Grants:Project/My Footprint - Consume Less. Have More
Project idea
editWhat is the problem you're trying to solve?
editWhat problem are you trying to solve by doing this project? This problem should be small enough that you expect it to be completely or mostly resolved by the end of this project. Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.'
It is not so much a problem we are trying to solve as much as a gap that we are trying to fill in the area of climate change and sustainability. We believe that Wikimedia can leverage its existing platforms to become a key contributor to a more sustainable global community.
The problem is not the lack of access to information - Wikipedia and others have done a fantastic job of providing this. The problem is also not the lack of viable solutions - most would agree that we either already have or will soon have the technological solutions.
The problem is “buy-in” - we (the individual consumers of earth’s resources) on the whole, have not bought into the reality of the unsustainable way in which we (the whole of humanity) are living.
The problem is not that we (the community of the earth) do not have the information. The problem is that we (as individual consumers) are overwhelmed by the mass of information.
The problem is not that we (the community of the earth) do not recognise that we need solutions. The problem is that we (as individual consumers) are not motivated to make the necessary changes.
The problem is not that we (the community of the earth) do not know how to solve it. The problem is that we (as individual consumers) do not know how to solve it.
We believe that this is at the heart of the disempowerment and consequent inaction that people in their individual capacity experience.
What is your solution?
editFor the problem you identified in the previous section, briefly describe your how you would like to address this problem. We recognize that there are many ways to solve a problem. We’d like to understand why you chose this particular solution, and why you think it is worth pursuing. Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
In essence, we are taking the facts and figures that Wikimedia already have and repackaging them in a way that will empower individual people to embrace the concept that our personal consumption patterns are, in the final analysis, both the root cause and the most obvious cure for climate change and un-sustainability. We will do this by leveraging the unprecedented power of online learning technology and the reach that Wikimedia already has to bring not just the facts but also the motivation and skills required to be part of the solution.
We believe that a 3 pronged approach specifically addressing the 3 areas of is appropriate. 1. WHAT is the problem? 2. WHY do we need to fix it? 3. HOW do we fix it?
These will be addressed by; 1 - a clear, accessible presentation of the unbiased facts and figure that Wikimedia already has in Wikipedia, 2 - a suite of motivational content targeted at the specific ways that different individuals are motivated to change (eg. money, legislation, being part of a group, FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out, aspirations, duty etc) and 3 - an LMS (Learning Management System) that presents the skills and provides the tools required to make personal consumption pattern changes.
I guess we chose to focus on this part of the solution out of a growing sense of frustration that the climate change narrative is so focussed on the big picture (and Governments and Corporates) that we are losing touch with the reality that the problem is created by the billions (literally) of small choices we (as the human race) make each day. The solutions themselves are not necessarily complex but getting people to change is hard and will require very focused effort. We believe that Wikimedia has already laid the foundation for this work and we would like to add to it.
Project goals
editWhat are your goals for this project? Your goals should describe the top two or three benefits that will come out of your project. These should be benefits to the Wikimedia projects or Wikimedia communities. They should not be benefits to you individually. Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
The overall goal is to instil a sense of empowerment and confidence that we (corporately) can wind back the clock on climate change as we (individually) make carefully considered changes to our personal consumption patterns. There are 3 distinct but interrelated goals;
Goal 1. Present easily understandable and unbiased facts and figures relating to our negative impact on the planet in clearly defined and accessible categories. We believe that this has already been substantially achieved within Wikipedia.
Goal 2. To present a suite of motivational content that sensitively leverage each of the things that motivate people to change (being part of a group, emulating a role model, legislation, money, FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out, aspirations etc) This section continues to move the conversation forward from the understanding gained in the 1st section to being motivated to do something about it. And then to complete the process,
Goal 3. Teach people how to change their personal consumption patterns by giving them access to a full range of courses and online tools within the Learning Management System. These will be presented in video format to make them as relatable as possible but have notes to provide more scientific information for those who want to dig a bit deeper.
Project impact
editHow will you know if you have met your goals?
editFor each of your goals, we’d like you to answer the following questions:
- During your project, what will you do to achieve this goal? (These are your outputs.)
- Once your project is over, how will it continue to positively impact the Wikimedia community or projects? (These are your outcomes.)
For each of your answers, think about how you will capture this information. Will you capture it with a survey? With a story? Will you measure it with a number? Remember, if you plan to measure a number, you will need to set a numeric target in your proposal (e.g. 45 people, 10 articles, 100 scanned documents). Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
Goal 1 - Present easily understandable and unbiased facts and figures - our output here is to reformat Wikipedia articles in such a way that they can be easily understood and associated with everyday consumption behaviour. 2. Once the project is over the community will have access to collated and simplified key facts and figures relating to how our personal consumption pattern choices affect the planet and therefore each other.
