Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group 2023/2024
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Applicant details edit
Wikimedia username(s):
- Magotech
Codtz
Organization:
G. Have you received grants from the Wikimedia Foundation before?
- Applied previously and did receive a grant
H. Have you received grants from any non-wiki organization before?
- No
H.1 Which organization(s) did you receive grants from?
- N/A
M. Do you have a fiscal sponsor?
- Yes
M1. Fiscal organization name.
- Kiwix
Additional information edit
R. Where will this proposal be implemented?
- Tanzania
S. Please indicate whether your work will be focused on one country (local), more than one or several countries in your region (regional) or has a cross-regional (global) scope:
- Local
S1. If you have answered regional or international, please write the country names and any other information that is useful for understanding your proposal.
T. If you would like, please share any websites or social media accounts that your group or organization has. (optional)
- https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Tanzanian_University_Students_Wikimedians_User_Group
- Facebook: unistuwikimedians
- Instagram: unistuwikimedians
- Twitter: unistuwikimedians
- LinkedIn: University Students Wikimedians
M. Do you have a fiscal sponsor?
- Yes
M1. Fiscal organization name.
- Kiwix
Proposal edit
1. What is the overall vision of your organization and how does this proposal contribute to this? How does this proposal connect to past work and learning?
- Our community’s overall vision is to promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, and free access to information in Tanzania through the use of Wikimedia projects. This proposal contributes to our vision by organizing a series of events that will bring together Tanzanian university students who are interested in contributing to Wikimedia projects. By doing so, we hope to create a community of Wikimedians in Tanzania that can collaborate on content creation, translation, and outreach initiatives, and that can serve as a resource for other individuals and organizations in the country. This proposal connects to our past work and learning by building on the successes and challenges of previous events and initiatives, and by taking into account feedback and suggestions from our members and partners.
2. What is the change that you are trying to bring about and why is this important?
- We are trying to bring about a change in the way knowledge is accessed and shared in Tanzania. They aim to promote the use of Wikimedia projects, such as Wikipedia, Wikicommons, and Wikidata, among Tanzanian university students and the wider community. This is important because access to knowledge is a fundamental human right, and yet in many developing countries like Tanzania, it is often limited due to factors such as lack of resources, infrastructure, and awareness.
- Also, we would like to improve and strengthen the organizational structure and abide by the legal requirements in Tanzania.
- By promoting the use of Wikimedia projects, the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group is empowering Tanzanian students and communities to take control of their own learning and knowledge creation, by providing them with access to a vast repository of information that is free, open, and accessible to all. This has the potential to contribute to the development of a more informed, educated, and empowered society in Tanzania, which is better equipped to address the challenges it faces and realize its full potential. Furthermore, by contributing to the global pool of knowledge, the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group is also helping to bridge the knowledge gap between developed and developing countries, and promoting global understanding and cooperation.
- From our past events, we have seen many of the students and lecturers adopting the Wikimedia projects mostly Wikipedia for aiding learning hence enhancing the use and spread of free access to knowledge to man.
- Also, based on past experiences we have been facing legal issues mostly with many of our partners thus demanding us to have an official office of operation. We would like to attain this to secure other partnerships mostly the educational institutions.
3. Describe your main approaches or strategies to achieve these changes and why you think they will be effective.
- Our main approaches and strategies to achieve these changes are to:-
- 1. Strengthen our current Wiki clubs
- 2. Organize a series of training workshops on Wikimedia editing, translation, and outreach, tailored to the needs and interests of university students in Tanzania
- 3. Foster a sense of community and collaboration among the members of the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group through regular online and offline meetings, mentoring, and peer support.
- 4. Partner with universities, libraries, and other organizations in Tanzania to promote the use of Wikimedia projects as a tool for education, research, and civic engagement.
- 5. Increase the visibility and impact of the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group and its activities through social media, newsletters, and other communication channels
- 6. Build Collaborative Partnerships.
- 7. Enhance Content Quality and Quantity.
- 8. Empower Women and Underrepresented Groups.
- 9. Advocate for Policy Change.
10. Strengthen organizational capacity.
We believe that these strategies will be effective because they leverage the existing enthusiasm and skills of our members, and because they build on the growing awareness and interest in Wikimedia projects among Tanzanian university students and educators.
