Wikimedia Kenya UserGroup/Annual Report/2024

Executive Summary

Our 2024 annual project plan was pegged on community building, which we had identified as essential towards building a sustainable Wikimedia community in line with the movement strategy 2030. In addition to the community building activities that involved strategy meetings, Capacity building trainings and regular community meet-ups, we also coordinated on wiki activities on four global campaigns; namely Wiki for Human rights, Art & Feminism, Wiki Loves Africa and the Months of Africa Women.

The activities around the campaign included workshops, photo walks, edit-a-thon and newcomer trainings, with a goal to shrink Africa`s content gaps on Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons and Wiki Quotes, enhance on wiki skills and understanding of wikipedia policies, as well as enhance advocacy on our community and projects.

General Support Planning Grant We received in 2024, for the first time since our affiliation in October 2022, an annual planning grant from the foundation, which made a big difference in our projects planning and coordination, especially in terms of enhancing consistency.

Collaborating with the Africa Narrative for the Afro Creatives Workshop was a slo a step in the right direction that helped us scale our outreach.

Projects & Activities Overview

Workshops - we hosted 3 major workshops that aimed at enhancing advocacy and engaging external relevant stakeholders as our key activities in the Wiki for Human Rights, Art & Feminism and Afrocine/Afro Creatives Project.

The workshops helped us convene and engage Civil society and community-based grassroot organizations and engaged in knowledge sharing sessions in the areas of environment, climate change, human rights, Gender and Kenya's film and TV industry.

Wikipedia, Wiki Quotes and Wiki Commons Training - This was a capacity building training targeting newcommers and existing members that aimed at improving the quality of contributions on the three wiki projects.

Achievements and Impact

Our activities led to the creation of over 35 new user accounts.

Increased industry stakeholders' knowledge on wikipedia policies to over 100 pax that incuded filmmakers, Community-based youth leaders, university students, gender advocates and scholars.

Mapped out a list of 50 articles on environment, gender and human rights in Kenya that need improving

Leadership Development: We trained 3 community members on wiki events organizing as part of our leadership development activities.

Registered 19 newcomers in the community.

Media Spotlight:Our Pwani University A&F Workshop featured in 4 mainstream media outlets, raising awareness on gender gaps on wikipedia & Gender-based Violence in institutions of higher learning NTV, K24 Coverage, TV 47 Coverage, KBC Channel 1.

Launched a pilot of a Wiki 4 Universities Club Project in Pwani University with a goal to grow Swahili Wikipedia.User: Mmaua was assigned as the local coordinator for the Wiki 4 Universities Club Project in Pwani University.

Launched A&F Art Contest that produced 3 great art designs that we will showcase during Wikimania Nairobi in a poster session.

General Campaign Dashboard (NB we started this a bit too late, mid year)

Partnerships and Outreach

Engaged US Embassy on avenues for collaboration

Collaborated with Africa No filter in the Afro creatives workshops.

Collaboration with EARTHhub communities in hosting Wikimania 2025

Challenges

Demanding work schedules from members hence limited onwiki outputs.

Inflation that led to budget overlaps in some major costs such as meals, venues and transport

Dashboard malfunctions that interviewed with our campaign metrics but we are learning and open to getting more support to build on our project tracking and monitoring

Tricky financial year - our current FY conflicts with the General support Fund reporting and application timelines, which complicated our mid-year reporting and 2025 grant application process.

Financial Overview

We received an [planning grant] from the Wikimedia Foundation of $20,000 (Ksh 2,417,900) that went along way in facilitating our 2024 projects and activities.

Sustainability & Future Plans

Develop Annual Strategic Plan; 2026 and beyond

Leadership Development. We plan to leverage the Collaborative Learning Initiative by Issroff Family Foundation that our co-founders user:Ms Kabintie and User:CMwaura are involved in in 2025 to key among other things strengthen the UG’s leadership structures, Intensify Advocacy & partnerships and improve community health.

Launch an additional Wiki4Universities in a new county; Machakos or Kiambu

Wikimania 2025

We look forward to hosting you in Nairobi in August 6-9 for Wikimania 2025. All details you may need are on the [wiki]; you can also join the Wikimania Telegram channel or reach out to the Core Organizing team (COT) via email wikimania@wikimedia.org

Karibu Nairobi