Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Mala Audio project (ID: 22216346)/Final Report
Report Status: Under review
Due date: 2023-12-31T00:00:00Z
Funding program: Rapid Fund
Report type: Final
This is an automatically generated Meta-Wiki page. The page was copied from Fluxx, the grantmaking web service of Wikimedia Foundation where the user has submitted their midpoint report. Please do not make any changes to this page because all changes will be removed after the next update. Use the discussion page for your feedback. The page was created by CR-FluxxBot.General information edit
- Applicant username: Akbarali
- Organization name: N/A
- Amount awarded: 2357.17
- Amount spent: 2014.99 USD, 167653.58
Part 1: Project and impact edit
1. Describe the implemented activities and results achieved. Additionally, share which approaches were most effective in supporting you to achieve the results. (required)
The Malayalam Mala project was a dynamic initiative primarily associated with Wikisource, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata. Its impact was significant, contributing to an increase in edits, new pages on ml.wikisource, and uploads on Commons. Furthermore, it played a key role in expanding the ml.wikiproject participant base.
The project encompassed various activities, starting with initial research to identify gaps in knowledge and the absence of Arab Malayalam works on ml.wikisource. A comprehensive list of works already in the public domain was compiled for inclusion on Wikisource.
To garner support and interest, notifications were disseminated within the ml.wikisource community through the village pump. The project demanded extensive research and linguistic skills, particularly in typing and transcribing.
Two pivotal meetings were held – one on August 8, 2023, in Moonnampadi, Malappuram, resulting in the support of three members, and another on July 9, 2023, in Calicut, securing backing from an additional two members.
The first group of members gathered listed works from diverse sources, including Kondotty Mappila Kala Academy and the Malabar Foundation. Individuals possessing old copies of these works also contributed by scanning and uploading them to Wikimedia Commons. A separate team meticulously transcribed the Arabic-Malayalam works into Malayalam and distributed the texts to various volunteers who created pages on ml.Wikisource.
Musicians played a supportive role, directing Mappila songs at various events. With their guidance, audio versions of the aforementioned works were recorded and uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. Experienced editors then linked these files to Wikidata, enhancing the overall accessibility and connectivity of the project.
Our achievements can be summarized as follows:
Exceeding Audio File Targets: Our initial plan aimed for the recording of 10 audio files, but we successfully recorded 13 files, surpassing our target.
Increasing Wikisource Page Creation Goals: Despite initially planning for 50 new pages on ml.wikisource, we managed to create 65 pages, demonstrating our efficiency and commitment.
Exceeding Commons File Targets: Initially targeting 10 files on Commons, we surpassed expectations by uploading a total of 15 files.
Increased Volunteer Participation: Our goal was to engage 6 volunteers, but we successfully increased our team to 10 dedicated individuals.
The key strategy that significantly contributed to our success was simplifying the process. By streamlining procedures, we made it more accessible for our team members. Additionally, the collaboration between experienced editors and newcomers played a pivotal role. The experienced editors provided invaluable support by assisting new contributors with necessary codes and links, making the editing process more approachable and efficient for everyone involved.
2. Documentation of your impact. Please use space below to share links that help tell your story, impact, and evaluation. (required)
Share links to:
- Project page on Meta-Wiki or any other Wikimedia project
- Dashboards and tools that you used to track contributions
- Some photos or videos from your event. Remember to share access.
You can also share links to:
- Important social media posts
- Surveys and their results
- Infographics and sound files
- Examples of content edited on Wikimedia projects
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Malayalam_Mala_Project https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Malayalam_mala_project
Additionally, share the materials and resources that you used in the implementation of your project. (required)
For example:
- Training materials and guides
- Presentations and slides
- Work processes and plans
- Any other materials your team has created or adapted and can be shared with others
Work plan: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1w_aX4xUpDaO5lCP0SBCk0up2oYc14KRnU7hmdxDKLdI/edit?usp=sharing
3. To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding the work carried out with this Rapid Fund? You can choose “not applicable” if your work does not relate to these goals. Required. Select one option per question. (required)
| A. Bring in participants from underrepresented groups | Strongly agree |
| B. Create a more inclusive and connected culture in our community | Strongly agree |
| C. Develop content about underrepresented topics/groups | Strongly agree |
| D. Develop content from underrepresented perspectives | Strongly agree |
| E. Encourage the retention of editors | Agree |
| F. Encourage the retention of organizers | Agree |
| G. Increased participants' feelings of belonging and connection to the movement | Strongly agree |
| F. Other (optional) |
Part 2: Learning edit
4. In your application, you outlined some learning questions. What did you learn from these learning questions when you implemented your project? How do you hope to use this learnings in the future? You can recall these learning questions below. (required)
You can recall these learning questions below: 1. What are the different types of Malayalam malas, and what distinguishes them from one another?
- 2. How can I accurately transcribe and convert Malayalam mala lyrics into Unicode?
- 3. What are the various sources of Malayalam mala lyrics, and how can I access and document them effectively?
- 4. What are the best practices for recording and sharing audio renditions of Malayalam malas to ensure high quality and accessibility?
- 5. How can I engage and collaborate with local volunteers to encourage their participation in the project?
- 6. What are the Arabic-Malayalam languages currently in use, and how can I accurately translate mala lyrics into these languages?
1.The Arabic-Malayalam language and literature stand as a significant contribution of Kerala Muslims, known as Mappilas, to Indian culture. Numerous Malas, including Muhiyuddin Mala, Rifai Mala, Badar Mala, Nafeesath Mala, Mamburam Mala, Manjakkulam Mala, Fathima Mala, Nool Mala, Safala Mala, and Badr Mala, have been established, though many authors remain unknown.
