Vicki Doronina: So if the movement wants developing, we need to put more resources into the development communities and underrepresented communities, which includes obviously Africa and.

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Vicki Doronina: Other communities in this region so.

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Vicki Doronina: Their ideas about rituals hubs I would.

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Vicki Doronina: It would be good to have Wikipedia ambassadors in countries as well, so right now we have some in western museums Western libraries, which is great and wonderful.

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Vicki Doronina: But we need to move it into the countries which are not represented and have people increase the Community by teaching other people to be we comedians Thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you vicki so we're going out to rubbish.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Oh.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): To answer the question how to increase the participation or representation of underrepresented communities in different countries and votes.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): There is more than 100 years solution that is already available, and it is called affirmative action or representation or reservation in various parts of the world.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): The country, where I come from India, we have salvation for different and the privilege sections of the community.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): So if you need a woman in the board, you need to reserve a seat for a woman in the board, there is no other way, this can be filled.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): And the under representation is a systemic problem and the solution for that should also have a systemic solution.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): So if you need more woman more people from non English speaking countries more people from different parts of the world, you have to reserve seats and that cannot be filled by anyone else.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): This is the only and the long term solution that has worked in many countries in in education and employment, and it is high time the wikimedia foundation considers this, otherwise it will be all talk and a lot of conferences at, but there will be no.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): So this will be my suggestion on solution, but I understand that there won't be great response for this at the immediately, but I will continue to lobby for this Thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): So now i've done, please.

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Adam Wight (they/he): I think the most important thing to do would be to diversify where the funding is going.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Like I started typing in chat currently less than 8% of the revenue of the donation revenue is actually distributed outside the Foundation.

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Adam Wight (they/he): And I would I would hope that would be at least half the the wealth, as it is as being created by the contributors and the resources to go back to them.

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Adam Wight (they/he): The main thing that I believe this would help is that if underrepresented communities received the resources.

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Adam Wight (they/he): That they need to increase participation in their local areas, they would be able to make their own decisions which would undoubtedly be much better decisions than the Foundation could make itself.

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Adam Wight (they/he): And this is part of the movement strategy, though, so I would just make sure that this happens, I would also like to see a diaspora of.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Initiatives like I was mentioning.

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Adam Wight (they/he): I think that the.

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Cornelius (he/him): encyclopedia scotus.

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Cornelius (he/him): little bit slower, please you're really, really fast.

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Sarah.

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Adam Wight (they/he): I think that a diaspora of initiatives would also help.

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Adam Wight (they/he): I think that the encyclopedic idea was revolutionary when it first came about in the 1800s in France, but I think that at this point it's.

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Adam Wight (they/he): it's it's got a strong Western bias and although the yeah I don't think that our resources should just go to the most popular projects, I think that they should also go to things like creative writing and.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Think places we haven't even tapped into for historical reasons, I also think that we need to deal with the.

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Adam Wight (they/he): what's called in a paper called the digital divisions of Labor and in for informational magnetism, we need to deal with the magnetism of colonial which is.

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Adam Wight (they/he): Often, people will write in a language that's not their first language, because they believe that more people will read the the wiki written in a colonial language.

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Adam Wight (they/he): I hope there's some way to deal with this and I don't know quite what that is yet and and I support the affirmative action that ravi shankar was mentioning Thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you, I don't know we have Douglas.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Thank you.

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Douglas Ian Scott: turn on my camera.

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Douglas Ian Scott: So my my my strategy can essentially be summarized into three words regionalisation reservation and readers.

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Douglas Ian Scott: unpack what that means now by region ation I mean.

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Douglas Ian Scott: hosting.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Local more local events and encouraging the formation of more local chapters and local events, including sort of wicked mania, which is the global event for local events such as wiki and other I was one of the first lead org as well, and the lead ordinance of the first weekend in July.

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Douglas Ian Scott: 2014 and we found that to be a very good gateway for.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Allowing Community members from our region to enter into the broader Wikipedia community.

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Douglas Ian Scott: And I would encourage that not only on a regional basis, but also on a linguistic basis, one of the recent and that sort of.

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Douglas Ian Scott: brings me up to the next The next point which is preservation reserving seats I kind of affirmative action is I think helpful and so long as it as it is done in a conscientious way.

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Douglas Ian Scott: One of the reasons why I decided to to run for the seat push to run for the seed was when we relates directly to this question.

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Douglas Ian Scott: was when we in South Africa we're trying to encourage them the linguistic communities, the South African language communities to participate in the selection.

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Douglas Ian Scott: And the feedback we got from one of them was they just didn't see the point of participating in anything to do with the wikimedia foundation, because they felt so alienated they felt so excluded.

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Douglas Ian Scott: From the broader Wikipedia movement and such outreach whether it's regionalisation or reservation seats, both on a linguistic level, as well as in a regional basis would be to helpful policies to I think overcome this and the other one is expansion of readers.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Which.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): turns has an impact.

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Douglas Ian Scott: On expanding the Community.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Of editors that we can draw from across the world, that that would be my strategy, thank you.

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Mervat (her/she): Thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you now will have either.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): Thank you, they will, I believe that.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): It is necessary that we need to advance in the creation of you know audiences and working groups in areas that share common issues.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): In my experience there wikimedia mission is leave very different from region to region, and in what I have experienced in working with colleagues from a region.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): Many times they feel more trusting closer environments that in more global is places like the wikimedia glow on spaces So, in summary unit hops on regional groups working groups it's more.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): likely to work with other colleagues that speak your own language than others different to you, it is also necessary to increase the funds that are allocated.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): to certain critical areas of the planet where the wiki me a mission is still very weak, the example that is closest to me is Central America, where, then we can hear movement is almost non existent.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): And in the other hand, say, we live in times of change in other Internet environments or communities organizations some folders have been established.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): And that coders that can ensure the equitable representation of certain sectors of the society such as a woman, and the community of LGBT community so in the wikimedia movement, it is possible.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): As an example, when I was President of leukemia Mexico, we agreed as a community to have a 50% female board that if that isn't.

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Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): An aspect that is not frequent in many week immediately his word, so I think with such measures, we can advance in the study of of have more people represented in our movements, thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you Ivan and I will have.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: yeah Thank you um.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: I my on okay.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Do you guys hear me I don't see myself.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Yes, yes, yes okay okay.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: All right, um.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: yeah so I.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: First of all, I believe the Wikipedia movement is a microcosm it's it's it's really a.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: A smaller version of the world in which under represented in which there are lots of underrepresented groups and it's not specific to the movement than in fact that we can mean the movement, this is by far.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: is doing a better job than the the world at Florida state United Nations let's say.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: But I do believe there's a lot that can be improved upon how the wikimedia movement is.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: treats minorities or.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Increases the representation of minorities in it, and while I the quota.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: The idea of a quota is is good for certain.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: For certain minorities let's say, but I would not want to create another.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Like you have that the the.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: The European language communities, be the dominant ones, and then you have a certain maybe.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Like like as a second tier and then have a third tier of of languages that are not represented.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: So we need to be careful about how that will be.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: How to create those those quarters one more thing is the regional hubs would definitely.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: bring us closer to to a more global movement and.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: and increases the representation of different.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: different groups of people.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: And I think that the Foundation should work close closely with the with the different language communities and different user groups and then chapters and local affiliates to understand the needs to understand the needs of those.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Of those communities, thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you for a piece of.