Goal 2 - Motivation - there is so much really good motivational content out there but generally, content creators are not as free to give permission to use their content as the Facts and Figures category above. Because of this, we anticipate having to create some of the video content ourselves. Together with what we can gain permission to use from others, this compilation of short videos will be used as the primary motivational tool to encourage change in personal consumption patterns. 2. Change is hard so once the project is over the community will continue to receive this motivation to make the necessary changes.
Goal 3 - We will build a learning framework of courses that has a systematic learning pathway that flows through increasing levels of each of the key change areas (water, waste, energy use, transport etc) Similar to Goal 2 above we will initially seek permission to use course content that has already been developed by others to populate these course but anticipate having to create some of the content ourselves. 2. Once complete the community will have access to a learning management system that is specifically designed to provide a comprehensive range of skills and online tools to support those who know that change is required but do not know how to do it.
All engagement with the site, videos and LMS will be tracked and reported using the analytics that is part of the site and LMS. In addition, we will make extensive use of testimonials to track progress.
Setting numeric goals at this stage is difficult but the scope of the project as a whole is all about scale (that Wkimedia already has) We have defined our potential target audience as the approximately 1.5 billion people on the planet who have the luxury of choice in what they consume on a daily basis. Our success will be determined by what percentage of these people engage with myfootprint.global
Do you have any goals around participation or content?
editAre any of your goals related to increasing participation within the Wikimedia movement, or increasing/improving the content on Wikimedia projects? If so, we ask that you look through these three metrics, and include any that are relevant to your project. Please set a numeric target against the metrics, if applicable. Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
Absolutely, we strongly believe in the collaboration and open-source framework. We were concerned that our LMS would become a platform for unsubstantiated opinion and conspiracy theories but are comfortable that Wikimedia have the systems and strategies in place to avoid this. We are striving to ensure that our LMS is a trusted source of unbiased, free of hidden agendas information and tools to support those who recognise the need to become more sustainable.
Project plan
editActivities
editTell us how you'll carry out your project. What will you and other organizers spend your time doing? What will you have done at the end of your project? How will you follow-up with people that are involved with your project?
Research and engagement with those already contributing to this area, Content development, Website and LMS build and refinement, Project Management, Administration, Marketing.
Budget
editHow you will use the funds you are requesting? List bullet points for each expense. (You can create a table later if needed.) Don’t forget to include a total amount, and update this amount in the Probox at the top of your page too!
Software licences R15 000, Website and LMS developer costs R250 000, Site, content hosting and usage fees R60 000, Project management R360 000, Marketing costs R240 000, Administration R120 000, Office costs R120 000, Content development 180 000, Travel R55 000, Total R1 400 000 (93 000 USD)
Community engagement
editCommunity input and participation helps make projects successful. How will you let others in your community know about your project? Why are you targeting a specific audience? How will you engage the community you’re aiming to serve during your project?
At its core, this project revolves around community participation both in the sourcing and presenting of the best content and in the collaboration between those who use the learning tools. Knowledge of the project will be driven primarily by digital marketing campaigns and there will be a very strong emphasis on marketing the brand across all appropriate channels. As mentioned elsewhere the specific target audience are those who have the privilege of choice in their lives - most people in the world do not have a lot of choice in what they consume, they consume whatever they have or whatever is cheapest. Community engagement during the project will be extensive in the sense that the initial part of the project is a networking exercise, contacting and categorizing all the major contributors in this space and as many of the others as possible. Developing strong relationships and links to others doing similar work is at the heart of this. It will never be about presenting our solution of changing personal consumption patterns as “THE” solution while downplaying other solutions it is very much about celebrating others contributions and achievements and aligning ourselves with the sustainability movement as a whole.
We aim to hyperfocus on our small part of the overall solution while collaborating with those focusing on other parts.
Get involved
editParticipants
editPlease use this section to tell us more about who is working on this project. For each member of the team, please describe any project-related skills, experience, or other background you have that might help contribute to making this idea a success.
Brendan Stapleton - Project Management, Simon Lee - Marketing, Innovation, Dale Volker - IT, Developer, Graphic Design, Suzy Stapleton - Administrator, Grant writer, Bryce Saunders - Content Creator & IT.
Community notification
editPlease paste links below to where relevant communities have been notified of your proposal, and to any other relevant community discussions. You are responsible for notifying relevant communities of your proposal, so that they can help you! Depending on your project, notification may be most appropriate on a Village Pump, talk page, mailing list, etc. Need notification tips?
Endorsements
editDo you think this project should be selected for a Project Grant? Please add your name and rationale for endorsing this project below! (Other constructive feedback is welcome on the discussion page).