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2025
December




Wiki camp Popova Shapka 2025

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Wiki Camp Popova Shapka logo

The Wiki Camps organized by Wikimedia MKD are among the most inspiring activities within the association’s educational program. They serve as a place where young enthusiasts of knowledge, technology, and culture come together to learn and create. For seven consecutive years, these camps have been a driving force in shaping new generations of active Wikipedians through an atmosphere filled with teamwork, enthusiasm, and dedication to free knowledge.

From 5 to 7 December 2025, Wikimedia MKD organized its seventh Wiki Camp, a three-day educational and collaborative gathering for students from Wiki Clubs across Macedonia. The camp took place at the Arena Hotel on Popova Šapka, offering a productive and inspiring environment where 43 participants worked together to create new free knowledge.

This year’s camp focused on the theme “Crafts Around the World”, encouraging students to explore traditional craftsmanship and its cultural significance in different societies. Through their dedicated work, participants created 243 new articles in Macedonian, contributing to the growth of Wikipedia’s content and strengthening their own writing skills. The five most productive editors received smartwatches as recognition for their achievements.

In addition to article creation, the program included lectures, discussions, and practical workshops designed to enhance participants’ wiki-skills and expand their understanding of cultural heritage. Sessions were led by Nenad Šundovski, Orce Nineski (GLAM Coordinator), and Lili Arsova (Veles Wiki Club Coordinator), while the President, Nikolče Stojanoski, and the Executive Director, Snežana Štrkovska, also addressed the participants.

The 2025 Wiki Camp once again demonstrated the importance of engaging young people in the mission of free and open knowledge. It strengthened their confidence, encouraged collaboration, and helped build a growing community of motivated new editors. Wikimedia MKD proudly continues this tradition, supporting youth involvement and promoting the values of openness, learning, and shared knowledge.

After the editing was over, a commission of three experiences Wikipedians, by the method of grading the created articles, came up with five winners, that is editors that scored the best during the camp. The five winners at the camp are: Doni12345, Anidani2025!, Ljubica.kalapovska2011, Marija.Mileska222 and Antonijaa.2012. The winners were awarded with suitable awards.

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

  • The participants listening a lecture
    The participants listening a lecture
  • The participants creating articles
    The participants creating articles
  • The participants creating articles
    The participants creating articles
  • President Nikolche Stojanoski giving a speech
    President Nikolche Stojanoski giving a speech
  • Orce Nineski giving a lecture
    Orce Nineski giving a lecture
  • The participants
    The participants
  • The students having a morning gymnastics
    The students having a morning gymnastics
  • The official mascots of the Wiki Camp
    The official mascots of the Wiki Camp

"Wiki loves food 2025" results

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The “Wiki Loves Food 2025” photography contest was held from 1 to 30 November 2025. The main objective of the contest was 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.

The contest attracted a number of participants who showcased the richness of traditional and contemporary cuisine, local specialties, and food from different parts of the world. A total of 13 users participated in the contest. As a result of their contributions, 1,299 photographs were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons under free licenses. Eligibility for the award recognizing the largest number of submissions required participants to upload at least twenty distinct photographs of food or culinary specialties, while the award for the highest-rated photograph was not dependent on the number of submissions. After the conclusion of the contest, a professional jury reviewed and evaluated all submitted photographs. The winners of the Pix+ vouchers are as follows:

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

Award for Best photo - Traditional Macedonian pindjur with pepper by MartinSamarov

The Wiki Loves Food 2025 photography contest once again highlighted the importance of volunteer contributions to the development of free knowledge. Through the collective efforts of the participants, Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia have been enriched with high-quality visual content that supports the documentation and promotion of culinary traditions and food culture.

Teachers conference at "Brakja Miladinovci" primary school in Miladinovci, Skopje

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On December 16, 2025, a teachers’ conference was held at the “Braća Miladinovci” Primary School in the village of Miladinovci, Skopje, attended by 27 teachers from the school. The conference was organized with the aim of presenting the opportunities that Wikipedia offers in education, as well as encouraging cooperation between teachers and Wikimedia MKD.

