Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/African Women in STEM (ID: 22893621)
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Applicant Details
edit- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Favourdare123
- Organization
N/A
- If you are a group or organization leader, board member, president, executive director, or staff member at any Wikimedia group, affiliate, or Wikimedia Foundation, you are required to self-identify and present all roles. (required)
N/A
- Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)
Main Proposal
edit- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.
African Women in STEM
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-02-10 - 2025-04-30
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Nigeria
- 5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)
Wiki Loves Women
- 6. What is the change you are trying to bring? What are the main challenges or problems you are trying to solve? Describe this change or challenges, as well as main approaches to achieve it. (required)
Statistics reveal that more females are gaining access to education today than ever before yet their inclusion in fully benefiting from their chosen educational path is still limited compared to their male counterparts.
Females have been particularly under-represented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). STEM careers are often referred to as jobs for the future and promoting the inclusivity of women in STEM will enhance global recognition for their work and importantly, inspire a new generation of women pursuing careers in STEM.
This project seeks to address the under-representation of African women in STEM in celebration of International Women’s Day by amplifying their contributions to the relevant fields thereby enhancing the global recognition of their contributions to STEM.
The African Women in STEM project aims to drive transformative change by ensuring their stories and contributions are represented, well-celebrated, and easily accessible on Wikipedia and Wikidata. This will directly spotlight their works which often go unnoticed in the celebration of STEM in comparison to their male counterparts.
Main Approaches to achieving the project:
Create Awareness: This initiative will utilize a wide range of effective social media platforms and host public talks to enhance the global recognition of women’s contribution to STEM on Wikipedia and Wikidata. By leveraging various channels, we aim to attract support from relevant associations and encourage active participation. This approach will not only highlight their contributions but also inspire a broader audience to recognize and celebrate the impact of women in STEM.
Content Creation and Improvement: This initiative prioritizes creating new Wikipedia articles and Wikidata entries about African Women in STEM while improving existing ones and we will achieve this by organizing a series of engaging activities, including editing campaigns, both physical and online training sessions will be utilized to empower new and experienced editors.
Community Engagement: We will prioritize the active involvement of different individuals, including women, STEM professionals, students, and volunteers. Through our interactive workshops, both online and in-person training sessions, we aim to engage the community by creating, editing, and improving content about African women in STEM on Wikipedia and Wikidata. This initiative will equip participants with the skills needed to contribute effectively thereby bridging the representation gap and ensuring the achievements of African women in STEM are accessible and celebrated globally.
This project will ensure the stories of African women in STEM are globally represented and recognized. It aims to serve as a beacon of hope, empowering women, promoting gender equality, and bridging the representation gap in celebration of International Women’s Day.
- 7. What are the planned activities? (required) Please provide a list of main activities. You can also add a link to the public page for your project where details about your project can be found. Alternatively, you can upload a timeline document. When the activities include partnerships, include details about your partners and planned partnerships.
1. Creating Awareness: To effectively reach both new and existing Wikimedia, editors, we will utilize E-posters and fliers, strategically distributed across the platforms of our target participants. This strategic approach guarantees widespread event awareness, ensuring a diverse audience is reached with maximum impact. Since the project will coincide with Women's Month and International Women's Day celebrations, we will also be creating awareness by collaborating with NGOs across Africa. These organizations will serve as valuable partners in amplifying the project's impact and reaching a broader audience to celebrate and empower women. By harnessing these designated platforms and messaging channels, we will establish an inclusive WhatsApp group for interested individuals, optimizing efficient and cost-effective communication. Embracing an integrated messaging strategy, we will harmonize our messaging efforts, creating a coherent and resonant message that underscores the event's significance and objectives.
2) Physical Training Day 1: This hands-on training session constitutes a pivotal element of our project, offering participants valuable practical skills and profound insights into the art of editing and contributing to both Wikipedia and Wikidata. Participants will be trained by experienced volunteer facilitators with the use of teaching aids which include a projector and slides also with the foundation training resources on how to make basic edits on Wikipedia and Wikidata searching and retrieval of information on Wikipedia, improving and creating articles on Wikipedia and Wikidatato bridge the gap. This interactive training empowers both new and experienced contributors, fostering inclusivity and enabling effective participation. The training session will also feature collaboration with invited guests from the Ministry of Women's Affairs and NGOs. These esteemed speakers will address the importance and pivotal roles that women play in STEM. This addition aims to inspire participants, especially women, to embrace and contribute to these fields while promoting gender inclusivity and equity in STEM disciplines on Wikipedia and Wikidata.
