Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wiki Loves Asian Cuisines (ID: 22895825)
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Applicant Details
edit- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Wiki Asmah
- 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.
Wiki Loves Asian Cuisines
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-02-15 - 2025-04-30
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
International (more than one country across continents or regions) This competition will be a global competition in which the saturation will be more focused on the Asian region. However, participants from other countries and regions are welcome to join. We aim for participants in this competition to upload a variety of Asian cuisines into Wikimedia Commons with accurate captions and descriptions. This is to improve knowledge of the various types of Asian cuisines at the global level not just through images, but also its descriptions
- 5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)
Not applicable
- 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)
Upon several searches in Wikimedia Commons, we have found that there is a big opportunity to improve the number and the quality of Asian Cuisine images in Commons. There are numerous high-quality images of Asian Cuisines in Wikimedia Commons, but a proportionate number of them lead to a “promotional” website of the uploader, and then those without promotional purposes, lack quality and explanation. Although there are some good photos, they are rather small numbers.
We aim for this competition to increase the uploads and quality of the images on Asian cuisines. Not merely just through uploads, but also through a thorough explanation of the dishes.
If we look at Google SEO on Asian Food/Asian Cuisine, often the images cover multiple dishes instead of singling out specific dishes to tell viewers what the dish is about. If one wants to learn, they have to be redirected to the uploaders’ website. This is a gap where this contest will be beneficial. We can use this opportunity to redirect internet users to the Wikimedia Commons to view images of high-quality Asian cuisine images and increase traffic to Wikipedia when they want to learn further about the dishes.
Upon the conclusion of this contest, as impact we aim to achieve, we anticipate generating over 500 to 1000 high-quality images of Asian Cuisines. This contribution will significantly enrich the visual and informational content available on Wikimedia Commons, enhancing the accessibility and comprehension for a global audience.
We see that this competition also has the potential to create a significant and multifaceted impact, addressing existing gaps in Wikimedia Commons and contributing to the broader goals of knowledge accessibility and cultural representation. This competition directly tackles the underrepresentation and quality concerns surrounding Asian cuisine images on Wikimedia Commons. Although some high-quality images exist, they are either tied to promotional content or lack sufficient explanatory details which limits their educational value. By encouraging participants to upload not just visually appealing photos but also well-documented and contextually rich images, the competition will improve the overall standard of content on Commons on Asian Cuisines. This, in turn, provides a more authentic and educational resource for users seeking information about Asian cuisines in Wikipedia.
This initiative also addresses a gap in how Asian cuisine is presented online. Popular search engines and platforms often feature images of multiple dishes grouped together, leaving users to rely on external, often commercial, sites to gain detailed insights about individual dishes. By filling this void, Wikimedia Commons can emerge as a go-to platform for users interested in learning about the diversity and richness of Asian food. The competition will create an opportunity to redirect internet users from commercial websites to Wikimedia Commons, which offers free, unbiased, and detailed knowledge, and subsequently drive traffic to Wikipedia for in-depth exploration of these dishes.
The cultural impact of this competition is very noteworthy in our opinion. Asia is a vast and diverse continent with unique culinary traditions that are often underrepresented or misunderstood on global platforms. Therefore, by incentivizing the capture and documentation of regional cuisines, the competition will help preserve and share the culinary heritage of Asian cultures. This can foster cross-cultural understanding and appreciation among global audiences, aligning with Wikimedia’s mission of knowledge equity.
Overall, the competition can inspire local photographers, food enthusiasts, and cultural advocates to contribute to the Wikimedia movement, creating a more inclusive and diverse community of contributors. It serves as a gateway for individuals to actively participate in preserving and promoting their cultural heritage and introducing newcomers to Wikimedia Commons.
Furthermore, from a strategic perspective, we see that this competition aligns with the Movement Strategy goals of increasing knowledge equity and improving content quality. So, the high-quality, well-documented images will enhance the visual appeal and educational value for various Wikimedia projects, making them more engaging, informational, and accessible to a global audience. In this case, our approach involves several key strategies to achieve the objectives of the project. We will organize an online photography competition on Wikimedia Commons, focused on selective, high-quality images whose concept is similar to all Wiki Loves competition but this, focused on Asian cuisines. Participants will compete for the top three (3) best images to win monetary prizes and the 4th and 5th place will receive honorable mentions. Additionally, although this competition is on Asian cuisine images, it is still open to all Wikimedia communities to participate to ensure inclusivity and encourage global participation. From this, we aim to foster collaboration, increase the quality and diversity of contributions, and promote cross-cultural understanding about and through Asian Cuisine visual content.
- 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.
The planned activities for this project are structured to ensure its success and align with the objectives of improving the quality and quantity of Asian cuisine images on Wikimedia Commons. The summary of the planned main activities is as below:
1. Pre-competition planning stage We begin by reaching out to Wikimedia communities and affiliates in Asia to promote the competition and encourage their participation through discussion page in Meta-wiki. Partnerships with Wikimedia affiliates will also be established to amplify the initiative’s reach and impact, especially in this beginning stage. These are to help spread awareness on promoting the competition and improve numbers of participants.
2. Launch of the competition This competition will be launched with a public announcement on Wikimedia platforms and relevant social media channels. A dedicated project page will be created on Meta-Wiki, providing comprehensive details about the competition, submission guidelines, and evaluation criteria. Promotion will focus on encouraging a wide range of participants, including Wikipedians, photographers, food enthusiasts, and even cultural advocates. A targeted outreach campaign will be conducted, with multilingual promotional materials to accommodate participants from various regions.
