CEE/Newsletter/Newsroom/A photowalk at a multicultural city: Nicosia

A photowalk at a multicultural city: Nicosia
By: User:AProdromou & Basak

Nicosia is widely known as the last divided capital in Europe; however, the division does not stop Wikimedians from both sides from working together to improve content about the island.

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In the Wiki Loves Monuments Photowalk organized by Wikimedia User Group Cyprus, two groups from both sites of the checkpoints toured the historic sites of Nicosia.

Two amazing groups were formed, bringing together Wikimedians and aspiring contributors from all over the island, along with experienced Wikimedians, university students, and METU NCC Wikipedia Society members. The two groups came together at a venue in the buffer zone to upload the photos they had captured during the walk.

Toprak, the leader of the METU NCC Wikipedia Society, explained that they started their club last year and they have been collaborating with other Wikimedians to develop higher-quality content for Wikimedia projects about the island. "Our members are students coming to Cyprus for higher education from different parts of Turkey," says Toprak. "We spend most of our time on campus, but events like this help us go out of the campus, and connect with the island’s people. We are especially glad when these events allow us to bridge the division through collaboration.'"

The Wikimedia User Group Cyprus, recently recognized by the Wikimedia Foundation, reflects this spirit of collaboration. Anna Prodromou, the group’s leader, shared her vision: “Ever since I came across Wikimedia projects and began actively forming this group, I had only one thought: I want this group to reflect what Cyprus is—a multicultural community. We edit in English, Turkish, and Greek, and of course, any other language our members speak.

This is the first time that Wiki Loves Monuments is being run in Cyprus, marking an exciting milestone for the Wikimedia Community and Cyprus. Find below some photos uploaded.