3) Physical Meet Up (Edit a thon): This will offer a dynamic platform encompassing mentoring sessions aimed at enhancing participants' editing skills, culminating in an engaging edit-a-thon session. Our dedicated team will provide invaluable guidance during the edit-a-thon, fostering a collaborative environment where participants can learn, apply their knowledge, and successfully contribute to the project's objectives. This comprehensive approach includes real-time monitoring and assessment, ensuring participants receive tailored support to become better editors, ultimately equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for ongoing contribution and growth.
4) Virtual Training(Online Follow-up Training): The Virtual Training, serving as an online follow-up to our project, represents a formal and structured continuation of skill development. Through this, participants will receive targeted instruction, guided by experienced facilitators, to further enhance their proficiency in editing and contributing to Wikiquote towards the desired goal of the Project. This virtual training session underscores our commitment to sustained growth and knowledge refinement, ensuring participants remain equipped with the necessary tools and insights for impactful contributions.
5) Virtual Webinar: The Virtual Webinar promises an illuminating experience as we will be inviting a distinguished member of the wiki Love Women global team. Her invaluable insights will unveil the transformative power of the campaign in fostering gender equality, inspiring participants with real-world success stories. Engaging in an enriching dialogue, the event opens doors to exploration and knowledge exchange, while the interactive Q&A session invites participants to delve deeper and satiate their curiosity. This captivating event isn't just about information; it's a catalyst for inspiration, sparking conversations and forging a united front for a more equitable world.
6)Contest: The event will end with an online contest.This is a great way to engage participants and award prizes to the top 3 contributors, top newest editor, and other outstanding female contributors as incentives to encourage wider engagement in other women-related projects and events.
- 8. Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required) Include more details of the team, including their roles, usernames, Wikimedia group, and whether they are salaried, volunteers, consultants/contractors, etc. Team members involved in the grant application need to be aware of their involvement in the project.
Favourdare123 (Project Lead): I am an experienced editor with extensive training experience. I have led the WikiVibrance International Youth Day (IYD) 2022 and 2024 in Nigeria and EveryBookItsReader 2024: African Books and Authors. I have co-facilitated significant editing campaigns on both Wikipedia and Wikidata. Notably, I co-facilitated the Wikimedia Awareness Outreach in Abuja and the Harnessing the Power of Open Data: Maximizing Wikidata Technical Tools workshops. As the project lead, I will develop tailored training resources to enhance contributions for both new and experienced editors. Throughout the physical and online events, I will guide participants in interactive edit-a-thons to ensure they acquire essential skills aligned with our project's objectives. To foster continued participation, I will share information about future Wikimedia projects on our dedicated Whatsapp group.
Akintundedaniel (Co-Facilitator and Jury): I am an experienced editor with extensive project facilitation and training experience, having accumulated over 8,000 contributions and still counting. I have led various projects across global campaigns in my local community, such as Art + Feminism, Wiki Loves Earth, Feminism and Folklore, Wiki Loves Africa, and She Said. As a project lead, I have promoted gender equity by profiling notable women and documenting their contributions to the global economy. My experience with projects promoting gender equity includes projects like Women in Art and Technology 2023, Feminism and Folklore 2024, Art + Feminism 2024 Unilorin, and SheSaid Event in Nigeria. I will be co-facilitating, overseeing all aspects of the project, and ensuring all contributions align with the project’s goals, alongside the project lead.
Emmanuella643 (Communication, Logistics, and Jury) is a skilled and passionate editor who has made significant strides in bridging the underrepresentation of African women on English Wikipedia. In 2024 she has created articles that amplify African women's voices on English Wikipedia, ensuring their stories are well documented and given due recognition for their contributions. She serves as a Wikipedia trainer with the Africa Wiki Women; and was selected as one of Nigeria's ambassadors, she actively promotes inclusion, diversity, and community empowerment within the Wikimedia ecosystem and as a Jury member, she will take part in the evaluation ensuring fairness and uphold high-quality content selection standards.