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Reda Kerbouche: Former.

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Reda Kerbouche: For my part, I am a part of the Community and represented, and I know one thing to stimulate them, we have to come to see them and give them introduction of wikis or do something like dictation system to attract them.

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Reda Kerbouche: follow this coming to have not had the time or the way to be a part of the movement, so we must have partner or with the, we have to do a partnership with NGOs or other organization or.

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Reda Kerbouche: Our basic needs to them forgiven forgiven them solution and said to attract them and we must also to destroy the language barrier which also stop or the Community to be to get with us, thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you so much, Michael.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): specifically for boards and committees, and I think it's important to be recruiting with multiple methods and having a mixture of appointed and selected and specifically addressing diversity, as we do that.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And that's because lack of diversity is something that's established well before elections happen and so it's, something which the elections and selections reflects the overall.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): state of the world and the wikimedia movement in and dissolve that to really need to support the growth of candidates over previous years can just be done when you are selecting them.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And we need to get people involved in different boards and committees at different levels over time, so they can progress from local up to more national ones like this.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): Election every time you can't just expect diversity, I think, light at the end.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): and, overall, this kind of growth is not something you can do centrally from United States it really needs local people engaging in growing local communities.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): Which means funding and supporting them from foundation and for other affiliates the larger affiliates within within the movement.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And there's a lot of work that needs to be done here and i'm looking forward to seeing things that are diversified and the different geographic based funding committees and being that that's a good way forward, it really needs more of that thanks.

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Mervat (her/she): Thank you everyone, I think we have.

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Mervat (her/she): answers for the first question from all the candidates, and I would suggest a five minute break to give like a rest for the translators, you cannot get a cup of coffee or something and we come back.

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Mervat (her/she): At or in five minutes like it's.

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Mervat (her/she): It will be 9pm here.

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Mervat (her/she): Thank you, and the chat would be on I mean you can keep writing in the chat.

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Cornelius (he/him): And then sharing a timer so everybody knows what five minutes are in whatever time zone.

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Pascale Camus-Walter: Do you have a playlist to his music.

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Cornelius (he/him): Are we using this like you know music taste, is quite complicated so from my experience I wouldn't put up music.

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Cornelius (he/him): Based on my experience and other events very good so when people said no, this music is terrible so I said Okay, no music anymore.

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Cornelius (he/him): Coming to.

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Cornelius (he/him): Our.

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Cornelius (he/him): Quick break.

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Cornelius (he/him): Oh.

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Ravan (She/Her): yeah i'm here welcome back everyone, so we are.

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Ravan (She/Her): We will wait one minute.

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Ravan (She/Her): To take any questions from the screen for people who raise their hand if not we have questions from the chat we will be asking them with the help of some so you have.

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Ravan (She/Her): One minute to decide if you want to ask any questions to any of the candidates.

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Ravan (She/Her): let's wait another like 2030 seconds, if no one would ask, maybe some people are hesitant to ask life, we will go with Meta or we have questions in the chat as wrong.

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Ravan (She/Her): will be asked myself now is another 30 seconds.

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Cornelius (he/him): And you can ask your question and French or smell.

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Cornelius (he/him): Wonderful interpreters will turn the question back to you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Even if you asked your questions.

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Ravan (She/Her): Earlier on Meta you can ask them in Arabic any language and.

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Ravan (She/Her): The interpreter will translate them.

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Ravan (She/Her): Okay, Sam so it looks like people are still hesitant, so you can go with the with the question from the chat please.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): Thank you um we do have a question which is sort of like a very popular question about three of them, we also got that on the on the metal page and also, as well as on the chat and it has to do with.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): Growing or like attention to small reaches so we have Mohammed said Dar I hope I pronounced that right.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): Who is asking what are your plans for small wiki communities, it is it time for wikimedia foundation to engage and work more with them.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): And also, we have Paolo Santos, who says 10 years ago we had communities from Portuguese speaking African countries what those as as those are faded into complete extinction in Wikipedia by now there are starting.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): slash potential small communities or isolated members in some countries generally they have the text of.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): Those cell phone uses generalized they're often they speak Portuguese, but no English and know French, and this has been enduring a lot of progression in this places.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): Along with the fact that there's nobody in the region available to give training, what would your approach be.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): To help include those non represented and underrepresented communities in wikimedia projects and movement, we also have something similar in the better.

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Sam Oyeyele (he/him): Someone asked what are your plans for developing marginalized on not speaking communities or projects, we can say so yeah we have those two questions, focusing on growing or paying attention to.

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Ravan (She/Her): Small widgets.

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Ravan (She/Her): Okay, so thank you, Sam before giving the MIC to the candidates.

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Ravan (She/Her): let's take the question for either.

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Ravan (She/Her): live, then we will go for you to to answer.

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The sugar.

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Adel Nehaoua (he/him): fields.

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Adel Nehaoua (he/him): tomato soup Sir stop there, like a certain you know certain.

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Adel Nehaoua (he/him): Key for you to look at, there was a heartbeat and.

382

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Adel Nehaoua (he/him): We thought.

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We.

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Adel Nehaoua (he/him): Had you know Cleveland.

385

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Adel Nehaoua (he/him): clinic to just hook up the agenda item when.

386

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Adel Nehaoua (he/him): She must have had a dedicated cutaways in and we meet with Jamie and which we might not have to couldn't watch something on the director had enough so for us to have been beheaded necessary for us to keep the machinery.

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Adel Nehaoua (he/him): shocker.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you so just to make it clear song candidates are confused like we have for questions, but I think even the question of identity it's all about small communities.

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Ravan (She/Her): How, you will make sure that they will get the best.

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Ravan (She/Her): opportunities.

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Ravan (She/Her): or offers or help or support from the Foundation.

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Ravan (She/Her): We start with barriers as he's the first one who raised his hand.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): As I wrote in my statement it's super important to listen to small communities, and I think we are lacking.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): tools which are already available elsewhere.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): to gather feedback from the communities and large we always say excuses or these are just the Trolls or, we should not listen to these people, we can develop tools that will actually allow us.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): To listen to communities, and not just go with the majority voice discern what is happening there, so this is one one answer another one.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Both small projects and small communities deserve attention because often time.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): tools that appear to be unnecessary in the large project, eventually, in the long run will prove quite useful I think what we need to do is have.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): A dedicated fund for developing small things for small projects if they need them, so this is a technical solution.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): But small communities that don't actually sick technical solutions, but something else, fostering funding and help.

401

01:04:19.410 --> 01:04:28.980

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): As I wrote in chat and, as I wrote in my statement, I strongly believe in regional hubs and distributing funds and making decisions locally.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): And I strongly believe that while the w EMF will not be able to help from San Francisco try to foster something create something very far away.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): The local communities, the sister organizations can but there's one condition, there should be funds dedicated to specifically this activity.

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Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): For those regional hubs these regional hubs should also be responsible for getting into neighbor regions and neighboring communities to help them not to overtake them, but to help them start Thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): You, thank you, that is, we go with rosie.

