Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wiki Loves Bangla 2023 (ID: 22298128)

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Applicant Details

Main Wikimedia username. (required)

RockyMasum

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)

I'm a board member or president of a Wikimedia Affiliate or mission-allied organization.

Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)

Bangla WikiMoitree in association with Wikimedia Bangladesh and West Bengal Wikimedians User Group.

Main Proposal

1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.

Wiki Loves Bangla 2023

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

2023-11-15 - 2024-03-15

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

Regional (more than one country in the same continent or region) The event will be open to participants from anywhere in the world who share an interest in Bengali cuisine and traditions, but the targeted regions are Bangladesh and West Bengal of India.

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)

Bangla WikiMoitree places a strong emphasis on preserving and celebrating Bengali culture and heritage. In pursuit of this goal, we have launched the Bangla Culture and Heritage Conservation program. As an integral part of this initiative, the annual photo contest called "Wiki Loves Bangla" will be introduced.

In today's globalized world, traditional cultural elements are at risk of disappearing, and the Bengali community is not immune to this phenomenon. Bangla boasts a rich cultural tapestry, making it especially important for us to document and showcase its cultural and traditional treasures. Each year, we aim to spotlight a new theme for our campaign, and for this edition, we have chosen to focus on food.

One of the primary challenges we face in organizing this competition lies in compiling a comprehensive list of traditional food items and effectively reviewing the submitted photos after the contest. To address this, we have already assembled a dedicated team tasked with curating the list of food items. Additionally, we have devised a plan for the meticulous photo review process, which involves engaging experienced members of the Wikimedia Commons community to serve on the jury board.

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.

A dedicated event page will be established, encompassing all pertinent information.
In addition to Wikipedia and Wikimedia mailing lists and on-wiki notifications, active promotion of the contest will be undertaken across various social media channels.
A press conference will be organized to capture media attention.
Face-to-face meetings with diverse photography clubs in Bangladesh will be convened to augment awareness.
The jury will be comprised of esteemed photographers and experienced Wikimedians.

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.

1. RockyMasum - Sysop of Bangla Wikipedia and Treasurer of Wikimedia Bangladesh.

Responsibilities: Organizing, processing grants, assisting logistics unit, and coordinating with other organizers.

2. Tarunno - President of Wikimedia Bangladesh.

Responsibilities: Organizing, coordinating the logistics and strategic unit.

3. Bodhisattwa - Sysop of Bangla Wikisource and Primary Contact of West Bengal Wikimedians User Group.

Responsibilities: Organizing, creating, and maintaining the event page.

4. Moheen - Sysop of Bangla Wikipedia & Wikimedia Commons and EC Member of Wikimedia Bangladesh.

Responsibilities: Organizing, coordinating the branding and promotional unit.

5. Atudu - Grantee of Wiki Loves Butterfly and Member of West Bengal Wikimedians User Group.

Responsibilities: Organizing.

6. Sumitsurai - Jury member of Wiki Loves Food in India and Member of West Bengal Wikimedians User Group.

Responsibilities: Organizing.

7. Zahin Wadud - Member of Wikimedia Bangladesh.

Responsibilities: Organizing, assisting logistics, branding, and promotional unit.

8. Nahid Sultan - Sysop of Bangla Wikipedia and Member of Wikimedia Bangladesh.

Role: Advisor.

9. Ali Haidar Khan - EC Member of Wikimedia Bangladesh.

Responsibilities: Processing grants.

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 activities primarily consist of individuals from the Bangla and Bangla-speaking communities who have an interest in photography, culture, and heritage preservation. We aim to engage a diverse range of participants, including but not limited to:

Wikimedia Community: Existing Wikimedia contributors and editors from the Bangla Wikipedia, Wikisource, and Commons communities who have a vested interest in documenting cultural heritage.

Photography Enthusiasts: Photography clubs and enthusiasts in Bangladesh and West Bengal who are passionate about capturing the cultural and culinary aspects of Bengali heritage.

To engage participants before and during the activities, we will employ the following strategies:

Pre-Activity Engagement

Online Promotion: We will utilize social media platforms, Wikimedia mailing lists, and on-wiki notices to reach out to potential participants. Regular updates and engaging content related to the contest will be shared to pique interest.

