Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Oral History 2023 in South Sudan (ID: 22216558)

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Applicant Details edit

Main Wikimedia username. (required)

Lomoraronad

Organization

Wikimedia community South Sudan

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.

Oral History 2023 in South Sudan

2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.

2024-01-09 - 2024-02-20

4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

South Sudan

5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)

Other (please specify) Oral History 2023: Preserving the Cultural Heritage of South Sudan

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)

Change and Challenges: The main change the "Oral History 2023" project seeks to bring is the preservation and accessibility of the oral traditions, stories, and cultural heritage of South Sudan's diverse tribes and ethnic groups. The project aims to address the following challenges:

1. Extinction of Cultural Knowledge: Many tribes and ethnic groups in South Sudan face the risk of losing their cultural knowledge as oral traditions are not adequately documented. This project aims to prevent the loss of this valuable heritage by capturing and archiving their stories and traditions.

2. Limited Documentation: The lesser-known tribes and ethnic groups often have limited documentation available about their history, customs, and traditions. This project aims to fill this gap by actively engaging with these communities and collecting oral histories directly from their members.

3. Lack of Accessible Resources: The limited availability of resources that showcase the cultural diversity of South Sudan's tribes hinders both local and global understanding and appreciation. The project seeks to create freely accessible multimedia resources that can be used for research, education, and cultural exchange.

Main Approaches:

1. Fieldwork and Community Engagement: The project will actively engage with representatives from different tribes and ethnic groups, building trust and rapport within the communities. This approach ensures the collection of accurate and comprehensive oral histories directly from the source.

2. Multimedia Documentation: By utilizing audio and video recording equipment, the project will capture the oral traditions, storytelling sessions, songs, dances, rituals, and other cultural practices of the communities. Additionally, photographs will be taken to document cultural artifacts and daily life activities.

3. Digital Archiving and Wikimedia Commons: The collected multimedia content will be systematically organized and uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, a widely accessible platform for sharing media files. This approach ensures that the resources are freely available and easily discoverable by a global audience.

4. Community Empowerment and Capacity Building: The project will empower local communities by involving them in the documentation process, training them in multimedia production, archiving techniques, and the use of Wikimedia projects. This approach encourages active participation and ownership of their cultural heritage.

5. Collaboration and Partnerships: Collaborating with local cultural organizations, educational institutions, and community members will foster partnerships and ensure the project's sustainability. The involvement of various stakeholders will also enrich the documentation process and promote local knowledge sharing.

By implementing these approaches, the project aims to bring about positive change by preserving the oral histories and cultural traditions of South Sudan's tribes and ethnic groups. It strives to overcome the challenges of cultural knowledge loss, limited documentation, and lack of accessible resources, ensuring the preservation and celebration of the diverse cultural heritage of the country.

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.

Planned Activities for the "Oral History 2023" Project shall be:

1. Research and Planning:

  - Conduct an in-depth study of South Sudan's tribes and ethnic groups to identify the lesser-known communities requiring documentation.
  - Identify and collaborate with local cultural organizations, community leaders, and scholars who can provide guidance and support.
  - Develop a detailed project plan, including timelines, budget allocation, and resource requirements.

2. Community Engagement and Outreach:

  - Organize community meetings and consultations to explain the project's objectives, gain community support, and address any concerns.
  - Establish partnerships with local organizations, universities, and research institutions to enhance community engagement and ensure broader participation.
  - Conduct awareness campaigns through local media, social media platforms, and community events to generate interest and encourage involvement.

3. Fieldwork and Documentation:

  - Conduct field visits to various tribal communities across South Sudan, prioritizing the tribes and ethnic groups at the risk of cultural knowledge loss.
  - Engage with community members and elders to collect oral histories, traditional narratives, folktales, songs, dances, and rituals.
  - Utilize high-quality audio and video recording equipment to capture interviews, storytelling sessions, and performances.
  - Capture photographs that depict cultural artifacts, traditional attire, daily life activities, and landscapes significant to the communities.

4. Multimedia Production and Archiving:

  - Process and edit the collected audio and video recordings to ensure quality and clarity.
  - Organize and catalog the multimedia content according to tribes, ethnic groups, themes, and genres.
  - Add relevant metadata, descriptions, and tags to facilitate search and navigation within the digital archive.
  - Create backup copies of the multimedia files to ensure data preservation and security.

5. Wikimedia Commons Upload and Documentation:

  - Create accounts and establish a project presence on Wikimedia Commons.
  - Upload the curated multimedia content to Wikimedia Commons, adhering to the platform's guidelines and licensing requirements.
  - Tag and categorize the uploaded content appropriately to ensure easy discoverability and accessibility.
  - Create accompanying descriptions and narratives for each uploaded item to provide context and background information.