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Rosie (she/her): hi there, thank you, Robin.

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Rosie (she/her): So I think this is all about education and training, when I think of small communities, I think about the affiliates that we have in the world, but within those affiliates there are small language communities and.

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Rosie (she/her): that's where we could do better and that's where if we had hubs as a way of distributing funds, we could distribute funds towards education and training within the universities have that small language and within smaller.

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Rosie (she/her): The grade schools and the high schools are bringing in the funding there the teachers their training the teachers.

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Rosie (she/her): doing the training via zoom or other methods if there isn't someone in person speaks the language and then those people can train the local editors to become local editors so it's all about, I believe.

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Rosie (she/her): putting money into training, education, so that the smaller communities can grow Thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you rosie please.

413

01:06:26.040 --> 01:06:28.920

Reda Kerbouche: Okay, so I have four points.

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Reda Kerbouche: The first point is if we if we are setting up a regional hub, we should, it should be in in the in the right place and the correct region.

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Reda Kerbouche: That we can cover all the communities second point is, we have to give the rights to the Community or the small community to be among the decision maker so with this way we can include them in the in this movement person.

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Reda Kerbouche: Third, we have to collect their needs and find ways to help them.

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Reda Kerbouche: contract with the local community, we can contact, for example, local communities, if we have a chapter or using automated kinetic organization and through these affiliation, we can help the Community or the small community.

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Reda Kerbouche: The fall and the final.

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Reda Kerbouche: Point is transparency for me for my for for that, so in my opinion, it may be.

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Reda Kerbouche: that the Foundation must be more transparent for aware, as a member of our Community I didn't understand why we are doing this or that.

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Reda Kerbouche: And if I ask a question, for example, being a member of a Community I don't get a clear response and it's it is always abstract and small community are always first, so we have to be more transparent, thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you, please.

423

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Oh yes, I believe this group of questions.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: is very tightly related to the previous one.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: About representation and.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: And, as I think everyone here has said, I do believe that the regional hubs will take some of the pressure out of the decentralization of decision making on what.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: What languages to.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: support them and where the funds are going and to distribute that.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: A lot among the different.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: The different regional hubs.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: So, so that and.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: And again with while, while taking into consideration the different.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Cultural differences.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Different.

435

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: have different regions and different countries.

436

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Because the the regional.

437

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Group would would understand the nuances better of what to what to find and how to improve.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: Technically, or or any.

439

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: or in any in any other way.

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Farah Jack Mustaklem: yeah that's it.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you for Douglas please.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Thank you.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Essentially, two ways.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Trying to grow small language communities in southern Africa for the past seven years as essentially taught me or I come to the conclusion that essentially two ways to sort of increase greater representation for these communities in our broader movement.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Is a indirect way through the wikimedia foundation, and that includes development of new tools and regional hubs is a good one.

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Douglas Ian Scott: And then they sort of direct ways which is sort of board members and people in positions of power in the movement, making a direct effort to connect with people in these communities and and understand what their concerns are.

447

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Douglas Ian Scott: And there's some some mutual support between regional hubs and that's a direct connection, but I think both needs to be done.

448

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Douglas Ian Scott: provision of additional resources such as things like offering training, I think that can help, but I think at the end today.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Nothing beats.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Individual board members or people in positions of power within the Foundation just making the effort to reach out to these communities and speaking to them, listen to their concerns and the regional hubs are very helpful for this, because there are so many communities right.

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Douglas Ian Scott: there's no way that a single board member, for example, can connect with all of them there's no way that all the board members can connect with all them all the time and regional hubs do help facilitate that.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Because they have the local expertise that the local connections to to sort of cater and connect with these local these these local language versions of Wikipedia and these small project versions of Wikipedia.

453

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Douglas Ian Scott: But I don't think that's enough because you can also find that hubs could become gatekeepers and you do need a way around.

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Douglas Ian Scott: That some sort of direct connection with with people in positions of accountability.

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Douglas Ian Scott: Within our movement says to give a loud voice to people in the small small computer project, so one of the things that I would personally new definitely is make an effort to connect with those small language Wikipedia Thank you.

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Ravan (She/Her): Thank you, we go with rafi now.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): I.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): This is the question that's very intimate for me because I come from India, where you see 10s of language communities which have a history of 15 years we are the largest experiment hub for wikimedia foundation so far.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): You can see the user groups and action wikimedia chapter that is dissolved now.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): You can see unorganized language communities and can also have a sister organization that funds grants for the wikimedia communities call Center for Internet and society.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): And once 10 years back, we had the wikimedia foundation itself starting a catalyst program in India, by opening its own office in other national capital.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): So we have a variety of lessons and the conclusion that i've come to as a volunteer and also as a staffer the wikimedia in the chapter and also the wikimedia foundation.

463

01:12:57.480 --> 01:13:02.370

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Is that what works for the rest of the world doesn't need to work everywhere in the world.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): So first things first we always think in terms of organizations and how to do everything through an organization like chapter or hub, but.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): It is a failure model we have to empower the user, at the end every user, we have to think like online tech nature, and not just like an offline NGO.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): So the wikimedia design the wikimedia project, the same what we see is the same, just like I saw 20 years back, as a student, I would even call it a museum of the web.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): We have to invest in technology and user interface design, so the any user landing on the wikimedia projects first understands he can also edit.

468

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): To understand that it takes many years for many users, so the design.

469

01:13:52.080 --> 01:14:01.560

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): should be changed and the technology to empower the editors to type in languages to contribute and various others ways using his mobile phone offline and online.

470

01:14:02.160 --> 01:14:09.180

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): They should be empowered every user should be uncovered and that that point we can see new editors coming from all the language communities.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): Second, the model of contribution to wikimedia is also not a universal model it worked in the developed countries to work in English, but that doesn't need to work, the prepay.

472

01:14:21.240 --> 01:14:26.160

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): wikimedia mission should be to have free knowledge available for all things.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): doesn't need to meet.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): You know me alone.

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01:14:29.190 --> 01:14:33.780

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): I will not take two minutes for other questions, let me hello, this is the most important question, let me Hello i'm not.

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01:14:34.920 --> 01:14:35.460

Mervat (her/she): gone.

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): yeah Thank you very much thank you.

478

01:14:37.980 --> 01:14:43.680

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): The model of production of three knowledge doesn't need to come from free Labor there is a difference.

479

01:14:45.060 --> 01:14:53.220

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): The free Labor free volunteer model only works in developed countries not in small communities, not an underdeveloped countries.

480

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Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): As a staff of the wikimedia foundation I initiated the project called project tiger were in partnership with Google, we give free laptops.

481

01:15:01.890 --> 01:15:11.820

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): We reimburse Internet business for silicon users and their contribution doubled or tripled articles improved and they stay in the project even after many years.

482

01:15:12.570 --> 01:15:21.840

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): The wikimedia Foundation should think of such models, even if not going to pay salary for a reason it shouldn't think of ways of supporting communities and.

483

01:15:22.890 --> 01:15:29.370

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): yeah take too much time, so this is the main takeaway point invest in, you will based on technology and support the users.