The conference began at 12:00 p.m. on the school premises. At the beginning, Bosa Filipović, Education Program Manager, addressed the audience and presented the educational activities, programs, and opportunities for teacher involvement. Snežana Štrkovska, Executive Director of Wikimedia MKD, delivered a lecture on the mission and vision of the organization and its role in advancing education, as well as on the encyclopedia itself—how Wikipedia functions, the benefits of using Wikipedia as a teaching tool, and how to properly use Wikipedia as an informational source for accurate and verified information. Ana Višinova, GLAM Coordinator, also addressed the conference, highlighting the importance of cooperation with cultural and educational institutions and the potential of the GLAM program.

During the conference, concrete examples of using Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects in teaching were presented, along with successful practices from the educational process. Teachers had the opportunity to ask questions, discuss the challenges they face in teaching, and exchange ideas for further cooperation and the application of free educational resources.

Such activities confirm the importance of Wikipedia as a relevant and trustworthy resource in education. The use of free educational content in the teaching process contributes to the development of students’ digital skills, as well as to the improvement of teaching practice. Wikimedia MKD continues to build partnerships with educational institutions and teaching staff, with the goal of promoting open, high-quality, 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:

  • Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
    Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
  • Ana Vishinova giving a lecture
    Ana Vishinova giving a lecture
  • The teachers listening a lecture
    The teachers listening a lecture
  • The teachers listening a lecture
    The teachers listening a lecture
  • Snezana Strkovska giving a lecture
    Snezana Strkovska giving a lecture
  • The teachers listening a lecture
    The teachers listening a lecture

Wikimedia MKD in the media in 2025

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Throughout 2025, Wikimedia MKD maintained a strong and visible presence in the media landscape of Macedonia. The organization and its activities were regularly covered by national and local online news portals, television channels, radio programs, and community media, reflecting its continuous engagement in promoting free knowledge, education, and cultural heritage.

Media coverage included reports on major annual events such as the celebration of Wikipedia’s 24th anniversary, educational trainings for Wikipedia editing, thematic edit-a-thons, photography competitions, and exhibitions related to Wikiexpeditions documenting cultural and natural heritage across the country. Several outreach and educational activities involving schools, students, and Wiki clubs were also highlighted in the media, emphasizing the role of Wikimedia MKD in youth engagement and informal education.

Representatives of Wikimedia MKD, including the Executive Director, Community Manager, and project coordinators, participated in television and radio interviews throughout the year, discussing topics such as the development of the Macedonian Wikipedia, volunteer participation, gender and diversity initiatives, and the importance of free and reliable knowledge in the digital age. Throughout the year, Wikimedia MKD's activities and success have been reported on 32 national and regional newsagents portals, stories have been broadcasted on 3 national TV stations and 1 national radio.

In addition, Wikimedia MKD’s activities were promoted and followed through public announcements and media reports related to editing days, thematic editing weeks, the annual Wiki camp, and Wiki team-building activities, which focused on strengthening community collaboration, volunteer engagement, and knowledge exchange. Media attention was particularly noticeable during periods of intensive community interaction, including competitions, award ceremonies, and collaborative editing initiatives.

Overall, media coverage in 2025 demonstrated Wikimedia MKD’s active role in the public sphere and its sustained contribution to education, open knowledge, and the preservation and dissemination of cultural content in Macedonia.

Editing week "Fishes" results

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The editing week “Fishes” was held from 21 to 27 November 2025 and focused on improving the coverage and quality of Wikipedia articles related to fish as an important field within the natural sciences. The campaign aimed to expand content concerning fish classification, biological characteristics, habitats, distribution, and their role in ecosystems.

During the editing week, participants worked on creating new articles as well as improving and expanding existing content. Special attention was given to maintaining an encyclopedic writing style, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and the use of reliable and verifiable sources.

A total of 27 users took part in the editing week, contributing to the creation and improvement of 315 articles. The results reflect a high level of engagement and demonstrate the participants’ commitment to the development of Wikipedia in the Macedonian language. In addition to content growth, the activity contributed to strengthening the editing community and encouraging continued participation.

In accordance with the predefined rules and evaluation criteria, prizes were awarded to the most successful participants:

Assembly Meeting December 2025

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On 20 December 2025 Wikimedia MKD held an Assembly meeting. An assembly meeting is must have by the law, but also needed for the discussion of the future of the organization and its community, as well as the programme development, special after the annual grant was approved. The meeting was held with the certain number of on-site participants and at least 10 person consulted about the topics before the meeting.