6. Community Workshops and Training:

  - Organize workshops and training sessions for community members, especially youth and aspiring documentarians, on multimedia production techniques, oral history collection, and archiving best practices.
  - Conduct sessions on utilizing Wikimedia Commons and other digital tools for documentation and knowledge sharing.
  - Foster a sense of ownership and empowerment within the communities by encouraging them to document and share their own cultural practices.

7. Educational Resource Development:

  - Develop educational materials, including lesson plans, booklets, and digital resources, utilizing the archived content.
  - Collaborate with local schools, universities, and educators to integrate the resources into their curriculum and educational programs.
  - Organize exhibitions and cultural events to showcase the documented materials, promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding.

8. Project Evaluation and Sustainability:

  - Regularly assess the project's progress, impact, and challenges.
  - Solicit feedback from community members, project partners, and stakeholders to improve and refine the project's activities.
  - Develop a sustainability plan, including strategies for securing long-term funding, partnerships, and community involvement.
  - Explore opportunities for further collaborations, publications, and academic research based on the project's outcomes.

These planned activities will enable the successful implementation of the "Oral History 2023" project, ensuring the comprehensive documentation and preservation of South Sudan's oral traditions, stories, and cultural heritage.

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.

As an AI language model, I don't have a physical team or specific individuals associated with me. However, in the context of the "Oral History 2023" project, a typical team composition could include the following roles:

1. Project Manager: Romeo Ronald Lomora User: Lomoraronald

  - Responsible for overall project coordination, planning, and management.
  - Ensures the project stays on track, meets objectives, and maintains communication with team members and stakeholders.

2. Researcher:

  - Conducts in-depth research on South Sudan's tribes and ethnic groups, identifying communities in need of documentation.
  - Assists in gathering background information and historical context for the project.

3. Community Engagement Coordinator: Arop Mathew User: Aropmathewdaniel

  - Engages with local communities, cultural organizations, and community leaders to build relationships and gain support for the project.
  - Facilitates community meetings, workshops, and consultations.

4. Fieldwork Team: Likambu Isaac User: LikamboisaacK

  - Comprised of field researchers, interviewers, and photographers/videographers.
  - Collects oral histories, conducts interviews, records performances, and captures photographs/videos during field visits to tribal communities.

5. Multimedia Editors: Wani Yusif User: Waniyusif94

  - Skilled in audio and video editing software to process and enhance the collected multimedia content.
  - Ensures the quality and clarity of audio and video recordings.

6. Archivist and Metadata Specialist: Woja Emmanuel Wani: User: Woja Emmanuel

  - Organizes and catalogs the collected multimedia content.
  - Adds metadata, descriptions, and tags to facilitate efficient search and navigation within the digital archive.

7. Wikimedia Commons Trainer/ Facilitator: George Levi User: George Levi

  - Manages the uploading and sharing of multimedia content on Wikimedia Commons.
  - Ensures compliance with Wikimedia Commons guidelines and licensing requirements.
  - Provides ongoing support and maintenance of the project's presence on Wikimedia Commons.

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)

Target Participants and Community Engagement:

The target participants for the "Oral History 2023" project are members of South Sudan's diverse tribes and ethnic groups, particularly focusing on those at risk of losing their cultural knowledge and traditions. This includes representatives from tribes such as Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Murle, Mandari, and others.

Engaging Participants Before and During Activities:

1. Community Meetings: Organize community meetings and consultations to introduce the project, explain its objectives, and seek community input and support. These meetings provide an opportunity to address any concerns, answer questions, and build rapport with the community members.

2. Local Cultural Organizations and Leaders: Collaborate with local cultural organizations and community leaders to engage with participants. Their involvement will help facilitate access to the communities, gain trust, and enhance participation.

3. Awareness Campaigns: Conduct awareness campaigns through local media, social media platforms, and community events to generate interest and encourage participation. This can include radio interviews, newspaper articles, social media posts, and community outreach activities.

4. Language and Cultural Sensitivity: Ensure that the project team members have a good understanding of local languages, customs, and cultural protocols. This helps establish effective communication and builds a respectful and inclusive environment during interactions with participants.

5. Inclusive Approach: Emphasize the importance of capturing diverse perspectives and stories within each community. Encourage participants to share their unique experiences and narratives, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in their cultural heritage.

Follow-up with Participants after Activities:

1. Feedback Sessions: Organize feedback sessions with participants to gather their thoughts, experiences, and suggestions regarding their involvement in the project. This allows for continuous improvement and ensures that their voices are heard and valued.

2. Sharing of Documentation: Share the documented multimedia content with the participants, allowing them to view and validate the recorded materials. This fosters a sense of ownership and enables them to contribute additional information or correct any inaccuracies.

3. Community Events: Organize community events, exhibitions, or screenings where the documented materials are showcased. Invite participants and community members to these events, creating an opportunity for them to engage with the content and celebrate their cultural heritage collectively.