484

01:15:30.030 --> 01:15:30.750

Ravi (Ravishankar Ayyakkannu): More thank.

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01:15:31.050 --> 01:15:33.750

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you, thank you ravi Michael please.

486

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): Okay, so i'm a bit confused by the questions here so and the term small wikis for me means at least three different things.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): One is the local communities, which is what most people have been talking about and for which definitely hopes will be to be a good thing, devolving funding in general is very good thing.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And really need more funding and more support for developing the local user groups local affiliates within different areas and communities.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): second thing is mobile he's coming is a small Wikipedia is for which things will indeed be easier to edit and expand i'm all obvious and more clever people can contribute.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): More content so things like wiki data with structured information, information in info boxes is a good thing, making mobile interface and better will be really useful thing, particularly the areas where the long computers around or where the power supply can be.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): not reliable.

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Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): and generally just making editing easier.

493

01:16:44.010 --> 01:16:54.270

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And then there's also the small wikis That said, the sister projects so things like diversity wiki books and like were really I think mentioned, I can.

494

01:16:54.630 --> 01:16:55.920

Mervat (her/she): Speak slower, please.

495

01:16:57.870 --> 01:16:58.380

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): Okay.

496

01:16:58.770 --> 01:16:59.160

Mervat (her/she): Thank you.

497

01:17:00.600 --> 01:17:07.980

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And so the small sister projects like wiki books or like with diversity.

498

01:17:08.640 --> 01:17:20.490

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): Where we need to make a decision like I was saying in the question of matter that we need to support them or not, we need to decide as a Community, whether they're a good thing to continue doing.

499

01:17:21.240 --> 01:17:27.420

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And then, if we decide that yes, they are then we actually need to support them with technology to make their work easier.

500

01:17:28.080 --> 01:17:43.830

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And, and also try to improve the communities there as well, we can't just let them hang around like we've been doing the last 10 years that's not really a good thing, so, hopefully with those three answers have given an answer to the four questions thanks.

501

01:17:44.580 --> 01:17:47.670

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you, thank you so much Ivan please.

502

01:17:48.810 --> 01:17:50.370

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): Thank you well.

503

01:17:50.880 --> 01:18:01.830

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): According to or related to a small communities Well, this is something that will rise me similarly because I ended up a lot, but also as model predict like we can use.

504

01:18:02.400 --> 01:18:19.440

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): in which it is sometimes more present to be reached agreements, I feel that the movements on communication is unfair to small projects on also from the communication of down foundation that is.

505

01:18:19.860 --> 01:18:29.820

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): That is the reason why I posted to the branding project of the Foundation, because all you're the first like if we could be a primary objective of the of the movement and and that's that's true.

506

01:18:30.210 --> 01:18:38.130

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): So I think we need to to communicate more open and more fair about all the all the projects, not only Wikipedia.

507

01:18:38.490 --> 01:18:45.180

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): A according to the on the representative communities well i'm more hands on person that I love this person.

508

01:18:45.540 --> 01:18:54.780

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): And I traveled on most all over my country, which will appear to edit in a country like Mexico, with only 60% of the people connected to the Internet.

509

01:18:55.260 --> 01:19:11.190

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): Even close to the CDS, it is very difficult to the 10 people in the mission, so the word on the represent that makes perfect sense to me when I have to teach with the wikimedia projects in places where there is not even a connection like semi rural places.

510

01:19:12.570 --> 01:19:20.160

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): I think we need to take it up offline very seriously and have more funds to invest in local people and groups.

511

01:19:20.520 --> 01:19:27.030

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): who want to participate in our mission for an example in my country, there are groups or the nicer in the semi rural areas.

512

01:19:27.360 --> 01:19:42.960

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): Working in a Community way on connectivity issues I won't see no problem Destin cons in such organization and persons that can help us to support our mission in that environments that it's very difficult to retain and attract you personally mission, thank you.

513

01:19:45.990 --> 01:19:48.120

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you i've done a Lorenzo please.

514

01:19:49.140 --> 01:19:49.620

lorenzo: Thank you.

515

01:19:51.180 --> 01:19:55.440

lorenzo: Well, I actually think that that answer the with the.

516

01:19:55.860 --> 01:20:02.460

lorenzo: to the previous question, Sir, to most of what I would want to say on this questions on that.

517

01:20:04.320 --> 01:20:09.390

lorenzo: Having to spot the to make it longer communities grow.

518

01:20:10.680 --> 01:20:28.560

lorenzo: But I wanted to think to talk also on another point which is if we are talking thinking in terms of communities of different projects like not only which media but also know, which is also we can use.

519

01:20:30.120 --> 01:20:34.980

lorenzo: With Shannon and we also have the problem that the.

520

01:20:36.900 --> 01:20:49.200

lorenzo: software and the policies we are using are designed for Wikipedia and often that for the English Wikipedia So if we want to.

521

01:20:51.360 --> 01:20:52.350

lorenzo: Let the.

522

01:20:53.400 --> 01:21:07.440

lorenzo: Other projects good all we need also to develop the technical tools that filter for for that Barbosa and we had the.

523

01:21:09.750 --> 01:21:20.550

lorenzo: We are not been a great position now, but that has been some good work, some teaser, for instance, technical wishlist has been.

524

01:21:23.100 --> 01:21:31.890

lorenzo: Good do love for the communities have Defense projects to get some of the things they need the done.

525

01:21:34.320 --> 01:21:34.710

Thank you.

526

01:21:36.030 --> 01:21:36.990

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you Lawrence.

527

01:21:37.440 --> 01:21:39.930

Ravan (She/Her): Either you want to answer that question.

528

01:21:41.550 --> 01:21:42.690

Adam Wight (they/he): yeah and i'll keep it short.

529

01:21:43.800 --> 01:21:44.100

Adam Wight (they/he): Mostly.

530

01:21:45.000 --> 01:21:54.720

Ravan (She/Her): We have we have a question I think April, you had a question Okay, he did he took his hand okay Oh, he has a question okay able, after I.

531

01:21:55.740 --> 01:21:56.580

Ravan (She/Her): Finish answering.

532

01:21:58.380 --> 01:21:58.680

Ravan (She/Her): Okay.

533

01:21:58.770 --> 01:22:16.080

Adam Wight (they/he): And I wanted to say just in addition to the great points already and I think we need much more funding, so I would like to set a concrete goal for how much of the revenue is just distributed going from a percent to I can't say, but hopefully something like 50% over a few years.

534

01:22:18.990 --> 01:22:21.360

Adam Wight (they/he): yeah but but that that number is just made up.

535

01:22:22.470 --> 01:22:32.070

Adam Wight (they/he): I also think that communities are the best point of contact for emerging communities, so an established community should have the funds to have an outreach volunteer for example.

536

01:22:33.240 --> 01:22:47.370

Adam Wight (they/he): Because the the established communities know exactly what it takes to create a new group or user group affiliate whatever it is that that's the goal and you could find natural allies that way and.

537

01:22:48.450 --> 01:22:55.620

Adam Wight (they/he): yeah and also, I think that the the decision making, should flow in the other direction, as well, so I work, for example, for the.

