The knowledge of the Movement Strategy and its Recommendations is a gap that needs to be filled, focusing on open knowledge, learnings and impact factors. The idea led us to create insight and awareness on Movement Strategy Implementation with mentors from Wikimedia Anambra Network, Igbo Wikimedians User Group and Wikimedia User Group, Nigeria. Observations and experiences showed that many volunteers did not have knowledge of Movement Strategy, so we decided to step out and take action in bringing home this project to add value. Although, our focus was on Recommendation #6: Invest in Skills and leadership development, the other recommendations were also delved into.
The concept of Movement Strategy Implementation is to create the Wikimedia Movement with opportunities to integrate all aspects of human development from culture to visible shared goals for every project in Wikimedia. It has a timeline for 2030 just like the SDG 2030. The strategy was structured into ten recommendations with forty-seven initiatives.
Activities
The activities that helped in achieving the aims of this project were:
Communication /Community awareness
Team planning, pre- event survey, translations of all the initiatives of the Movement Strategy to Igbo language. Our project created awareness through our various social media platforms, Wikimedia platforms. This was done before, during and after the project. Read more on our project page on Meta.
Virtual and in-Person Sessions
We implemented three (3) virtual and seven (7) in-person sessions that added value on awareness creation about the Wikimedia Movement. The virtual sessions involved panels with experienced Wikimedians and leaders of User Groups from Wikimedia User group Nigeria, Igbo Wikimedians User group and Wikimedia Anambra Network.
They offered knowledge, shared their experiences and gave an extensive overview of the movement Strategy 2030 mandate. There were also learning and sharing, training on edit-a-thon and practical sessions on MSIG and leadership development groups (let’s connect, forums) one can join to invest in skills.
The in-person sessions were carried out in Awka, Anambra State Nigeria. The in-person activities explained more on the virtual sessions with more insights with questions and answers sessions on the ten recommendations, practical training on translation of Wikimedia articles and Meta wiki.
Thus, the Movement Strategy initiatives were translated in Igbo language, There were also sessions on learning the technicalities of filling the grant form.?
Project Team
The project was designed and implemented by Chinwendu Peace Anyanwu, Ngozi Perpetua Osuchukwu, Ezenwanne Timothy, Ikekamma Nnamdi and Tony-metu Chidera. It was carried out from June to October, 2023.?
Mentors
We discussed extensively the strategic directions. On the first virtual session, we had our panelists Ayokanmi Oyeyemi and Tochiprecious with Nkem Osuigwe as the moderator. They opened up knowledge on Movement Strategy, defining it as plans or vision to the movement according to 2030 mandate.
On the second virtual session were Oby Ezeilo and Isaac Olatunde as panelists. They gave extensive definition of leadership and how we can invest in skills in the movement to promote and enhance leadership in our community.
The third virtual conversation was shared with Iwuala Lucy. This session involved mentoring initiatives on skill investment and leadership development.
Evaluation mechanisms
The project carried out both online and physical assessments. This were to determine volunteers’ learning, improvement as well as getting feedback for redesigning more programs for more contributions to Wikimedia Movement.
Results/Findings from the evaluation
Our believe is that every Wikimedia program is value added, so we designed it to be inclusive which made the outcome generate more feedback and participation from new editors. It was also revealed that many people did not know anything about Movement Strategy until this project was introduced in Anambra State under Wikimedia Anambra Network.
Our virtual sessions had 100 participants under 5 panellists. Two panels in the first and second sessions, respectively and one panel on the third session. The in-person sessions had a total of 187 (these people were reached out to through whatsapp platforms, twitter, online sharing of fliers, sms and referrals).
Thy learned new knowledge and acknowledged that through the feedback mechanisms both in the sharing sessions and the pre and post-events Survey of the Evaluation Report.
Challenges encountered
We noticed that some participants were new to Wikimedia so having discussion on movement Strategy was challenging to them.
We signed up new volunteers to enable them participate properly as volunteers and contributors. Thus, we integrated new users’ basis on Wikimedia during our in-person’s session for more community engagement.
There were other activities by Wikimedia Anambra Network which was our big stakeholder in this project. These activities disrupted the Movement Strategy Implementation Project. However, we reached at a consensus with the Network and they gave us spaces to complete our project.
When we started out, we did not envisage the voluminious of the content to be translated. But we mitigated that by extending the translation to more volunteers.
The internet network disruption affected the virtual sessions at some points. But then, we spent extra time more than we planned to cover the areas of the content mapped out for the sessions.
Lessons learned
The project on Movement Strategy Implementation increased awareness and knowledge of Wikimedia Movement among the participants. Even our panelists revealed that they have to read and research more on the strategy.
For us the Project Lead, it was an eye opener because our limited knowledge was improved.
The online survey and the physical assessment have shown that Movement Strategy Implementation needs more awareness. When 80% of the participants did not know anything about the focus of Wikimedia before 2030, it calls for more open knowledge and sharing.
We learned through this project that new programs attract volunteers from diverse communities and hubs. It increases collaboration and bonding with others outside our community as we connect to learn more from others.
As there are other nine recommendations and translations to be done on them, we see the need for more applications and grants for more open knowledge on Movement strategy. 2030 is just few years coming and many volunteers are ignorant of what is expected there for the Wikimedia Movement.
Project Outcome
The project “Deepening Community Engagement on Movement Strategy” expanded participants’ knowledge on knowledge equity and movement strategy recommendations.
Participants asked questions and revealed through the chats that their knowledge on Movement strategy has been improved.
Community members learnt how to translate on Meta-Wiki and translated Movement Strategy initiatives to Igbo language.
There were improved community interest, sustainability, positive perception of the Wikimedia movement, participation in Wikimedia activities, strategies for retention and to avoid burnout etc.
Another outcome is the the translation of 47 movement strategy initiatives to Igbo language by participants on the Meta-Wiki. This enhanced user experiences, participation and contribution to language visibility.
The project widens our horizon and opens the participants’ minds on the other recommendations building a total quality open knowledge on Movement Strategy Recommendation. From the online panel discussions to physical interactive sessions and learning, we created an understanding of Movement Strategy. The Evaluation Report and the project Logic model helped in measuring the outcomes.
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