4. Educational Resources: Develop educational resources, based on the documented materials, that can be shared with participants and community members. This ensures that the knowledge collected during the project is accessible and can be utilized for educational purposes within the communities.

5. Continued Collaboration: Explore opportunities for continued collaboration with participants, such as involving them in the creation of educational materials, organizing follow-up workshops or training sessions, and seeking their input for future projects or initiatives focused on cultural preservation.

10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)

Yes

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.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Youth_Safety_Policy_for_the_Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_in_South_Sudan.pdf

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.

We engaged with community leaders and organizations to discuss the "Oral History 2023" project. We tailored our presentations to the local context, addressed questions and concerns, and provided examples of successful projects. We encouraged collaboration and partnerships, established an on-wiki community discussion, and facilitated online participation. We documented and summarized community feedback to inform project planning. Through these efforts, we fostered open dialogue and collaboration with our community members, ensuring their meaningful involvement in shaping the project.

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)

Cultural background, ethnicity, religion, racial

13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)

Culture, heritage or GLAM

14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Ethnic/racial/religious or cultural background

15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)

Identify Topics for Impact

Learning and metrics edit

17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)

In the "Oral History 2023" project, we hope to learn and gain insights into several aspects related to the preservation and documentation of South Sudan's tribal cultures. Here are some learning questions that the project aims to address:

1. What are the diverse cultural practices, traditions, and knowledge systems of South Sudan's tribes?

  - Learning Question: What are the unique customs, rituals, stories, music, dance, and other cultural expressions that define each tribal community?

2. What are the key challenges and threats to the preservation of tribal cultures in South Sudan?

  - Learning Question: What are the social, political, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to the erosion of cultural heritage within different tribal communities?

3. How can oral history documentation contribute to the preservation and revitalization of tribal cultures?

  - Learning Question: To what extent does the documentation of oral histories help in safeguarding and transmitting cultural knowledge across generations within tribal communities?

4. What are the intergenerational dynamics and knowledge transfer practices within tribal communities?

  - Learning Question: How do older generations pass down cultural knowledge and traditions to younger generations, and what role can oral history documentation play in this process?

5. How can the documentation of oral histories contribute to cultural pride, identity, and community resilience?

  - Learning Question: To what extent does the documentation and sharing of oral histories empower tribal communities, enhance cultural pride, and contribute to community cohesion and resilience?

6. What are the potential educational applications of documented oral histories?

  - Learning Question: How can the collected oral histories be utilized to develop educational resources, curricula, or initiatives that promote cultural diversity and intercultural understanding within and beyond the tribal communities?

18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)

Number of participants, editors, and organizers
Other Metrics	Target	Optional description
Number of participants	100	who shall be the target participants for the "Oral History 2023" project are members of South Sudan's diverse tribes and ethnic groups, particularly focusing on those at risk of losing their cultural knowledge and traditions. This includes representatives from tribes such as Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Murle, Mandari, and others.
Number of editors	30	these shall be the continuing members of the Wikimedia community and some as newbies
Number of organizers	5	Project Manager: Responsible for overall project coordination, planning, and management. Ensures the project stays on track, meets objectives, and maintains communication with team members and stakeholders. Researcher: Conducts in-depth research on South Sudan's tribes and ethnic groups, identifying communities in need of documentation. Assists in gathering background information and historical context for the project. Community Engagement Coordinator: Engages with local communities, cultural organizations, and community leaders to build relationships and gain support for the project. Facilitates community meetings, workshops, and consultations. Fieldwork Team: Comprised of field researchers, interviewers, and photographers/videographers. Collects oral histories, conducts interviews, records performances, and captures photographs/videos during field visits to tribal communities. Multimedia Editors: Skilled in audio and video editing software to process and enhance the collected multimedia content. Ensures the quality and clarity of audio and video recordings. Archivist and Metadata Specialist: Organizes and catalogs the collected multimedia content. Adds metadata, descriptions, and tags to facilitate efficient search and navigation within the digital archive. Wikimedia Commons trainer Manages the uploading and sharing of multimedia content on Wikimedia Commons. Ensures compliance with Wikimedia Commons guidelines and licensing requirements. Provides ongoing support and maintenance of the project's presence on Wikimedia Commons.

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project	Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia	100
Wikimedia Commons	200
Wikidata	100
Wiktionary
Wikisource
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote
Wikivoyage
Wikibooks
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies
Wikifunctions or Abtsract Wikipedia

Optional description for content contributions.

We shall mainly be uploading the multimedia files on commons whilst using some on Wikipedia and wikidata

19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)

No

Main Open Metrics Data
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)

Dash Board

Financial proposal edit

21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Z4wzhIerDXSN2q3P0sWttLY5FLH8lPv6bT7Ky_MUzqc/edit?usp=sharing

22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)

5000000 SGD||SSP

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.

5000 USD

We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

Endorsements and Feedback edit

Please 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).

Endorse