538

01:22:56.190 --> 01:23:07.470

Adam Wight (they/he): Technical wishes project at wikimedia Germany and I love having the Community give us feedback and tell us what to do, and I think that can be done with all of the foundations projects as well.

539

01:23:10.560 --> 01:23:14.910

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you so much, I done so able please you can ask you a question.

540

01:23:19.290 --> 01:23:19.830

Abel Mbula: Can you.

541

01:23:25.320 --> 01:23:27.420

Ravan (She/Her): speak again, please you are muted.

542

01:23:32.460 --> 01:23:34.290

Ravan (She/Her): speak again, please you are muted.

543

01:23:37.380 --> 01:23:38.880

Abel Mbula: Yes, can you hear me.

544

01:23:40.020 --> 01:23:41.610

Abel Mbula: Yes, yes, yes please go.

545

01:23:43.080 --> 01:23:43.410

Abel Mbula: Thank you.

546

01:23:43.470 --> 01:24:06.030

Abel Mbula: i've followed the candidates my Christina i'm from Africa, so i'd like to know what would be the strategy of our awesome candidates to create awareness in all of the wikimedia in Africa, mostly what I would like to ask them is about.

547

01:24:07.080 --> 01:24:08.730

Abel Mbula: How to have so many.

548

01:24:09.900 --> 01:24:22.080

Abel Mbula: chapters has we may have in us or Europe we only have one chapter in sort of feature, but not in other countries, we don't we don't have in chapter.

549

01:24:22.890 --> 01:24:35.790

Abel Mbula: We are trying to have some user group, but what would be the best strategy or what do they see as a challenge to have a good strong structure in Africa that can help.

550

01:24:37.380 --> 01:24:44.550

Abel Mbula: Moving for the Community, as you can have all the media phones and some other media in Europe for us.

551

01:24:50.100 --> 01:24:51.180

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you, both.

552

01:24:51.180 --> 01:24:54.780

Ravan (She/Her): So we'll answer them Douglas.

553

01:24:57.780 --> 01:24:58.470

Farah Jack Mustaklem: yeah Thank you.

554

01:24:59.730 --> 01:25:22.890

Farah Jack Mustaklem: yeah so first of all I would like to emphasize that the one of one of the major barriers to to creating chapters is the legal framework and i'm not sure how it is in different countries of Africa, but I I can speak about the Middle East, the the legal framework for creating.

555

01:25:24.030 --> 01:25:39.870

Farah Jack Mustaklem: non governmental organizations is not the easiest so that may be one of the one of the barriers for creating new chapters in Africa, I believe that creating different models of.

556

01:25:41.520 --> 01:25:43.740

Farah Jack Mustaklem: of entities.

557

01:25:44.790 --> 01:25:45.840

Farah Jack Mustaklem: should be.

558

01:25:47.760 --> 01:25:51.810

Farah Jack Mustaklem: should be a good alternative to focusing on the current.

559

01:25:53.220 --> 01:25:55.830

Farah Jack Mustaklem: tiered level of Chapter user group.

560

01:25:57.870 --> 01:25:59.640

Farah Jack Mustaklem: That we currently have.

561

01:26:00.750 --> 01:26:12.090

Farah Jack Mustaklem: And that should be left to the to the local communities and not imposed on them by the Foundation, I know that will create some.

562

01:26:14.280 --> 01:26:19.200

Farah Jack Mustaklem: some confusion in like accountability and.

563

01:26:20.610 --> 01:26:31.800

Farah Jack Mustaklem: And then, and even legality in the in the US is the wikimedia Foundation was a US entity yeah after all.

564

01:26:33.510 --> 01:26:37.110

Farah Jack Mustaklem: Again, regional hubs However, those are frame.

565

01:26:38.370 --> 01:26:41.910

Farah Jack Mustaklem: That should be one of the ways to.

566

01:26:43.860 --> 01:26:49.560

Farah Jack Mustaklem: To some of those some of those problems that can arise, thank you.

567

01:26:53.340 --> 01:26:54.060

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you.

568

01:26:54.720 --> 01:26:55.590

Douglas please.

569

01:26:56.610 --> 01:26:57.750

Ravan (She/Her): vicki and Michael.

570

01:26:59.580 --> 01:27:02.010

Douglas Ian Scott: Thank you, I would suggest three things.

571

01:27:03.090 --> 01:27:05.160

Douglas Ian Scott: The first is is outreach.

572

01:27:06.840 --> 01:27:18.540

Douglas Ian Scott: The not many people in Africa are aware of Wikipedia and those that are are, in my experience are just not aware of how Wikipedia works.

573

01:27:18.840 --> 01:27:29.280

Douglas Ian Scott: So a lot of the stuff we do in Wikipedia South Africa is just telling people how Wikipedia exists and that people are welcome to edit Wikipedia as volunteers.

574

01:27:30.000 --> 01:27:44.130

Douglas Ian Scott: And that sort of outreach that sort of awareness, creating that awareness across Africa is very important, but it's pointless if people can't access Wikipedia and that's why zero getting Wikipedia zero rated.

575

01:27:44.520 --> 01:27:58.200

Douglas Ian Scott: or restarting Wikipedia zero is, I think, very important, because if we can zero rate the data to make it freely accessible to access Wikipedia on the Internet for people in Africa is really important.

576

01:27:59.220 --> 01:28:08.400

Douglas Ian Scott: it's, especially in such a cost sensitive place as Africa, when accessing data accessing information so expensive so Wikipedia zero.

577

01:28:09.600 --> 01:28:18.930

Douglas Ian Scott: As well as awareness, increasing just general awareness across Africa about Wikipedia is existence, the third one is as as for us it and I can say from experience.

578

01:28:21.120 --> 01:28:30.810

Douglas Ian Scott: Supporting the growth of communities, supporting the grits communities is extremely hard and setting up your own chapter is extremely hard, I mean.

579

01:28:31.350 --> 01:28:45.930

Douglas Ian Scott: For you know, since 2012 in a setting out wikimedia South Africa has been very difficult and creating the support systems getting the sort of support system to make sure that the funding is an order and always tracked accurately, making sure that.

580

01:28:47.310 --> 01:28:56.910

Douglas Ian Scott: We got we got systems in place to support the local community, making sure that we've got people lined up board of directors, that, as always, operating collectively.

581

01:28:57.450 --> 01:29:10.650

Douglas Ian Scott: These are all difficult for any chapter and it's it's even more difficult in Africa, where the communities that are aware of what you did there at one participant and also small.

582

01:29:11.130 --> 01:29:22.410

Douglas Ian Scott: And so they need extra extra support, so my three things would be increased awareness of Wikipedia is your rates Wikipedia and support Community growth, thank you.

583

01:29:24.330 --> 01:29:24.660

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you.

584

01:29:25.980 --> 01:29:26.280

Ravan (She/Her): place.

585

01:29:27.690 --> 01:29:54.120

Vicki Doronina: So that was obviously has a local knowledge and he had he has a good ideas, but in practical terms if we're not talking about get an editor's doesn't start but where we would have the Community shows there is no chapter, for example, I I would think in Nigeria, which is very large country.

