Wikimedia MKD/Reports/2025-11

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2025

November

"Lakes in North America" workshop

As part of the Wikimedia MKD's education program, on November 4, 2025, a workshop on the topic "Lakes in North America" was held with students from the "Kole Nehtenin" High School in Shtip. At the beginning, Bosa Filipović, the educational program manager, spoke and introduced the participants to the encyclopedia itself, how Wikipedia works, what are the benefits of using Wikipedia as a teaching tool and how to properly use Wikipedia as an information source for accurate and verified information.

Then, under the guidance of the coordinator of the Wiki Club in Shtip, Professor Liljana Manova, and with the support of the Wikimedia MKD team, the students began to write articles. The goal of the workshop was to stimulate interest among young people in the world's natural resources, by writing about lakes as important natural ecosystems. The workshop took place in a pleasant and working atmosphere, where the students showed great interest in the topic and actively participated in all parts of the activity.

The workshop was attended by 15 students who learned how to structure an article in an encyclopedic manner and as a result of this activity was the creation of 27 new articles, which contributed to increasing the availability of information about natural resources in the world. The workshop was an opportunity for students to connect their knowledge of geography with practical application in a digital context, but also to develop critical thinking, teamwork and digital culture.

With such activities, Wikimedia MKD continues to build its network of active wiki clubs and support youth participation in the creation of free and open knowledge. The workshop in Shtip once again showed that young people have enormous potential to contribute and enrich the Macedonian language Wikipedia with quality and useful content.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

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  Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
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  Editing on Wikipedia
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  The students listening a lecture
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  Editing on Wikipedia
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  Editing on Wikipedia

Training workshop for students from "Saint Cyril and Metodij" primary school in Veles

On November 4, 2025, a Wikipedia editing training session was organized for students from the Primary School "St. Cyril and Methodius" in Veles. The activity aimed to introduce students to the principles of free knowledge sharing, the importance of reliable sources, and the process of contributing to Wikipedia as one of the world’s largest collaborative platforms.

A total of 17 students from the upper grades participated in the workshop. Through practical exercises, they learned how to create and edit articles, add references, and follow Wikipedia’s content and formatting guidelines. The students demonstrated great enthusiasm and engagement throughout the session.

As a result of the training, 17 new articles were created on the Macedonian-language Wikipedia. The topics covered various fields, including culture, geography, history, and notable figures, reflecting the students’ interests and their communities.

The activity contributed to improving students’ digital literacy, research skills, and understanding of open knowledge. It also encouraged teamwork and critical thinking, as participants collaborated to verify information and ensure accuracy in their writing.

The workshop was successfully completed, achieving its main goals: empowering young students to become active contributors to Wikipedia and promoting the values of free and accessible knowledge for all.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

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  Editing on Wikipedia
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  The students
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  Editing on Wikipedia
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  Editing on Wikipedia
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  Editing on Wikipedia

Teachers conference at "Naum Ohridski" primary school in Creshevo, Skopje

On November 5, 2025, Wikimedia MKD organized a teachers’ conference at “Naum Ohridski” Primary School in Creshevo, Skopje, as part of its ongoing educational activities. The aim of the event was to present practical ways of integrating Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects into the teaching process, thereby enhancing students’ digital literacy, critical thinking, and collaborative skills. A total of 20 teachers from the school participated in the event.

The main presentation was delivered by Bosa Filipović, Wikimedia MKD’s Education Program Manager. She introduced the participants to Wikimedia’s mission and vision and explained the structure, principles, and functioning of Wikipedia as a global platform for open knowledge. Filipović demonstrated how teachers can use Wikipedia both as a learning resource and as a tool for developing students’ abilities in research, source evaluation, and responsible online collaboration.

Special attention was given to the importance of verifying sources and identifying reliable information. Filipović also discussed frequent mistakes made by new editors and offered practical advice for improving article quality and accuracy. The teachers expressed great interest in the editing process and in exploring how Wikipedia-based assignments can be integrated into their subjects.

The event concluded with an open discussion where participants shared their experiences, ideas, and potential classroom applications. The conversation highlighted numerous opportunities for using Wikimedia projects to support analytical and critical thinking, as well as to strengthen media and digital literacy among students.

This conference was part of Wikimedia MKD’s broader initiative to promote open and free access to knowledge as a key educational value. The event reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to empowering educators and students to become active contributors to the global community of knowledge sharing.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

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  Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
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  The teachers listening a lecture
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  The teachers listening a lecture
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  The teachers listening a lecture
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  Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture

“Wiki Loves Food 2025”

The “Wiki Loves Food 2025” photography contest is being held from 1 to 30 November 2025. The main objective of the contest is to collect photographs of a wide variety of dishes from around the world. Each submitted photograph represents a part of the rich diversity of gastronomy and contributes to enhancing the visual representation of food across Wikipedia and its sister free knowledge projects.

