Grants:Project/MSIG/WMAT and WMPL/Volunteer Supporters Network 2022
wikimedia.at natalia.szafran
wikimedia.plApplications are not required to be in English. Please complete the application in your preferred language.
Project Goal edit
What will be the outputs of your project and how will those outputs contribute to advancing a specific Movement Strategy Initiative
The project is based primarily on the existing hub-like structure of the Volunteer Supporters Network (VSN) in order to experiment and to generate sustainable outcomes with the implementation of several goals of the Wikimedia 2030 process.
MAIN GOAL: TESTING A HUB
It is recommended in Cluster D – 25. Regional & thematic hubs to roll out some prototypes of these hubs, they could help us understand their complexities and to ensure our success in the right direction as well as to analyze existing hub-like experiments to identify what works well and what doesn't work. In general, it is time to try things and experiment. Start to learn from real world experience, instead of trying to have everything planned out in-advance. In the Hubs Workshop in November 2021 it was also mentioned that while there are clear needs for them, there are also concerns about the hubs. Some of the major emerging ones: Increased bureaucracy and overlap between the new hubs and existing structures. – The VSN is a long-existing and stable hub-like or “pre-hub” entity with a flexible structure which allows experimentation.
SUB-GOAL 1: SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The Cluster C – 31–33: Invest in Skills and Leadership Development emphasizes to dedicate efforts, funds and capacity to skill development. We expect a concentrated dedication of efforts on skill development. Hubs (in this case “regional hubs”) are also mentioned: Possibly using regional hubs (or other regional associations) to organize leadership programs, mentoring, tutoring, coaching and connecting people with each other. Particular aspects include: exchanging skills around Wikidata, which was identified as a very useful topic across different regions and communities. … Improve different aspects of skill development. It's not only about sharing skills and helping people to develop their skills, but we also have to look after people who need some sort of a guidance or a service.
SUB-GOAL 2: WIKIDATA COMPETITION
In Cluster E – 2. Funding for underrepresented communities, key actions include support and capacity building for affiliates to be able to obtain and manage resources. … Money is important, but is not the only factor. Resources, support and information are also important. … Proactively reach out to underrepresented communities.
SUB-GOAL 3: AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
It is recommended in Cluster F – 3. Increased awareness about the Wikimedia Movement to fund pilot awareness programs, such as an "ambassadors program" as well as more generally speaking to engage people on the ground to do outreach community programs - to share relevant information and create connections and to find people who have good performance in outreach to communities.
Project Background edit
The Wikimedia 2030 implementation initiative lasts from 1 February 2022 to 31 December 2022. The VSN, established in 2014, is an open network of Wikimedians working in volunteer/community support. Its mission is to improve volunteer support in the movement by developing, growing and maintaining collaboration and exchange of expertise, ideas and resources.
Project Activities edit
The Wikimedia 2030 implementation initiative is conducted by Wikimedia Österreich (WMAT) and Wikimedia Polska (WMPL). The project leaders in these chapters are Natalia Szafran-Kozakowska (Community Support Officer, WMPL) and Raimund Liebert (Head of Programs, WMAT).
MAIN ACTIVITY: TESTING A HUB
The VSN provides an experimental field for future hubs. The experiment consists of 3 sub-projects (for details see below) and of organisational development issues listed below under (A), (B) and (C). The learnings from this experiment will result in a detailed report which includes
- (A) a comparative analysis of
- (1) the investment of resources by affiliates/communities into the hub-like structure and
- (2) the outcome for affiliates/communities from the hub-like structure,
- (B) results and recommendations from changed decision-making and power structures within the hub-like structure, including the role of participating affiliates/communities,
- (C) a qualitative analysis of how the hub-like structure changes equity in the movement (for the better or worse).
The report will be published by 30 November 2022. Additional time resources for discussions about the results with various stakeholders are provided for the following month.
During the whole project we will actively participate in the global conversations around the hubs and keep our work flexible and adaptable in order to serve the global developments.
Note: whether the VSN should subsequently become one of the future hubs or take on a different role in the movement is not defined in advance.