- 9. Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities? (required)
The target participants for our African Women in STEM event are women across local communities in Nigeria, including new editors and existing Nigerian Wikimedians passionate about promoting the achievements of women in STEM fields.
To recruit and engage participants, we will collaborate with Wikimedia groups, NGOs focusing on women in science and technology, and organizations advocating for gender equity. Ahead of the event, we will distribute e-flyers, provide learning and training resources on designated platforms for the target participants, and circulate an online registration form to encourage sign-ups from new editors and participants.
During the event, my team and I will train participants on creating and editing Wikipedia and Wikidata entries, focusing on high-quality articles and items that highlight the contributions of African women in STEM. We will emphasize citation standards and guide participants through the process of improving and expanding existing articles. Real-time monitoring will ensure the quality and reliability of contributions while fostering collaboration in a supportive setting.
Post-event, we aim to ensure long-term engagement by integrating participants into the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria and encouraging them to join the African Women in STEM community Telegram group. Created for future projects These platforms will keep participants informed about future projects and events, ensuring their sustained involvement. Also, participants will join a dedicated WhatsApp group for ongoing mentorship, feedback, and support. This direct communication channel will facilitate active interaction between participants and event organizers. A post-event survey will also be conducted to gather feedback, assess the event’s impact, and identify areas for future improvement.
This project will engage Nigerian women and editors to amplify the representation of African women in STEM on Wikimedia platforms. By offering targeted outreach, hands-on training, and follow-up support, we aim to build an inclusive editing community. This effort will not only diversify the knowledge shared on Wikimedia projects but also uphold quality standards while celebrating the achievements of African women in STEM fields.
- 10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)
No
- 10.1. Please provide a link to your Youth Safety Policy. (required) If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, you are required to outline compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provide a youth safety policy aligned with these laws. Read more here.
N/A
- 11. How did you discuss the idea of your project with your community members and/or any relevant groups? Please describe steps taken and provide links to any on-wiki community discussion(s) about the proposal. (required) You need to inform the community and/or group, discuss the project with them, and involve them in planning this proposal. You also need to align the activities with other projects happening in the planned area of implementation to ensure collaboration within the community.
I have discussed this project on the Wikimedia user group Nigeria discussion page to inform the community about the goal of the project. The link to the discussion page can be accessed via the attached link: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_User_Group_Nigeria#African_Women_in_STEM
- 12. Does your proposal aim to work to bridge any of the content knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Content Gender gap
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Gender and diversity
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Gender Identity
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Innovate in Free Knowledge
Learning and metrics
edit- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
By organizing this event, I hope to gain skills in:
Recruiting and engaging editors, especially women, in Wikimedia activities Providing effective onboarding and training on Wikiquote editing Building an inclusive community and driving participation to address content gaps Determining effective follow-up strategies to sustain editor retention Developing my mentoring, leadership, and facilitation abilities for diversity initiatives
Also,, I want to better understand:
What motivates Nigerian women to get involved with editing Wikipedia and Wikidata The specific impact of edit-a-thon activities on expanding women's representation How to accurately track and assess progress on closing content gaps
By pursuing these learning objectives, I aim to gain experience and insight to continue improving gender diversity across the Wikimedia movement, both locally and globally.
The focus on learning outcomes in editor engagement, inclusive spaces, and measurable impact will help me evolve as an organizer committed to elevating women’s voices on Wikimedia projects.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 40 | New Participants:20
Returning Participant:20 |
| Number of editors | 40 | New Participants:20
Returning Participant:20 |
| Number of organizers | 3 | There will be 3 Wikimedia volunteers facilitating and co-facilitating the event. |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 100 |
| Wikimedia Commons | |
| Wikidata | 150 |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
N/A
- 19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)
No
| Main Open Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
- 20. What tools would you use to measure each metrics? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support. (required)
We will use the Outreach Dashboard and X tools to efficiently and accurately track editors contributions.
Financial proposal
edit- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
- 22.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done only to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD.
USD
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
No
Endorsements and Feedback
editPlease add endorsements and feedback to the grant discussion page only. Endorsements added here will be removed automatically.
Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:
- Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
- Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
- Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
- Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
- Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).