(Read more on our detailed strategies via:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jS4j2kPsPOizRvNdthggQB80sy77CqA2-JSBFw5TfEA/edit?usp=sharing )
4. What are the activities you will be developing and delivering as part of these approaches or strategies?
- The activities that we will be developing and delivering as part of these approaches or strategies include:
- 1. Train-the-Trainer for all mentors and organizing team
Training workshops on Wikimedia editing, translation, and outreach, to be held at different universities in Tanzania
- 2. Monthly online meetings and monthly offline meetings of the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group, facilitated by experienced Wikimedians and featuring presentations, discussions, and hands-on activities
- 3. Outreach activities and events, such as edit-a-thons, photo hunts, and campus talks, in collaboration with universities, libraries, and student organizations in Tanzania
- 4. Social media and newsletter campaigns to promote the activities and achievements of the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group, and to engage with potential partners and supporters
- 5. Contests include competitions and challenges between the communities.
5. Do you want to apply for multi-year funding?
No
5.1 If yes, provide a brief overview of Year 2 and Year 3 of the proposed plan and how this relates to the current proposal and your strategic plan?
- Year 2 and Year 3 of the proposed plan for the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group will focus on continuing and building upon the successes of Year 1. The strategies that have proved effective in the first year will be continued, and additional strategies will be implemented to improve the group's outreach and impact.
In Year 2, the group will prioritize increasing its membership and diversifying its contributors, continuing to hold events and workshops that engage students and faculty members, and establishing partnerships with other organizations that share the group's goals. Additionally, the group will work on expanding its reach beyond its current geographical location by leveraging online platforms and social media to connect with potential contributors and partners.
Year 3 will see the continued expansion of the group's outreach and impact, with a focus on sustainability, consistency, and longevity. The group will work on strengthening existing partnerships and building new ones, as well as continuing to improve its internal organization and governance structure. Additionally, the group will focus on creating a sustainable revenue stream through fundraising and grant opportunities to ensure its continued success and impact for years to come.
Possible risks arising in Years 2 and 3 include the potential for burnout among members due to the increased workload and demands of the group's expanding outreach and impact, as well as the challenges of managing a growing and diverse group of contributors. However, these risks can be mitigated by implementing effective communication and organizational strategies and promoting a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and self-care within the group. Overall, the proposed plan for Years 2 and 3 builds upon the strategies and goals outlined in the current proposal and strategic plan, with a focus on expanding the group's reach, impact, and sustainability. With effective implementation and management, the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group can continue to make significant contributions to the Wikimedia community and promote knowledge sharing and equity for years to come.
Read more:
- 1. TUSWUG Strategic Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jS4j2kPsPOizRvNdthggQB80sy77CqA2-JSBFw5TfEA/edit?usp=sharing
- 2. TUSWUG theory of change: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Llk3qXuusr8RUTdX74y2cU-_Rs2K1a9YxZnI16jDlm4/edit?usp=sharing
- 3. TUSWUG Risk assessment and mitigation plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jS4j2kPsPOizRvNdthggQB80sy77CqA2-JSBFw5TfEA/edit?usp=sharing
- 4. TUSWUG localized friendly Space Policies (FSPs): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kzWN9Qgdm7-fKuH1tP0mibdoFTVC_7OsgXOHILiV-X8/edit?usp=sharing
6. Please include a timeline (operational calendar) for your proposal.
7. Do you have the team that is needed to implement this proposal?
Magoiga M. Mtatiro (username: magotech): Program coordinator (Salaried) Wahida Omary(Waah9797): Assistant program coordinator (Salaried) Sylvester Johnbosco (username: codtz): Accountant (Salaried) Awadh Mpogole (username: Awadhi Awampo): Communication Officer (Salaried) Logistics officer (Open position) clubs coordinators (10 positions): Open positions Ebenezer Mlay (Username: CaliBen) – Project advisor and facilitator Ingo Kipala (Username:Kipala) – Project advisor Riccardo Riccioni (Username:Riccardo Riccioni) – Project advisor
8. Please state if your proposal aims to work to bridge any of the identified CONTENT knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select up to THREE that most apply to your work.
Content Gender gap, Age (regency) , Language
8.1 In a few sentences, explain how your work is specifically addressing this content gap (or Knowledge inequity) to ensure a greater representation of knowledge.