3. Capacity-building workshops (tentative) To support participants, a series of online workshops and webinars is planned to be organized. These sessions will cover topics such as advices on photography techniques, cultural sensitivity, and how to properly upload and document images on Wikimedia Commons. Collaboration with experienced Wikimedia contributors and professional photographers will ensure high-quality guidance.
4. Community engagement and submissions Throughout the competition period, participants will be encouraged to engage with their local communities by photographing regional dishes and documenting their cultural significance. Online discussions will foster interaction and maintain enthusiasm among contributors. Participants will also be encouraged to provide detailed descriptions of the dishes, especially when it comes to the name of the dishes. This shall help direct traffic from Wikimedia Commons to Wikipedia when readers wants to gain more information about the dishes.
5. Evaluation and recognition After the competition ends, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated based on predefined criteria, including image quality, cultural representation, and the richness of documentation of the images. A jury panel (with cultural diversity knowledge and photography expertise) will select winners. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top 5 contributors to recognize their efforts and motivate future participation.
6. Post-competition analysis and report The final stage will involve analyzing the outcomes of the competition and its impact on Wikimedia Commons. Insights gained from the project will be shared through a report on the Meta-Wiki page and presentations at relevant Wikimedia and educational conferences. Follow-up activities will include exploring long-term partnerships to sustain contributions in this niche area. We hope that this competition will be a yearly activity that can be done to enhance Asian cuisine contents in Wikimedia Commons.
- 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.
Our team is composed of two experienced and dedicated Wikimedians who contributes into different Wikimedia movement initiatives. Asmah (Username: Wiki Asmah) and Rotana (Username:روتانا) are the co-project managers that bring extensive expertise in organizing Wikimedia-related projects and community-building efforts in our own Wikimedia communities respectively.
To fully utilize our expertise, we have discussed segregating our tasks. Together, we will handle all managerial tasks related to the contest, ensuring smooth operation from the planning phase to the final execution. We will work closely on every aspect of the project, from organizing training for participants to overseeing the selection of a diverse and well-qualified jury, drawn from both inside and outside the Wikimedia organization to ensure a balanced and fair evaluation process. We look to ensure that this collaboration will bring a wealth of experience, leadership, and commitment to the project’s success.
- 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 this project include the diaspora communities worldwide. We aim to enrich Wikimedia Commons with high-quality and culturally diverse images of Asian cuisines while fostering greater inclusivity within the Wikimedia movement through this competition.
In participants engagement, we look to delve into several approaches. It includes a comprehensive outreach campaign through social media, Wikimedia platforms, and collaborations with Wikimedia affiliates worldwide. Since the competition will be posted in Meta-wiki, we will approach Wikimedians to assist in translation the competition page so that the announcements will be multilingual to accommodate diverse audiences. We will also host pre-event webinars to introduce participants to the competition's objectives, guidelines, and among other topics.
Apart from that, participants will be supported through regular communication and online discussions. These should provide guidance on photography techniques, Wikimedia Commons uploading processes, and documenting cultural context.
Finally, we will follow up by recognizing contributors through public acknowledgment i.e prizes and honorable mentions. Feedback surveys and post-event discussions will help us understand participant experiences and areas for improvement when we are to host the same competition in the future. Participants will also be invited to stay engaged with Wikimedia projects through ongoing initiatives to ensure their continued involvement and contributions to the movement. This approach can bring a holistic engagement strategy that fosters long-term impact for participants and Wikimedia community.
- 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.
In developing this project idea, we are engaging our community members and relevant groups through a combination of online and personal communication channels. The primary platform for community discussion and endorsement was a dedicated Meta-Wiki page, where we outlined the project proposal and invited feedback from community members. This page served as a transparent and inclusive space for open dialogue, ensuring that all voices were heard and to receive any insights that may arise from fellow contributors.
We are also utilizing WhatsApp, Slack and Instagram to facilitate personal discussions with experienced individuals in our network. These approaches allow us to gain insights, address concerns, and refine the competition's objectives based on direct feedback. It also ensured that our project was well-informed and aligned with the interests and needs of the community.
Link to Meta-wiki page: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wiki_Loves_Asian_Cuisines
- 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)
Not applicable
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Other
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Not applicable
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Improve User Experience
Learning and metrics
edit- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Through this project, we hope to gain valuable insights into several key areas that can enhance our other future initiatives. One primary learning objective is understanding how such culturally specific competitions, like this one focused on Asian cuisines, can impact the quality and quantity of contributions to Wikimedia Commons. We aim to answer questions like, What motivates participants to contribute high-quality images and detailed explanations? and, What barriers do they face during the process? Additionally, we want to explore the effectiveness of our outreach strategies. For instance, What forms of engagement (discussion page, social media posts, webinars, affiliate partnerships) are most effective in attracting and retaining participants and editors from diverse communities?
Finally, we hope to learn how well this initiative redirects online traffic to Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia, addressing the existing gaps in accessible, high-quality content about Asian cuisines across Wikimedia platforms. Through collection and data analysis related to participation, engagement, and quality of uploads, we can refine our approaches and contribute to the broader Wikimedia movement's goals of inclusivity, accessibility, and knowledge sharing.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 20 | We aim to have at least 20 participants join this competition. This shall be achievable through multi-channel promotional efforts. |
| Number of editors | 10 | 5 to 10 editors to support the promotional of this competition. |
| Number of organizers | 2 | Rotana and Asmah will work in synergy to ensure the success of this competition. |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | |
| Wikimedia Commons | 500 |
| Wikidata | |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
500 new images targeted
- 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)
montage.toolforge and doodle.com are the main metrics tools to be used.
Financial proposal
edit- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1heH-xQP2MDLmzlyD7yD6GPneDTis3KXOD5aM7zg27v4/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)
2777.89 EUR
- 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.
2935.31 USD
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
Yes
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).