Press Conference: A press conference will be arranged before starting the event. A press conference is vital for the contest as it boosts visibility through media coverage, ensures clarity in contest communication, enhances credibility, and facilitates networking with potential partners and contributors. It will be also helpful to connect with journalists and media representatives who may become valuable partners in covering the contest and future cultural preservation initiatives.

Partnerships: Collaborating with local photography clubs and cultural organizations to co-promote the contest and engage their members.

Workshops: Conducting workshops and webinars on photography techniques and guidelines for contest participation.

During the Activities

Monitoring and Support: Maintaining an active online presence to answer queries, provide guidance, and address any issues that participants may encounter during the contest period.

Community Building: Facilitating online discussions and forums where participants can interact, share tips, and foster a sense of community among contributors.

Regular Updates: Providing updates on contest progress, featuring noteworthy submissions, and highlighting cultural and culinary aspects to keep participants engaged and motivated.

After the activities, our approach for follow-up with participants includes:

Post-Activity Engagement

Acknowledgment and Recognition: Recognizing and appreciating the contributions of participants through announcements, certificates, and showcasing winning entries.

Feedback and Surveys: Collecting feedback through surveys to understand participants' experiences and areas for improvement.

Documentation: Ensuring all content generated during the contest, such as photos and documentation, is properly curated, attributed, and integrated into Wikimedia projects for long-term preservation.

Retention Efforts: Encouraging participants to continue contributing to Wikimedia projects and engage in future cultural preservation initiatives.

By implementing these strategies, we aim to not only engage participants effectively before and during the activities but also maintain their interest and involvement in our ongoing efforts to preserve Bengali culture and heritage.

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.

The initial project proposal for "Wiki Loves Bangla" was crafted during the in-person meeting of Bangla WikiMoitree at Wikimania 2023. This proposal comprehensively outlined the contest's objectives, scope, and goals, emphasizing how it would contribute to the documentation of Bengali culture and heritage through photography.
We facilitated virtual meetings with Bangla WikiMoitree members to deliberate on the project concept. These meetings provided a platform to assess its alignment with community objectives and its potential impact on the preservation of Bengali culture and heritage.
In response to the feedback garnered from community members and relevant stakeholders, we diligently revised the project proposal. This iterative process involved making necessary adjustments and integrating valuable suggestions into the finalized project plan.

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)

Geography

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)

Geographic

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

Coordinate Across Stakeholders

Learning and metrics

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

Through our work on this project, we aim to gain valuable insights and answers to the following learning questions:

Effectiveness of Cultural Preservation: We want to understand to what extent initiatives like "Wiki Loves Bangla" contribute to the preservation of Bengali culture and heritage. Our learning question is: "How does the documentation of cultural and traditional elements through photography impact the preservation of Bengali heritage?"
Community Engagement and Growth: We are interested in assessing how participation in the contest affects community engagement and growth. Our learning question is: "To what extent does the 'Wiki Loves Bangla' contest foster engagement among Wikimedians and attract new contributors to Wikimedia projects?"
Impact on Wikimedia Projects: We want to measure the impact of this project on Wikimedia projects, particularly Bangla Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. Our learning question is: "What is the quantitative and qualitative impact of the contest in terms of the quantity and quality of content contributed to Wikimedia projects?"
Outreach Strategies: We aim to learn which outreach strategies are most effective in promoting cultural preservation projects like this. Our learning question is: "Which outreach methods, such as social media, press releases, or partnerships, yield the highest participant engagement and contribution rates?"
Long-Term Sustainability: We want to explore the potential for the long-term sustainability of such initiatives. Our learning question is: "How can we ensure the continued documentation and preservation of Bengali culture and heritage beyond the scope of this project?"
- Community Feedback: We are keen to gather feedback from participants and community members about their experiences and suggestions for improvement. Our learning question is: "What are the key takeaways and recommendations from participants and the community that can enhance future iterations of 'Wiki Loves Bangla'?"

By addressing these learning questions, we aim to not only assess the impact of our project but also refine our approach for future endeavors in cultural preservation and community engagement within the Wikimedia movement.

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
Number of editors	10	The editors will place the photos in relevant articles or designated locations.
Number of organizers	12	Including the reviewer.

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project	Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia
Wikimedia Commons	2000
Wikidata
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 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)

Toolforge

Financial proposal

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

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Thk8w6Q1I5wUMLnun54wzFwFIuHLgz8_/edit#gid=921678161

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

5692.68 CAD

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.

4222.4 USD

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

Yes

Endorsements and Feedback

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