586

01:29:55.410 --> 01:29:57.270

Vicki Doronina: And kylie developed as well.

587

01:29:58.620 --> 01:30:17.100

Vicki Doronina: we'll have people who aged Wikipedia already, but they don't know what taught this chapter and wiser needed and Z would edit Wikipedia on English language so they are already there it's just, we need to find them.

588

01:30:18.420 --> 01:30:32.970

Vicki Doronina: To go to schools them and then organize an event, where people from South Africa will tell them how it works so obviously the law is around local regulations and, for example.

589

01:30:33.840 --> 01:30:56.310

Vicki Doronina: Russian chapter had to comply with strange Russian laws, but you need to have an idea how to do it, how to start doing it, you need to have sort of a short guide somewhere, which says you do to help chapter you to do this piece of that.

590

01:30:57.600 --> 01:31:04.440

Vicki Doronina: exam let people decide if they do it, and maybe guide and help them through the process, so thank you.

591

01:31:08.190 --> 01:31:10.050

Ravan (She/Her): vicki either.

592

01:31:12.930 --> 01:31:15.630

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): Thank you, it seems to me that.

593

01:31:15.690 --> 01:31:33.960

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): The situation in Africa and Mina is very similar to that meditation in my country and my region and yeah I think the road to starting inoculate actually is really tiring and can warn anyone, in my opinion, to be very simple.

594

01:31:35.160 --> 01:31:45.330

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): I think the way to become an affiliate can be simplified, yes I think it's very tiring that process, and I also I defend the idea that.

595

01:31:45.660 --> 01:31:54.810

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): All the Africa region and continents needs to to be nice to have more investment in the funds that we can we actually happen in the area, I think.

596

01:31:55.170 --> 01:32:08.250

Iv?n Mart?nez (he/him): A more more infrastructure and more budget it's necessary the African we are of course that's lady I had to defend and the position I have to, I want to defend see if I emulator on the watch think.

597

01:32:11.940 --> 01:32:13.890

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you Daddy yes please.

598

01:32:14.490 --> 01:32:21.840

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): First of all, I think situation in different countries in Africa is very different, so it would be advisable to have like one strategy for all.

599

01:32:22.200 --> 01:32:27.900

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): But I think one thing that is missing is that we don't really have anything like seed funding.

600

01:32:28.350 --> 01:32:36.690

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): And, especially if you need funding for some legal advice for organizational advice, how to set it up how to incorporate this is super.

601

01:32:37.050 --> 01:32:41.430

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Difficult I incorporated a couple of organizations, it was very, very tough.

602

01:32:41.850 --> 01:32:54.660

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Actually, when my Polish colleagues were thinking all should we apply for wtf funding, why do you even need to bother us telling them yeah go for it, it will help your organization, you will do better by going through this process.

603

01:32:55.080 --> 01:33:00.270

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): And they were very reluctant, so I think those processes that we require need to be super simplified.

604

01:33:00.600 --> 01:33:05.850

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): One of the things that i've been posted living for quite a while I have not been successful in, to be honest with you.

605

01:33:06.150 --> 01:33:14.970

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): I haven't been successful, with this, but I still keep pushing this making very simple reporting and application requirement for small amounts.

606

01:33:15.300 --> 01:33:23.460

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): and small amounts in the big scheme of things of what we give two chapters and affiliates could be amount of $20,000 it's not such a small amount of money.

607

01:33:23.790 --> 01:33:30.660

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): In Poland, for I was actually running in a chapter of an organization that that had source contributed.

608

01:33:30.930 --> 01:33:38.940

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): $20,000 a year it was a very good seed money for for many years, for us to drum, so I think this is something should that should be considered.

609

01:33:39.300 --> 01:33:44.610

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): If it's in good standing get easy money with a very simple application very simple reporting.

610

01:33:45.030 --> 01:33:50.760

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): If you need setup legal advice financial advice organizational advice, it should be arranged for.

611

01:33:51.030 --> 01:34:00.660

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): And this approach, of course, can be supported by regional hubs where they understand the considerations that we're expressing the chat that sometimes there's cultural differences.

612

01:34:01.050 --> 01:34:08.160

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): language differences and it's basically sometimes difficult to find a sister organization neighboring country, so I get done.

613

01:34:10.320 --> 01:34:12.210

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you Daddy o's and I don't please.

614

01:34:15.090 --> 01:34:23.760

Adam Wight (they/he): I just wanted to talk about awareness and I think that the diaspora idea I was mentioning might might help with this problem because.

615

01:34:24.570 --> 01:34:31.290

Adam Wight (they/he): If you completely open the playing field and wikis can be created for any purpose, then you can have schools small organizations.

616

01:34:32.010 --> 01:34:42.270

Adam Wight (they/he): small language projects all working actively in the public and the awareness of this wiki farm would hopefully bring about more awareness of our projects in general that's all.

617

01:34:46.470 --> 01:34:51.450

Ravan (She/Her): Okay Thank you so much so, Michael and I think you answered.

618

01:34:51.450 --> 01:34:54.240

Reda Kerbouche: Right, I raised my handles.

619

01:34:54.750 --> 01:34:59.190

Ravan (She/Her): Okay, great I Oh, I thought you answered i'm so sorry okay Doc Please go ahead.

620

01:35:00.540 --> 01:35:00.900

Reda Kerbouche: Okay.

621

01:35:02.280 --> 01:35:18.960

Reda Kerbouche: This this problem is one of the most biggest problem of Africa, because we have tried several times to do a non nonprofit organization in Algeria and it's difficult and very long it will take time and.

622

01:35:20.130 --> 01:35:32.490

Reda Kerbouche: We know that's difficult in Algeria, I think, in the other African countries is almost the same so from my own opinion is, it is necessary to make another.

623

01:35:33.660 --> 01:35:43.590

Reda Kerbouche: Analysis of the legal part of countries where are the affiliation, establishing and to study it individually by country by for by the Foundation.

624

01:35:43.980 --> 01:35:52.500

Reda Kerbouche: With the help of the affiliation in place to create a nonprofit organization, so we have also to to do some.

625

01:35:53.220 --> 01:36:16.170

Reda Kerbouche: Maybe after after we we do this analysis of legal pot, maybe we have to also do some massive courses for to let them know that they can do that, and that is not difficult if all is already in their countries, so this is my opinion, and this is my answer, thank you.

626

01:36:17.250 --> 01:36:21.150

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you so much for that Thank you i'm sorry Michael you can talk now.

627

01:36:22.740 --> 01:36:28.080

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): So I think the thing to focus on really is getting things done within the Community within the projects.

628

01:36:28.500 --> 01:36:33.660

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And I thought that was saying, with our reach, and supporting Community goes is most important things.

629

01:36:34.200 --> 01:36:39.630

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And I don't think you can jump to having bureaucratic structures, without developing the need for them first.

630

01:36:40.140 --> 01:36:52.890

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): So the bureaucracy and the hopes the affiliates is and foundation itself it's all a means to an end, which is getting things on wiki getting knowledge said knowledge around the world.

631

01:36:54.180 --> 01:37:12.270

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): So, really, I think the solution here is support local communities, make the most of existing editors existing affiliates support them as much as possible and develop new affiliates as needed but don't put the affiliates first put the put the people first rarely thanks.