Participants include food enthusiasts, photographers, and hobbyists, who upload their work to Wikimedia Commons under a free documentation license (Creative Commons 4.0). This ensures that all contributions are freely available to the community and contribute to the growth of free knowledge. All submitted photographs must be the original work of the participant or submitted with the participant’s copyright. Registration for the contest is completed through the official entry form.

Eligibility for the award recognizing the largest number of submissions requires participants to upload at least twenty distinct photographs of food or culinary specialties, while the award for the highest-rated photograph is not dependent on the number of submissions. The most successful participants, as determined by the jury, will be awarded Pix+ award vouchers.

The contest contributes to engaging the Wikimedia community, enriching Wikimedia Commons with high-quality media content, and promoting the visibility of diverse culinary traditions.

Editing contest "Rivers and lakes" results

The editing contest on the topic "Rivers and Lakes" began on October 6, 2025 and ended on October 26, 2025. This contest aimed to help improve existing and create new articles on the topic "rivers and lakes". Only high school students had the right to participate in the contest. 28 high school students participated in the contest and a total of 112 articles were created.

All articles had to be created in accordance with the principles and rules of Wikipedia, so all articles had to contain sources and employ an encyclopedic style. The articles were reviewed by a jury, which consisted of three Wikipedians. The jury made the final decision on the winners. The jury members reviewed all the articles and scored each one individually with points from 1 to 10. The three winners of the competition are as follows:

• First place: Горазд Војнески with 315 points,
• Second place: Ritxyql with 182 points,
• Third place: Doni12345 with 132 points.

In addition to these prizes, there were also prizes for the best articles for each week individually. The winners of these awards are the following:

• First week best article: Doni12345 with the article "Kamel"
• Second week best article: Doni12345 with the article "Ejvon"
• Third week best article: Doni12345 with the article "Sarasvati"

With this contest, Wikimedia MKD once again confirmed the importance of cooperation between education and digital knowledge. Through such activities, young people become part of the global Wikipedia community and contribute to the development of free knowledge in the Macedonian language. The "Rivers and Lakes" competition showed that enthusiasm, curiosity and the desire to learn can create valuable content that will serve future generations.

Training workshop for students from "St. Kliment Ohridski" primary school in Drachevo, Skopje

On November 6, 2025, a Wikipedia editing training session was held with students from St. Clement of Ohrid Primary School in Dračevo, Skopje. The training was organized as part of the activities of the school’s Wiki Club, under the mentorship of the club coordinator, Nataša Stardelova, and with the support of the Wikimedia MKD team.

During the training, students from grades 7 to 9 learned the basics of editing and contributing to Wikipedia in Macedonian. As a result, they created 11 new articles on the topic “Children’s Books and Authors”, enriching the Macedonian Wikipedia with new and original content on subjects that previously had no coverage in the local language.

The Wiki Club welcomed 9 new members, who joined the community of young editors motivated to contribute to free knowledge. This activity was also part of the school’s celebration of the Month of the Book, promoting literacy, creativity, and digital skills through Wikipedia.

The training was held by Bosa Filipović and Jovan Tasevski from Wikimedia MKD, while the coordination and mentorship were provided by Nataša Stardelova, the school librarian and Wiki Club coordinator. The outcomes included the creation of new content on Macedonian Wikipedia, increased student engagement in digital literacy, and strengthened collaboration between Wikimedia MKD and educational institutions.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

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  Editing on Wikipedia
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  Editing on Wikipedia
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  Editing on Wikipedia
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  The club coordinator Natasha Stardelova with the students

Kozjachija and Sredorek Wikiexpedition

In October, our team of Wikipedians realized its fourth field expedition for 2025, this time located in the regions of Kozjachija and Sredorek in the Municipality of Staro Nagoričane. Due to the region’s proximity to Skopje, the team decided to organize the expedition as two one-day visits — on October 11 and 23 — taking advantage of the national holidays. The goal was to document villages that had not been covered in previous expeditions and to expand data on the cultural heritage, infrastructure, and natural features of the area.