The meeting was held on 20 December 2025 in Tetovo. The meeting started at 4:00 p.m. o'clock local time. The participants at the meeting gathered to discuss the future of the organization, its programs and projects, ongoing projects and also enriching the programs of Wikimedia MKD. Ideas and proposals were shared on how to enrich the projects, how to achieve greater participation, to animate and activate a greater number of participants. There was also a discussion about the volunteers we engage in some projects, such as the Wiki Camp and the Wiki Team Building.

One of the topics was how we can access external fundraising opportunities. A proposal was made to follow all calls for funding that are announced in Macedonia, and it was also said that we are successful in obtaining in-kind donations.

Suggestions were made on how to celebrate Wikipedia's upcoming birthday, especially since it is a jubilee, 25th birthday. One suggestion was to organize two separate events, one with lectures and discussions, and the other with celebration, drinking, socializing, and cake. Suggestions were made as to where these meetings and activities could take place.

Part of the discussion was related to changing the employees' working hours, from part-time to full-time, something we requested in the annual grant, but we did not receive all the funds to implement this for all five employees. There was discussion about how to offer it and which employees to offer a full-time contract.

The meeting ended at 6:30 p.m.

Wikipractice for students from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics on editing Wikipedia

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On December 25, 2025, a Wikipedia editing training was held for students of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Skopje. The session aimed to introduce students to the principles of free knowledge and provide practical experience in creating high-quality content on Wikipedia in Macedonian.

Three students participated, guided by Bosa Filipović, Educational Program Manager, and Jovan Tasevski, Community Manager. The training combined theoretical lecture on Wikipedia’s rules, encyclopedic style, and source verification with hands-on editing practice. During the session, students created three articles, applying their knowledge in practice.

This training is part of the ongoing cooperation with Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, enabling students to complete academic internships through Wikipedia contributions. In this way, students have the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and skills in a practical setting, while simultaneously contributing to the enrichment of Wikipedia with high-quality content in scientific and educational fields. The results of the Wikipractice till the end of the year can be followed on the dashboard

The training was well-received by participants, who expressed increased confidence in editing and creating articles. It demonstrates the value of practical educational initiatives in fostering active engagement with digital knowledge platforms and highlights the potential for future collaborations to expand the presence of high-quality Macedonian content on Wikipedia.

With initiatives like these, Wikimedia MKD continues to build its network of partners in the education sector and create opportunities for young people to actively contribute to the development of free knowledge in our country.

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

  • The students listening a lecture
    The students listening a lecture
  • The students editing on Wikipedia
    The students editing on Wikipedia
  • Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
    Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
  • Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
    Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture

Wikimedia MKD's GLAM programme in 2025

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In 2025, the GLAM Programme of Wikimedia MKD was implemented by six Wikipedians in residence and one employed programme coordinator. Together, they made a significant contribution to Wikimedia projects through content creation, partnerships, and capacity-building activities.

During the programme period, participants created and/or improved more than 320 articles on the Macedonian Wikipedia. Of these, 230 articles were created or improved by the Wikipedians in residence, while 87 articles were contributed by the employed coordinator.

In addition to encyclopedic content, the programme resulted in the upload of more than 1,110 photographs to Wikimedia Commons, primarily documenting cultural heritage, crafts, traditional clothing, and related GLAM topics.

The team also enriched other Wikimedia projects:

  • 20 PDF documents (scanned works by Vojdan Chernodrinski) were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons / Wikisource repository
  • 200 unique pages (stories and songs) were created or edited on Wikisource

As part of outreach and education efforts, two GLAM workshops were organized, held on 14 April and 16 April 2025 in Veles, focusing on cultural heritage documentation and Wikimedia contribution skills.

Institutional cooperation was strengthened through the signing of two Memoranda of Cooperation, with:

  • National Institution – Museum of Macedonia
  • Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (PMF)

The programme also included collaboration with two film festivals:

  • Manaki Brothers International Cinematographers’ Film Festival
  • MakeDox Creative Documentary Film Festival

The annual Wiki Camp was fully dedicated to GLAM activities. The thematic focus for 2025 was traditional crafts, handicrafts, and folk costumes, aiming to document and preserve intangible cultural heritage through Wikimedia platforms.