Our work is specifically addressing the content gap and knowledge inequity in Tanzania by focusing on training and supporting university student volunteers to create and disseminate knowledge on Tanzanian history, culture, and natural resources. By prioritizing underrepresented topics and perspectives, and engaging with diverse communities and stakeholders, we aim to increase the visibility and accessibility of Tanzanian knowledge online and to contribute to a more inclusive, accurate, and participatory global knowledge commons. Our work also seeks to promote open education, lifelong learning, and civic engagement, and to empower young Tanzanians to become active agents of change in their society and beyond.
9. Please state if your proposal includes any of these areas or THEMATIC focus. Select up to THREE that most apply to your work and explain the rationale for identifying these themes.
Education, Advocacy, Diversity
10. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Please note, we had previously asked about inclusion and diversity in terms of CONTENTS, in this question we are asking about the diversity of PARTICIPANTS. Select up to THREE that most apply to your work.
Geographic , Age, Digital Access
11. What are your strategies for engaging participants, particularly those that currently are non-Wikimedia?
Engaging participants, particularly those who are not yet familiar with Wikimedia, is an essential part of our strategy to promote diversity, inclusivity, and participation in the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group. To achieve this goal, we plan to use the following strategies:
- 1. Targeted outreach.
- 2. Tailored training.
- 3. Collaborative content creation
- 4. Outreach events.
- 5. Incentives and recognition.
By using these strategies, we aim to create a welcoming and empowering environment for participants from diverse backgrounds and to encourage them to contribute to the Wikimedia community in meaningful and sustainable ways. We believe that this will help to reduce the knowledge gap and promote a more inclusive and participatory global knowledge ecosystem.
Read the detailed strategic plan via:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jS4j2kPsPOizRvNdthggQB80sy77CqA2-JSBFw5TfEA/edit?usp=sharing
12. In what ways are you actively seeking to contribute towards creating a safer, supportive, more equitable environment for participants and promoting the UCOC and Friendly Space Policy, and/or equivalent local policies and processes?
- Creating a safe, supportive, and equitable environment for participants is a top priority for the Tanzanian University Students Wikimedians User Group. We recognize that the Wikimedia movement has a responsibility to ensure that all contributors, regardless of their background or identity, feel respected, valued, and protected from harassment or discrimination. To achieve this goal, we are actively seeking to contribute in the following ways:
- 1. Adopting and promoting the Universal Code of Conduct (UCOC).
- 2. Developing and implementing a localized Friendly Space Policy (FSP).
- 3. Providing training and support on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- 4. Ensuring diverse representation and participation.
- 5. Monitoring and evaluating our progress.
By taking these actions, we believe that we can contribute towards creating a safer, more supportive, and more equitable environment for our participants, and for the Wikimedia movement as a whole. We recognize that this is an ongoing and collective effort and that we need to be responsive and adaptive to the changing needs and priorities of our participants and the wider community.
Read the detailed strategic plan via:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jS4j2kPsPOizRvNdthggQB80sy77CqA2-JSBFw5TfEA/edit?usp=sharing
13. Do you have plans to work with Wikimedia communities, groups, or affiliates in your country, or in other countries, to implement this proposal?
Yes
13.1 If yes, please tell us about these connections online and offline and how you have let Wikimedia communities know about this proposal.
- Yes, we plan to work with other Wikimedia communities, groups, or affiliates in our country and in other countries to implement this proposal. We believe that collaboration and partnership are essential to achieving our goals and maximizing our impact. In particular, we plan to:
- 1. Partner with other Wikimedia communities and groups in Tanzania in implementation.
- 2. Participate in regional and global Wikimedia events.
- 3. Engage with Wikimedia affiliates in other countries.
Overall, we believe that working in partnership with other Wikimedia communities, groups, and affiliates is essential to creating a vibrant, diverse, and sustainable Wikimedia ecosystem that benefits participants and users around the world.
Read the detailed strategic plan via:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jS4j2kPsPOizRvNdthggQB80sy77CqA2-JSBFw5TfEA/edit?usp=sharing
14. Will you be working with other external, non-Wikimedian partners to implement this proposal?
Yes
14.1 Please describe these partnerships and what motivates the potential partner to be part of the proposal and how they add value to your work.