632

01:37:13.710 --> 01:37:17.190

Ravan (She/Her): Thanks Thank you so much, so some now will ask you.

633

01:37:17.190 --> 01:37:32.940

Ravan (She/Her): The last question in the session just keep in mind that we will close the session by 957 so as it is she will close it and give some announcement you on so some please take the MIC.

634

01:37:35.430 --> 01:37:35.970

Thank you.

635

01:37:38.010 --> 01:37:40.590

Sam Oyeyele (he/him): ravel we have a very.

636

01:37:41.850 --> 01:37:51.930

Sam Oyeyele (he/him): very interesting question from Alice which I feel like it's a good way to round up this session and it's it's about will you.

637

01:37:53.220 --> 01:38:12.660

Sam Oyeyele (he/him): In bracket wants a board member advocate to the idea that board members shall be accountable, in other words, how can we know that you will do what you're saying so basically how, how do we trust you how do we take you why should we take your word basically so yeah.

638

01:38:29.970 --> 01:38:30.390

Abel Mbula: Are you.

639

01:38:31.980 --> 01:38:32.460

Abel Mbula: muted.

640

01:38:32.490 --> 01:38:35.160

Ravan (She/Her): Yes, yes, sorry not I had some Internet connection so.

641

01:38:35.160 --> 01:38:36.090

Mervat (her/she): Various please.

642

01:38:37.380 --> 01:38:37.890

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): So.

643

01:38:37.980 --> 01:38:53.400

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): The long story short, you cannot legally binding me to do what I say, this is not what the bylaws say this is not what the Statute, say, and maybe it's a shame actually I, personally, I would be supportive of.

644

01:38:53.880 --> 01:39:07.530

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Holding people accountable if you're saying something in a words are free for risk, you have to pay, you should be accountable for what you're doing and in the chat discussion actually.

645

01:39:08.880 --> 01:39:19.140

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): I was made realized that it's a very good idea if people publicly state their plan and they report on how they were doing.

646

01:39:19.770 --> 01:39:28.950

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): And in fact I realized in retrospect that that's what i've been doing as a trustee You can check on my marriage, I was posting what I want to do.

647

01:39:29.460 --> 01:39:34.860

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Where I failed, where he succeeded or it's still a work in progress, I did this for.

648

01:39:35.460 --> 01:39:42.660

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Both rounds, I did, and also for this one, and I think, though, that in a formal it's not such a good practice, it should be formal.

649

01:39:43.230 --> 01:39:55.050

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): We should be formally saying yeah This is my plan, and if you fail that's that's Okay, but tell us why you failed so that others learn from you and, basically, so that you do not.

650

01:39:56.220 --> 01:40:07.830

Dariusz Jemielniak (he/him): Tell anybody or the please I definitely agree it's a good idea that people are accountable and they weigh their own that they value the words, thank you.

651

01:40:09.540 --> 01:40:10.890

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you, Michael please.

652

01:40:12.960 --> 01:40:19.950

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): So I think the key to being accountable is to be transparent, so one of the key things I would say is the foundation board and.

653

01:40:20.700 --> 01:40:27.150

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): The Organization as well being really transparent, making sure the board meetings minutes are published on time.

654

01:40:27.630 --> 01:40:36.270

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And i'll communicate as well to the Community and also then, if there are questions that come up making sure there is time to answer them.

655

01:40:37.020 --> 01:40:46.230

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And so personally i'm very much part of the Community, I would like to remain part of the Community and take Community questions as things go.

656

01:40:46.920 --> 01:41:03.180

Michael Peel (he/him/they/them): And there's no point, having accountability at the next election, and it has to be as things are happening like as as I progress so things can cause correct as needed so accountability through transparency, I think that is the answer, thanks.

657

01:41:05.250 --> 01:41:06.810

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you so much rosie please.

658

01:41:08.430 --> 01:41:12.870

Rosie (she/her): I think accountability is also about looking at past behavior.

659

01:41:13.740 --> 01:41:26.280

Rosie (she/her): look and see our track record what is each of us done in the past have we proven that we support the communities and how do we support them in what ways, do we not maybe support them take a look at what we've done.

660

01:41:26.670 --> 01:41:33.420

Rosie (she/her): And then use that as a way to think about what we might do in the future, bearing in mind that we've been told.

661

01:41:33.780 --> 01:41:44.400

Rosie (she/her): If you're lucky enough to make it to become a member of the board of trustees you're encouraged to advocate your position on issues, but you are then required.

662

01:41:44.820 --> 01:42:00.330

Rosie (she/her): To support, whatever the consensus vote is just by way of example branding can read in my statement that I have an opinion about branding so you know what that opinion is, but if i'm elected and.

663

01:42:00.870 --> 01:42:16.860

Rosie (she/her): appointed to the board, whatever the decision of consensus is on the board, I and everyone else on the Board will have to support whether it's not what I wrote in my statement that my personal views on branding are Thank you.

664

01:42:18.540 --> 01:42:19.950

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you, Joe.

665

01:42:22.470 --> 01:42:25.020

lorenzo: Thank you, and in general.

666

01:42:26.970 --> 01:42:30.810

lorenzo: accountability is an important concept we can.

667

01:42:32.010 --> 01:42:33.930

lorenzo: support that with.

668

01:42:36.690 --> 01:42:46.920

lorenzo: Transparency and other things officer, he said, and to the point, however, there is a being able to answer the question.

669

01:42:48.450 --> 01:42:50.070

lorenzo: Can I see you.

670

01:42:51.300 --> 01:43:02.790

lorenzo: Should later still and and to do that, we have basically two tools, one is based on transparency so knowing what actually is happening.

671

01:43:03.450 --> 01:43:18.630

lorenzo: At the second one is a communication all that better than keeping a connection between that the board and so there's that of the Community, so that the people don't get disconnected.

672

01:43:19.680 --> 01:43:21.180

lorenzo: At the end of the day, or whatever other.

673

01:43:22.200 --> 01:43:43.290

lorenzo: Unfortunately, you will never really know exactly what the people in the more that are doing, every time because I mean for many reasons, said, but even if you could see what happens in.

674

01:43:44.430 --> 01:43:50.640

lorenzo: In the board meeting, Sir, many other things will happen outside and.

675

01:43:52.110 --> 01:44:04.830

lorenzo: You will never have all the information that you will need, so I attended today is finding that knowing to people and finding a way to trust.

676

01:44:05.940 --> 01:44:09.720

lorenzo: or not faster, depending on the cases that before the wedding.

677

01:44:13.560 --> 01:44:15.720

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you for Lorenzo vicki please.

678

01:44:17.310 --> 01:44:31.530

Vicki Doronina: it's a movement, the Board is as removed from the communities as Olympic goods, I tried to find any accounts and in your face to face meetings and apparently with.

679

01:44:32.100 --> 01:44:41.340

Vicki Doronina: The board with vicki pigeons and apparently it only happens on wiki mania where people very few people can attend.

680

01:44:42.060 --> 01:44:57.660

Vicki Doronina: And then it can be recorded or not recorded, sometimes, so what I would do first, I would make sure that it is recorded, not by Lucas by the wikimedia from the.