The first day began with visits to the villages around Kokino. Although the weather was unfavorable and rainy, the team managed to complete most of the planned route. The first sites documented were of Dragomance, Čelopek, and Staro Nagoričane, where drone photographs of the area were taken. This was followed by a visit to Dobrača, home to the church of “St. Trinity,” known for its decorated façade. The team continued to Žegljane, Malotino, Kokino, and Ramno, where several old school buildings, WWII memorials, and ruined churches were documented — among them the collapsed church of “St. Nicholas.” During the day, footage was also taken of the villages Cvetišnica, Bukovljane, and M’glence, though some of the material was limited due to low clouds and rainfall.

In the closing part of the first part, the villages of Čelopek, Koince, Algunja, Vragoturce, and Pelince were visited. Several religious sites were recorded, including the churches of “St. George,” “St. Petka,” and “St. Sunday.” The day ended in Kumanovo, where the team wrapped up a successful holiday expedition.

The second part of the expedition, continued on 23 October, focused on the villages along the A2 national road and the eastern part of the municipality. Despite the changeable weather, the team managed to complete full field documentation. The visit began with the villages of Vojnik and Strezovce, where drone photographs were taken and the “Hollow Stone of King Marko” was identified. This was followed by visits to Oblavce and Rugjince, where several public buildings were recorded, including schools and churches. While filming in Rugjince, a minor incident occurred involving damage to a drone propeller, but activities continued without interruption.

In the village of Orah, WWII memorials and the unique church of “St. Nicholas and St. George” were documented. The church, which has two entrances and is dedicated to both saints, is a protected cultural heritage site of Macedonia. The team also visited the Karpinski Monastery, where a short break was made and friendly contact established with local residents. In the final stage, the villages of Makreš, Kanarevo, Cvilanče, and Bajlovce were visited. In Bajlovce, several notable sites were registered, including the church of “St. Demetrius” and the unusual religious complex “St. Trinity,” known for local legends about healing stones and curative water.

With a total of 16 newly photographed villages, 6 revisited settlements, and over 400 kilometers traveled, the team completed an excellent Wiki expedition.

You can view all the photographic material from the Wikiexpedition here, but there are some pictures bellow:

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  A bifora with a decorated aedicule above the main entrance of Holy Trinity Church in the village of Dobrača
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  The western side of St. George and St. Nicholas Churches in the village of Orah
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  The archaeological site of Visoko near the village of Bajlovce
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  The portico of Hristijan Todorovski Karpoš Primary School in the village of Čelopek
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  A dirt road to the village of Cvilance

Editing contest "European Literature" results

An editing contest focused on European literature was held on the Macedonian-language Wikipedia from September 13 to October 12, 2025.

The contest aimed to encourage the creation and improvement of articles related to European literary heritage. Participants contributed by writing or expanding articles about:

• European authors (poets, novelists, playwrights, etc.)

• Literary works created and published in Europe

• Literary movements, schools, styles, and genres

• The history and development of literature in specific European countries

The articles were required to follow Wikipedia’s core content policies – they had to be written in an encyclopedic style, include reliable and verifiable sources, and comply with the platform’s editorial standards. Articles about authors of non-European origin or works first published outside Europe were not considered within the scope of the competition, even if they were written in European languages. 14 participants took part, and a total of 302 articles were created. The winners of the competition are as follows:

• First place: Тиверополник with 1322 points,
• Second place: 19user99 with 633 points,

In addition to these awards, the following prize was also included:

Award for Best Article - "Fjodor Dostoevski" by Тиверополник

Editing week "Fishes"

The editorial week “Fishes” is being held from November 21 to November 27, 2025. This contest aims to help improve existing articles and create new ones on this topic.

All articles must be created in accordance with Wikipedia’s principles and rules, meaning that they should be composed in an encyclopedic style and supported by appropriate sources. During the contest, or after its conclusion, all participants should record their username on the project page, along with the articles they have written. In addition to creating new articles, participants also have the opportunity to significantly expand existing ones.

During the editorial week, participants are expected to:

• create new articles and improve existing ones;

• add reliable external links to the articles;

• add images to the articles to make them more illustrative.

All registered users of Macedonian Wikipedia are eligible to participate in the contest, and prizes are provided for the best participants.

Wikiexperiments 2025

Wikiexperiments

The Wikiеxperiments project has played an important role in promoting science and providing open scientific materials online for ten years. Since its start in 2015, it has grown through collaboration with scientific institutions, research centers, and universities across Macedonia. With the support of professors and researchers, the project has produced a large collection of educational videos that clearly demonstrate scientific experiments.

All materials are uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, making them freely available for use in Wikipedia articles, educational presentations, and science communication worldwide.