- 2. The transcribing of Arabic-Malayalam into Malayalam necessitates the use of Unicode fonts for accurate representation. Having appropriate tools that can convert Arabic-Malayalam script to Malayalam language is crucial for facilitating this transcription process.
- 3.Various authorities have undertaken the task of preserving Arabic-Malayalam Malas. However, a collaborative effort is essential to collect and compile these valuable works. Cooperation with institutions dedicated to this cause is crucial for successful preservation.
- 4. The audio recording of the aforementioned files requires expertise in reading and singing the scripts. Collaboration with experts who have trained singers over the years has proven beneficial, as they possess the necessary skills and studio facilities for quality recordings.
- 5. Two workshops were conducted, attracting individuals interested in contributing to the cause. However, many faced challenges editing wikisource from mobile devices. Despite creating proper page links, the difficulty persisted. To address this, personal communication and support were provided to new volunteers, assisting them in creating user accounts and facilitating the editing process.
- 6.Muhyudheen Mala has been incorporated into the higher secondary school curriculum. Additionally, other Malas, including Nafeesath Mala, Rifai Mala, and Badar Mala, are utilized by different groups. Collaborating with individuals familiar with these Malas ensures the accuracy of transcription efforts and contributes to their continued use.
5. Did anything unexpected or surprising happen when implementing your activities? This can include both positive and negative situations. What did you learn from those experiences? (required)
The project received a notable opportunity to showcase its endeavors at the Wikimedia GLAM Conference in Montevideo. The reception from numerous participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing appreciation for the project's initiatives.
Media Recognition and Cultural Importance
Adding to its accolades, the project garnered attention from an International Malayalam daily, which published a featured story highlighting the cultural significance of the initiative. For further insights, the story can be accessed through the following link: https://www.madhyamam.com/lifestyle/men/the-world-of-akbarali-1235002.
An encouraging aspect of the project was the substantial increase in the number of participants actively collaborating. However,one team member faced personal issues, leading to their inability to continue with the project. Despite this challenge, a swift resolution was achieved by substituting another member to ensure the project's continuity.
6. What is your plan to share your project learnings and results with other community members? If you have already done it, describe how. (required)
Video presentation about this project is already done . Link is as follows.
https://www.youtube.com/live/DehkB-9bOTc?feature=shared
And a media report also already published about this project. https://www.madhyamam.com/lifestyle/men/the-world-of-akbarali-1235002.
We also publish a blog post infuture.
Part 3: Metrics edit
7. Wikimedia Metrics results. (required)
In your application, you set some Wikimedia targets in numbers (Wikimedia metrics). In this section, you will describe the achieved results and provide links to the tools used.
| Target | Results | Comments and tools used | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 10 | 16 | |
| Number of editors | 10 | 13 | |
| Number of organizers | 2 | 4 |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 5 | 2 | |
| Wikimedia Commons | 10 | 14 | 14 |
| Wikidata | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Wiktionary | |||
| Wikisource | 50 | 60 | 5 |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |||
| Translatewiki | |||
| MediaWiki | |||
| Wikiquote | |||
| Wikivoyage | |||
| Wikibooks | |||
| Wikiversity | |||
| Wikinews | |||
| Wikispecies | |||
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
8. Other Metrics results.
In your proposal, you could also set Other Metrics targets. Please describe the achieved results and provide links to the tools used if you set Other Metrics in your application.
| Other Metrics name | Metrics Description | Target | Result | Tools and comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
9. Did you have any difficulties collecting data to measure your results? (required)
No
9.1. Please state what difficulties you had. How do you hope to overcome these challenges in the future? Do you have any recommendations for the Foundation to support you in addressing these challenges? (required)
Part 4: Financial reporting edit
10. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency. (required)
167653.58
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
2014.99
12. Report the funds spent in the currency of your fund. (required)
Provide the link to the financial report https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1t47xj97MEXCUU4mJ6S10cQSaxbEk1j8C1AJp9eAL-xU/edit?usp=sharing
12.2. If you have not already done so in your financial spending report, please provide information on changes in the budget in relation to your original proposal. (optional)
13. Do you have any unspent funds from the Fund?
Yes
13.1. Please list the amount and currency you did not use and explain why.
INR:20,000.Staff named Luqmankvk could not join with this project because of unforeseen personal reasons.
INR: 2833: Reason: Purchased only 1 microphone with the cost of 6653.58.
INR:3256 . Reason: Variation in travel cost.
13.2. What are you planning to do with the underspent funds?
B. Propose to use them to partially or fully fund a new/future grant request with PO approval
13.3. Please provide details of hope to spend these funds.
Our intention is to proceed with the next phase of this project, focusing on bringing Mappila literature to platforms such as Wikimedia Commons and ml.Wikisource. The remaining funds will play a crucial role in covering the associated expenses for this endeavor.
14.1. Are you in compliance with the terms outlined in the fund agreement?
Yes Your response to the review feedback. 14.2. Are you in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations as outlined in the grant agreement?
Yes
14.3. Are you in compliance with provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and with relevant tax laws and regulations restricting the use of the Funds as outlined in the grant agreement? In summary, this is to confirm that the funds were used in alignment with the WMF mission and for charitable/nonprofit/educational purposes.
Yes
15. If you have additional recommendations or reflections that don’t fit into the above sections, please write them here. (optional)
Review notes edit
Review notes from Program Officer:
N/A
Applicant's response to the review feedback.
N/A