Overall, the 2025 GLAM Programme significantly expanded free cultural content in the Macedonian language and strengthened partnerships between Wikimedia MKD and cultural institutions.

Editing Days

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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 December 2025 there were in total 9 editing days, where participants edited on different topics in order to enrich the content of Wikipedia. The editing days and the topics were:

  • 2.12.2025 - Chess Grandmasters
  • 4.12.2025 - Soaps
  • 9.12.2025 - Cellos
  • 11.12.2025 - Bulgarian cuisine
  • 16.12.2025 - Municipalities of Croatia
  • 18.12.2025 - 10th-century Christian saints
  • 23.12.2025 - Eating utensils
  • 25.12.2025 - Novae
  • 30.12.2025 - Tornadoes in Europe

Cumulatively, 3 different users took part in these calls and edited. In total, 19 new articles were created during the editing days in December 2025.

Editing Weekends

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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 December 2025 the following editing weekends were organized:

  • 6-7 December 2025 - Architects
  • 13-14 December 2025 - Psychotherapy
  • 20-21 December 2025 - Social networking services
  • 27-28 December 2025 - Christmas films

In total, during these weekends there were 2 different users editing on the given topics and they created 9 new articles on the Macedonian Wikipedia.

Editing days and editing weekends results

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During 2025, Wikimedia MKD continued to organize regular Editing Days and Editing Weekends as part of its sustained efforts to increase the quality and quantity of content on the Macedonian-language Wikipedia. These activities provided structured opportunities for community members to contribute new articles as well as improve existing ones on a wide range of topics.

Editing Days were held regularly throughout the year, occurring twice weekly. Each session focused on a specific theme, encouraging participants to concentrate their editing efforts on targeted subject areas. This structure aimed to both enrich Wikipedia’s content and engage volunteers in consistent contributions.

Editing Weekends took place during weekends, allowing volunteers to dedicate additional time to Wikipedia editing outside of the regular weekday sessions. Each weekend centered around a thematic topic, enabling participants to explore subject matter in more depth.

Over the course of 2025:

  • A total of 38 editors participated actively in the Editing Days and Editing Weekends initiatives.
  • Volunteers collectively created and substantially improved 682 articles on Macedonian Wikipedia.

These results demonstrate the significant impact of sustained community participation and highlight the value of structured editing events in expanding free knowledge in the Macedonian language.

To recognize the dedication and contributions of volunteers, awards were granted based on cumulative performance across all editing sessions. Eligibility criteria for awards included participation in at least 100 editing sessions, activity in a minimum of 10 calendar months, and the creation or substantial improvement of at least 150 content items. The results are as follows:

These ongoing activities not only enriched Wikipedia content but also strengthened the local editing community and encouraged deeper collaboration among volunteers. Wikimedia MKD remains committed to continuing these initiatives and expanding participation in future years.

Editing contest “Mythology” results

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Editing contests are among the key activities through which Wikimedia MKD continuously contributes to the development and enrichment of the Macedonian-language Wikipedia. These thematic initiatives encourage editors to create, expand, and improve articles within specific subject areas, thereby enhancing both the quality and diversity of freely accessible knowledge. At the same time, such contests support community engagement, skills development, and the inclusion of new contributors.

In this context, Wikimedia MKD organized the editing contest “Mythology”, which took place from 29 November to 28 December 2025. The selected theme aimed to expand Wikipedia content related to mythological systems, deities, legends, heroes, symbols, and beliefs from various cultures and civilizations, recognized as an important part of global cultural and spiritual heritage.

During the contest, participants worked on creating new articles and improving existing ones, with a strong focus on the use of reliable sources and compliance with Wikipedia’s content standards. Contributions covered a wide range of topics, including ancient mythologies, folk beliefs, and lesser-known mythological figures and traditions.

A total of 7 users participated, producing 138 articles. Following the completion of the contest, all eligible contributions were reviewed and evaluated by a jury of experienced editors. Based on predefined criteria, the following awards were granted:

The “Mythology” editing contest once again demonstrated the value of thematic editing activities for the growth of the Macedonian Wikipedia and highlighted the community’s strong interest in cultural, historical, and mythological topics.

In media

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