Abstract Wikipedia/Updates/2023-07-12

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Abstract Wikipedia Updates

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Rockefeller Foundation supports Abstract Wikipedia with $1 Million

We are pleased to announce today that Abstract Wikipedia has gained the support of The Rockefeller Foundation. We are quoting here from the Diff blog post:

Abstract Wikipedia gains new support from The Rockefeller Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is pleased to share that The Rockefeller Foundation has provided a $1 million grant to support the development of Abstract Wikipedia, an initiative that will enable more people to share more knowledge in more languages across Wikipedia, accelerating the Wikimedia movement‘s Knowledge Equity goals.

The long-term aim of Abstract Wikipedia is to build a knowledge base independent of language, making it easier for Wikipedia editors to share, add, translate, and improve knowledge across languages on the online encyclopedia. In short, the initiative will enable more people to contribute content in their preferred languages, making the knowledge available to a larger and more global audience.

The grant from The Rockefeller Foundation will also allow the Abstract Wikipedia team to further develop Wikifunctions, the technical infrastructure behind the idea of Abstract Wikipedia. Wikifunctions will empower volunteers to create reusable code that can perform specific tasks, such as generating text in a certain language.

“We are grateful to The Rockefeller Foundation for its generous support towards the Wikimedia Foundation’s mission to ensure every person on the planet has free and equitable access to knowledge,” shared Denny Vrandečić, Head of Special Projects at the Wikimedia Foundation. “This project will enable different language communities of Wikipedia volunteers to work closer together by sharing code and content when writing Wikipedia articles, regardless of whether they speak the same language.”

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. Their focus is scaling renewable energy for all, stimulating economic mobility, and ensuring equitable access to health care and nutritious food. Their support of Abstract Wikipedia aligns closely with The Rockefeller Foundation’s goal of increasing access to reliable knowledge and information.

“We are thrilled to support the Wikimedia Foundation and the wider Wikimedia movement in its efforts to create Abstract Wikipedia, which has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about and share knowledge,” said Zia Khan, Senior Vice President of the Innovation initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation. “By generating content from structured data, Abstract Wikipedia can make knowledge more accessible and inclusive than ever before. We are proud to be a part of this exciting project and look forward to seeing its impact in the years to come.”

The Wikimedia Foundation remains focused on building a secure financial future. Purpose-specific donations are one way to work with other organizations that share our goals and want to support the vision of the Wikimedia Foundation and wider free knowledge movement. Abstract Wikipedia’s work to address knowledge gaps and increase the availability of multilingual knowledge is closely connected to the movement’s 2030 strategic direction goals of Knowledge Equity and Knowledge as a Service.

Thanks to The Rockefeller Foundation for their trust!