681

01:44:58.530 --> 01:45:13.650

Vicki Doronina: And then Ideally, we should have a sort of general general meeting where people can attend or i'm in virtual people can attend and ask questions.

682

01:45:14.610 --> 01:45:27.210

Vicki Doronina: And then those who can can watch the recording I do think it's a good idea what rosie said that you need to judge the board members by their.

683

01:45:27.720 --> 01:45:44.550

Vicki Doronina: past achievements, I think that the Board should give answers to the Community what was done say in the last three or four years for start and then to have an annual report, thank you.

684

01:45:46.230 --> 01:45:48.660

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you vicki Douglas please.

685

01:45:50.280 --> 01:46:01.830

Douglas Ian Scott: Thank you, I strongly agree with what vicki just said and I strongly agree with what Michael just said, the the board does need to be more accountable to the Community.

686

01:46:03.960 --> 01:46:09.720

Douglas Ian Scott: And the board and part of that is making the Minutes known being more transparent about what's going on on the board.

687

01:46:11.370 --> 01:46:23.940

Douglas Ian Scott: I would go further and say that the board also needs to be more democratic and have more people on from the Community setting on it at the moment there's a 5050 split.

688

01:46:24.600 --> 01:46:31.080

Douglas Ian Scott: Between appointees and board members and, by the way, I regret Jimmy Wales is an appointee another Community Member.

689

01:46:31.680 --> 01:46:45.180

Douglas Ian Scott: And I would like to see a very strong presence and majority of people in the board being Community members and that's something i'll definitely very strongly work for and as i'm sure other people here would as well.

690

01:46:47.310 --> 01:46:52.680

Douglas Ian Scott: Doris does make a very good point and American corporate law.

691

01:46:53.700 --> 01:46:57.840

Douglas Ian Scott: NGO law, and we are not.

692

01:46:59.100 --> 01:47:09.990

Douglas Ian Scott: We, we are not directly accountable as well i'm not a woman, but board members are not directly accountable to the Community, because there's no mechanism in American law to allow for that so.

693

01:47:10.740 --> 01:47:28.260

Douglas Ian Scott: Essentially, the board members, we ever we appointed board members as Community representatives have to take on a personal responsibility to the Community to personal commitment to to be accountable to the Community, report back to the Community delivered to the Community.

694

01:47:29.970 --> 01:47:35.430

Douglas Ian Scott: And I certainly take that on as I i'm sure great many of us here do as well.

695

01:47:40.050 --> 01:47:41.160

Ravan (She/Her): Here so much.

696

01:47:44.820 --> 01:47:45.780

Farah Jack Mustaklem: Yes, I.

697

01:47:45.810 --> 01:48:01.950

Farah Jack Mustaklem: don't believe anybody slipped anything left to say, but I do agree with the transparency that that's the key here is if the Community knows what's going on and in the board that would.

698

01:48:03.030 --> 01:48:15.990

Farah Jack Mustaklem: That would help them get a better picture of their candidate that they voted for, if if they're acting as as they had promised or not, and then.

699

01:48:17.880 --> 01:48:23.220

Farah Jack Mustaklem: When it comes time for re election that's that's really the time for.

700

01:48:25.560 --> 01:48:27.960

Farah Jack Mustaklem: The time to see if if they've.

701

01:48:29.250 --> 01:48:30.150

Farah Jack Mustaklem: held up there.

702

01:48:31.410 --> 01:48:33.420

Farah Jack Mustaklem: they're held up to their promises.

703

01:48:38.940 --> 01:48:39.510

Ravan (She/Her): peace.

704

01:48:41.370 --> 01:48:41.760

Ravan (She/Her): I would.

705

01:48:41.940 --> 01:48:45.390

Adam Wight (they/he): I would push for everything said in detail.

706

01:48:45.540 --> 01:48:46.470

Adam Wight (they/he): In the board meetings.

707

01:48:47.490 --> 01:48:53.850

Adam Wight (they/he): There would be a recording there'd be foundation staff to transcribe the recording and then it would be made public, for translation.

708

01:48:54.600 --> 01:48:59.640

Adam Wight (they/he): And I think that's very important for accountability and I just wanted to say there is.

709

01:49:00.450 --> 01:49:07.800

Adam Wight (they/he): There is a mechanism for making the board members accountable and it's to change back to a membership organization, in which case.

710

01:49:08.520 --> 01:49:26.400

Adam Wight (they/he): And the Members who are the contributors can vote candidates out again vote trustees out, I would also want to see recall to direct democracy tool which allows for that so anytime someone's not living up to what they've promised, they can just be removed that's it.

711

01:49:28.020 --> 01:49:28.380

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you.

712

01:49:29.070 --> 01:49:29.550

Please.

713

01:49:31.560 --> 01:49:32.010

Reda Kerbouche: Thank you.

714

01:49:32.520 --> 01:49:36.270

Reda Kerbouche: Personally, I myself have plenty.

715

01:49:37.320 --> 01:49:47.760

Reda Kerbouche: of things that concern me for for the change and you unless you know that very well, and you know my personal my personal best achievement.

716

01:49:48.300 --> 01:50:10.350

Reda Kerbouche: I propose myself as seconded that, since I have lots of ideas to realize, and if I am elected I will do my best to realize my plants, and I agree that transparency and the public checklists and on the on the online reports meeting is the right answer to show if we are sincere thank you.

717

01:50:13.770 --> 01:50:19.260

Ravan (She/Her): Thank you so much, everyone we're truly thank you all the attendees all the candidates.

718

01:50:19.320 --> 01:50:25.170

Ravan (She/Her): We are appreciating your efforts, time and I will learn plan the.

719

01:50:26.280 --> 01:50:28.500

Ravan (She/Her): Data was the session.

720

01:50:30.750 --> 01:50:39.000

Zita(She/her): Thank you very much ribbon and thank you once again to all the candidates and to all the participants for sticking with us.

721

01:50:39.840 --> 01:50:54.390

Zita(She/her): Until the end you can read more about the candidates and the answers to some questions which were selected by the elections committee on this page on Meta and will paste the link to the page in the charts.

722

01:50:55.830 --> 01:51:10.170

Zita(She/her): And there's going to be another campaign events for the European Community is this Wednesday and there will be like interpretation in French, so I encourage all French speakers on the call who might be interested.

723

01:51:10.620 --> 01:51:17.760

Zita(She/her): to sign up to attend this session i'm pasting a link to this event in the chat as well.

724

01:51:22.800 --> 01:51:25.020

Zita(She/her): there's more information about.

725

01:51:26.160 --> 01:51:34.470

Zita(She/her): How to vote and where to vote elections, the voting would open on our guest for 2021 on secure.

726

01:51:35.550 --> 01:51:47.970

Zita(She/her): So I will also going to make available the recording for this session transcripts and charts low on beta so that everyone can have access to be to go over these materials.

727

01:51:48.330 --> 01:52:02.370

Zita(She/her): In order to inform your decisions on WHO to vote for coming August for 2021 once again thank you so much, and we do hope you have a wonderful evening or whatever time it is saturating Thank you.