On 26 November 2025, a new recording session took place at the Institute of Biology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. During this session, Professor Sara Cvetanoska carried out a series of biology experiments covering different topics and levels of complexity. She prepared each experiment with great care, adapting the procedures so they could be clearly and accurately captured on camera. Her approach ensured that the scientific concepts were easy to follow, even for those without a strong background in biology. A member of the Wikimedia MKD team recorded the entire process using high-resolution equipment, after which the videos will be edited and uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. These recordings are intended for students, teachers, and biology enthusiasts, offering useful and reliable materials for education and self-learning.

As the project enters its tenth year, WikiExperiments continues to expand with new recordings and renewed dedication to creating high-quality, openly accessible scientific content.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

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  Prof. Sara Cvetanoska performing biology experiments
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  Prof. Sara Cvetanoska performing biology experiments
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  Prof. Sara Cvetanoska performing biology experiments
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  Prof. Sara Cvetanoska performing biology experiments

Editing contest “Mythology”

An editing contest focused on mythology is being held on the Macedonian-language Wikipedia from November 29 to December 28, 2025.

The editing contest aims to encourage the creation and improvement of Wikipedia articles related to global mythological heritage. Participants can contribute by creating new articles or expanding existing ones about gods, heroes, legendary creatures, mythological narratives, and traditions from various cultures around the world. The event covers mythologies from Ancient Greece, Norse, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Hindu, and other global traditions, highlighting their stories, characters, and cultural significance.

Articles must follow Wikipedia’s core content policies – they should be created in an encyclopedic style, include reliable and verifiable sources, and adhere to the platform’s editorial standards. Contributions that do not meet these criteria or fall outside the scope of mythology will not be considered within the competition.

The contest encourages collaboration among Wikimedia MKD editors and enthusiasts, fostering knowledge sharing and community engagement. Participants are motivated create high-quality content that enriches Wikipedia with diverse mythological topics.

There will be prizes for the best contributions, awarded after the end of the competition. The event aims not only to expand Wikipedia’s coverage of mythology but also to inspire interest in global cultural heritage, storytelling traditions, and comparative mythology studies.

Geoexpedition in the Skopje Valley

In 2025, one geoexpedition was realized, covering several important natural sites in the Skopje Valley. The expedition took place on 23 November 2025 and focused on the areas of Ostrovo and Katlanovo Swamp, with the main objective of producing aerial (drone) photographs of lesser-known natural landmarks in the region.

The expedition team first visited the area between the villages of Trubarevo and Gorno Lisiche, where a group of natural sites known as Ostrovo, Ezerce, and the Trubarevo Arboretum is located. Access to these sites was challenging due to poor road conditions and ongoing construction in the surrounding area; nevertheless, the sites were successfully documented.

All three landmarks are located close to each other. Ostrovo is the largest and represents a former river island of the Vardar River. Changes in the river’s course have resulted in an unusual administrative boundary between Trubarevo and Gorno Lisiche, which today extends on both sides of the river, placing Ostrovo between the two villages.

Ezerce and the Arboretum form a single unit and are located next to each other. In the past, the area contained observation towers, facilities, and fencing, which are no longer present. Currently, the condition of all these sites is poor, as they lack protection, fencing, and informational signage indicating their status as natural landmarks.

Later in the day, parts of Katlanovo Swamp were also photographed. Drone operation was somewhat limited due to the proximity of the airport landing zone, but several successful aerial photographs were obtained.

During the expedition, more than 100 kilometers were covered, and four natural landmarks were documented. The collected materials contributed to the enrichment of the Macedonian-language Wikipedia with new visual and factual content, improving public awareness and accessibility of information about local natural heritage.

You can view all the photographic material from the Geoexpedition here, but there are some pictures bellow:

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  The protected natural site of Ezerce near the village of Trubarevo
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  An industrial zone near the village of Trubarevo
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  Katlanovo Swamp
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  Katlanovo Swamp
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  The protected natural site of Ostrovo near the village of Trubarevo
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  Trubarevo Arboretum (left) and the protected natural site of Ezerce (right)

Archaeoexpedition – Markovi Kuli

During 2025, the team of Wikipedians organized an Archaeoexpedition focused on documenting cultural and historical heritage sites. This Archaeoexpedition was a one-day expedition conducted on 23 November 2025, covering the archaeological site of Markovi Kuli and the nearby villages of Letevci and Brezica.

The expedition aimed primarily to document the medieval fortress Markovi Kuli through drone photography. Due to airspace restrictions related to the proximity of Skopje International Airport, drone photography was conducted from the village of Letevci, from where the fortress is clearly visible. In addition, the team documented the village landscape and the local church.