- Yes, we plan to work with external non-Wikimedia partners to implement this proposal. We believe that collaboration and partnership with organizations and groups outside the Wikimedia movement are essential to achieving our goals and maximizing our impact. In particular, we plan to:
- 1. Partner with universities and academic institutions: We will work with universities and academic institutions in Tanzania to develop and deliver training programs, organize events, and promote the use of Wikimedia projects in teaching, learning, and research. We will also seek to establish partnerships with universities and academic institutions in other countries to share our work and experiences and to collaborate on joint projects and initiatives.
- 2. Collaborate with cultural institutions and museums: We will collaborate with cultural institutions and museums in Tanzania to support the development and sharing of digital content, and to promote the use of Wikimedia projects for education and cultural exchange. We will also seek to establish partnerships with cultural institutions and museums in other countries to share our work and experiences and to collaborate on joint projects and initiatives.
- 3. Engage with civil society organizations: We will engage with civil society organizations in Tanzania to promote using Wikimedia projects for advocacy, awareness-raising, and community engagement. We will also seek to collaborate with civil society organizations on joint projects and initiatives that contribute to the shared vision and goals of the Wikimedia movement.
We believe that working in partnership with external non-Wikimedia partners is essential to promoting the use of Wikimedia projects, expanding the scope of content, and increasing the impact of the Wikimedia movement.
15. How do you hope to sustain or expand the work carried out in this proposal after the grant?
1. Building a sustainable community: We will prioritize the development of a strong and sustainable community of Wikimedia volunteers and enthusiasts in our community.
- 2. Developing partnerships with institutional and external partners: We will seek to develop strong and mutually beneficial partnerships with universities, cultural institutions, civil society organizations, and other external partners.
- 3. Generating revenue: We will explore and develop revenue-generating activities that can support our ongoing work.
- 4. Applying for grants and funding opportunities: We will continue to apply for grants and funding opportunities from other sources, including national and international organizations, private foundations, and government agencies.
16. What kind of risks do you anticipate and how would you mitigate these. This can include factors such as external/contextual issues that may affect implementation, as well as internal issues, such as governance/leadership changes.
- 1. Political and social instability: Tanzania has experienced periods of political and social instability during election years, which may affect the implementation of our proposal. To mitigate this risk, we plan to maintain close communication with our partners and stakeholders and closely monitor the political and social situation in the country. We will also develop contingency plans in case of any disruptions to our activities.
- 2. Lack of funding: Our proposal relies on securing funding from external sources. There is a risk that we may not be able to secure sufficient funding to implement all aspects of our proposal. To mitigate this risk, we plan to diversify our sources of funding, seek out alternative funding opportunities, discounts, and in-kind donations, and develop revenue-generating activities.
- 3. Governance and leadership changes: Changes in leadership and governance structures within our organization or within the Wikimedia communities in Tanzania may affect the implementation of our proposal. To mitigate this risk, we plan to establish clear leadership and governance structures, promote transparency and accountability, and ensure that our activities are well-documented and can be easily taken over by new leadership.
- 4. Technical issues: There is a risk that we may encounter technical issues, such as issues with our website, difficulties with accessing or editing Wikimedia content, or other technical challenges. To mitigate this risk, we plan to maintain close communication with the Wikimedia Foundation and other technical experts and to build a technical support team within our organization.
- 5. Lack of community engagement: A lack of engagement from the wider community in Tanzania may affect the implementation of our proposal. To mitigate this risk, we plan to use a variety of engagement strategies, including workshops, events, social media campaigns, and other outreach efforts, to promote the involvement of the wider community in our work.
We are aware of these risks and are committed to taking steps to mitigate them as we implement our proposal. We will closely monitor our activities, maintain open communication with our partners and stakeholders, and remain flexible and adaptable in the face of any challenges that arise.
Read the detailed strategic plan which includes the risk mitigation via:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jS4j2kPsPOizRvNdthggQB80sy77CqA2-JSBFw5TfEA/edit?usp=sharing
17. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select a maximum of three options that most apply.
Increase the Sustainability of Our Movement, Improve User Experience, Invest in Skills and Leadership Development
18. Please state if your organization or group has a Strategic Plan that can help us further understand your proposal. You can also upload it here.