Despite unexpected rainfall that shortened the stay in Letevci, the team continued the expedition to the neighboring village of Brezica. There, the focus was on documenting the village itself and the former Yugoslav People’s Army anti-missile base located above the settlement near Crn Vrv. The site includes several bunkers, shelters, and infrastructure related to missile deployment, similar to other Cold War–era military sites in the Skopje region. Drone photography of the surrounding area, including the village of Rudnik, was also completed.

The expedition concluded with photographic documentation of Brezica, including three local churches, two of which are part of the Brezica Monastery complex.

As a result of the expedition, the team documented three villages, multiple cultural and historical sites, and traveled over 120 kilometers, contributing new visual and documentary material to Wikimedia projects and marking another successful archaeological field activity.

You can view all the photographic material from the Geoexpedition here, but there are some pictures bellow:

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  An aerial view of the village of Brezica
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  An autumn landscape near the village of Brezica
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  Markovi Kuli near the village of Letevci
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  An aerial view from bird's-eye perspective of the former YPA Rocket Base near the village of Brezica
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  Transmitters on Gradištanska Mountain overlookinh the village of Brezica

Participation of Wikimedia MKD's Education Manager, Bosa Filipovic at the EduWiki Knowledge Showcase

Bosa Filipovic, Education Program Manager at Wikimedia MKD, participated in the EduWiki Knowledge Showcase held on 27 November 2025. As part of the program, she delivered a presentation focused on the development, impact, and future direction of the Wikimedia MKD Education Program.

During her session, Filipovic outlined the program’s strategic priorities, including the integration of Wikimedia projects into formal and non-formal education, the use of Wikipedia as a pedagogical tool, and the importance of fostering digital literacy skills among students. She also shared several examples of successful collaborations with schools, universities, and teachers, emphasizing how these partnerships help create sustainable educational models centered around open knowledge.

Filipovic highlighted the significance of thematic edit-a-thons in encouraging student engagement, as well as the role of mentoring, training workshops, and localized resources in empowering new contributors. Her presentation demonstrated how the program supports both educators and learners in becoming active participants in the Wikimedia movement.

Her participation contributed to a broader exchange of experiences among international EduWiki initiatives, strengthening the visibility of Wikimedia MKD and reinforcing the value of cross-community collaboration within the global education and Wikimedia system.

Editing Days

Editing days is an activity that lasts for the whole year in organization of Wikimedia MKD. Each Tuesday and Thursday different topics are given and the participants create or improve existing articles. In November 2025 there were in total 8 editing days, where participants edited on different topics in order to enrich the content of Wikipedia. The editing days and the topics were:

• 4.11.2025 - Body modification
• 6.11.2025 - Eurovision songs of 2025
• 11.11.2025 - Ice cream
• 13.11.2025 - Pigments
• 18.11.2025 - Chalcolithic
• 20.11.2025 - History books
• 25.11.2025 - Geographic coordinate systems
• 27.11.2025 - Shipwrecks

Cumulatively, 15 different users took part in these calls and edited. In total, 32 new articles were created during the editing days in November 2025.

Editing Weekends

Editing weekends is another project that is organized during the whole year. During weekends (Saturday and Sunday) user are welcomed to take part in this project activity and improve or enrich Macedonian Wikipedia content. During these weekends, the participants are expected to edit articles on given topics. In November 2025 the following editing weekends were organized:

• 1-2 November 2025 - Whisky
• 8-9 November 2025 - World Heritage Sites in the Americas
• 15-16 November 2025 - Artillery
• 22-23 November 2025 - Cotton
• 29-30 November 2025 - Hair

In total, during these weekends there were 3 different users editing on the given topics and they created 10 new articles on the Macedonian Wikipedia.

In media

• Photographical competition "Wiki loves food", makpress.mk
• Photographical competition "Wiki loves food" on Wikipedia is back in Macedonia, kumanovskimuabeti.mk
• Photographical competition "Wiki loves food" on Wikipedia is back in Macedonia,mkd.mk
• Photographical competition "Wiki loves food" on Wikipedia is back in Macedonia,netpress.com.mk
• The cuisine from Veles can bring you awards-Photographical competition "Wiki loves food" on Wikipedia, duma.mk
• Photographical competition "Wiki loves food", pix plus fb page
• Photographical competition "Wiki loves food", pix plus instagram page
• Wikimedia MKD Manager for community Jovan Tasevski's interview for Macedonian radio program 1 (18.11.2025)
• New members of wiki club in our school, nas-zbor.blogspot.com
• Wikimedia MKD Executive Director Snezana Shtrkovska and Manager for community Jovan Tasevski's interview for Sitel TV (19.11.2025),sitel.com.mk