Learning, Sharing, and Evaluation edit
19. What do you hope to learn from your work in this fund proposal?
1. What challenges do students face in editing Wikipedia and sister projects?
- 2. What is the impact of post-event mentorship.
- 3. How does capacity building shape a young professional.
- 4. How can teachers change their perception of Wikipedia? What are the strongest arguments that help in that?
- 5. What are the best strategies to retain teachers in the Wikimedia community?
- 6. How to Manage, maintain, and strengthen existing partnerships and establish new ones.
- 7. What activities are students more interested in so as to make them more active in contributing to the Wikimedia movement?
20. Based on these learning questions, what is the information or data you need to collect to answer these questions? Please register this information (as metric description) in the following space provided.
| Main Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership Journey | We have trained and mentored leaders and mentors in the train of trainer program since 2022. What happened to them since then? What was the impact of the collaboration on their journey? Did that reinforce their leadership ?
During 2022 we have consistently consulted the core participants about their needs and desires with regard to the future of the program and the direction of the support it offers. This has been gathered in an informal manner, using emails, specific feedback sessions, and Telegram channel polls. This is a qualitative metric we would like to explore further and more structured in 2024. |
15 |
| Retained teachers | How many teachers have been retained and what strategy worked best from our past work? | 10 |
| Wikipedia usage in class room | How many teachers are still willing to use Wikipedia in the classroom? | 5 |
| Partnerships | How many partnerships we will make, including government agencies and NGOs with Wikimedia-aligned missions? | 5 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
Here are some additional metrics that you can use if they are relevant to your work. Please note that this is just an optional list, mostly of quantitative metrics. They may complement the qualitative metrics you have defined in the previous boxes.
| Additional Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Number of editors that continue to participate/retained after activities | N/A | 200 |
| Number of organizers that continue to participate/retained after activities | N/A | 15 |
| Number of strategic partnerships that contribute to longer term growth, diversity and sustainability | N/A | 5 |
| Feedback from participants on effective strategies for attracting and retaining contributors | Collected after every three months | 150 |
| Diversity of participants brought in by grantees | N/A | N/A |
| Number of people reached through social media publications | N/A | 3000 |
| Number of activities developed | N/A | 15 |
| Number of volunteer hours | 25 hours per week ( 15 hrs on workdays and 10 hrs during events on the weekends) | 1200 |
21. Additional core quantitative metrics. These core metrics will not tell the whole story about your work, but they are important for measuring some Movement-wide changes. Please try to include these core metrics if they are relevant to your work. If they are not, please use the space provided to explain why they are not relevant or why you can not capture this data. Your explanation will help us review our core metrics and make sure we are using the best ones for the movement as a whole.
| Core metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | N/A | 240 |
| Number of editors | N/A | 200 |
| Number of organizers | N/A | 15 |
| Wikimedia Project | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | N/A | 500 |
| Wikidata | N/A | 300 |
| Wikiquote | N/A | 100 |
| Incubator | N/A | 100 |
| Translatewiki | N/A | 100 |
21.1 If for some reason your proposal will not measure these core metrics please provide an explanation.
N/A
22. What tools would you use to measure each metric selected?
1. Outreach Dashboard (https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/)
- 2. Hashtag tool (https://hashtags.wmflabs.org/)
- 3. Wikimedia Event Metrics (https://eventmetrics.wmflabs.org/)
- 4. Google Forms (https://docs.google.com/forms)
- 5. Xtool (https://xtools.wmflabs.org/).
Financial Proposal edit
23. & 23.1 What is the amount you are requesting from WMF? Please provide this amount in your local currency. If you are thinking about a multi-year fund, please provide the amount for the first year.
- 66941741 TZS
23.2 What is this amount in US Currency (to the best of your knowledge)?
- 28054.4 USD
23.3 Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it.
23.4 Please include any additional observations or comments you would like to include about your budget.
- N/A
Please use this optional space to upload any documents that you feel are important for further understanding your proposal.
- Other public document(s): 1. Localized Friendly Space Policies: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kzWN9Qgdm7-fKuH1tP0mibdoFTVC_7OsgXOHILiV-X8/edit?usp=sharing
Final Message edit
By submitting your proposal/funding request you agree that you are in agreement with the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and the Universal Code of Conduct.
We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
- Yes
Feedback edit
- Please add any feedback to the grant discussion page only. Any feedback added here will be removed.