SUB-ACTIVITY 1: SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The skills and leadership development of affiliate staff members working in the field of community support is accelerated and amplified by 12 virtual VSN meetings/workshops (roughly one per month), each lasting about 60-90 minutes. At least 3 meetings/workshops focus on community health issues and at least 3 workshops/meetings on technical skills including Wikidata. The goal regarding the total number of participants is 100 or more. Different ways of encouraging affiliates to provide administrative work and expertise for these meetings are tested: from symbolic financial compensation to providing recognition (through results and knowledge sharing on Diff blog and reporting on meta). This will bring knowledge about what can fuel global engagement of affiliates which can be useful for future hubs. In addition, a 2-days virtual VSN conference held in the autumn of 2022 intensifies skill sharing and peer group networking and results in published resources. In the past, these annual VSN conferences were hosted by financially stronger affiliates (WMAT, WMCH, WMDE, WMPL). In 2022, a financial compensation for the affiliate hosting the VSN conference should encourage smaller affiliates to take on this role and thereby provide learnings from a new perspective.
SUB-ACTIVITY 2: WIKIDATA COMPETITION
Supporting the global rollout of the Wikidata competition around the International Museum Day in May 2022 (subsequent to the Central European 2021 and 2020 editions) with a focus on underrepresented communities. The VSN serves as a multiplier and expertise provider in order to reach these communities. The participation of organisers is enabled by the creation of “service packages” for interested affiliates and communities which include organisational and technical templates and support as well as prizes for 3 communities without a budget for such a competition. The service packages empower the participating organisers to use the skills and tools (such as Program & Events Dashboard and Integraality) also for their own follow-up projects around Wikidata community building. The sub-project ends on 30 August 2022. Due to its experimental character it aims to have a flexible number of between 7 to 50 participating affiliates or communities.
SUB-ACTIVITY 3: AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
By 15 November 2022, a global concept for an "ambassadors program" will be published. The concept is guided by decentralisation and can be implemented by affiliates from small user groups to established chapters. It reflects experiences from other emerging, running and terminated “ambassadors programs” in the movement, especially by VSN partner affiliates. The concept development is accompanied by a pilot phase during which up to 5 different affiliates can participate.
Additional information edit
The consultation for the implementation initiative within the VSN included the relevant communication channels (VSN mailing list and Telegram group) as well as two online workshops with 10 participants from 8 affiliates.
Outcomes edit
After your activities are complete, we would like to understand the draft implementation plan for your community. You will be required to prepare a document detailing this plan around a movement strategy initiative. This report can be prepared through Meta-wiki using the Share your results button on this page. The report can be prepared in your language, and is not required to be written in English.
In this report, you will be asked to:
- Provide a link to the draft implementation plan document or Wikimedia page
- Describe what activities supported the development of the plan
- Describe how and where you have communicated your plan to relevant communities.
- Report on how your funding was spent
Your draft implementation plan document should address the following questions clearly:
- What movement strategy initiative or goal are you addressing?
- What activities will you be doing to address that initiative?
- What do you expect will happen as a result of your activities? How do those outcomes address the movement strategy initiative?
- How will you measure or evaluate your activities? What tools or methods will you use to evaluate your activities?
To create a draft implementation plan, we recommend the use of a logic model, which will help you and your team think about goals, activities, outcomes, and other factors in an organized way. Please refer the following resources to develop a logic model:
- Overview of logic models on Meta-wiki
- Example logic models for reference for other movement activities (such as partnerships and edit-a-thons)
- Blank logic model template on Google Drive
Please confirm below that you will be able to prepare a draft implementation plan document by the end of your grant:
- --Raimund Liebert (WMAT) (talk) 12:13, 14 December 2021 (UTC)
- Natalia Szafran-Kozakowska (WMPL) (talk) 12:19, 14 December 2021 (UTC)
Optionally, you are welcome to include other information you'd like to share around participation and representation in your activities. Please include any additional outcomes you would like to report on below:
Budget edit
How you will use the funds you are requesting? List bullet points for each expense. Don’t forget to include a total amount, and update this amount in the Probox at the top of your page too!
| REVENUES | ||
| Revenue source | USD | Comment |
| WMF Wikimedia 2030 Grant | 25,000 | |
| WMAT | 3,200 | provided as working hours (70 hrs à ~40 EUR) |
| WMPL | 3,200 | provided as working hours (70 hrs à ~40 EUR) |
| SUM | 31,400 | |
| EXPENSES | ||
| Unit | USD | Comment |
| WMAT project management | 8,200 | 180 hrs à ~40 EUR |
| WMPL project management | 8,200 | 180 hrs à ~40 EUR |
| WMAT project management (donated) | 3,200 | 70 hrs à ~40 EUR |
| WMPL project management (donated) | 3,200 | 70 hrs à ~40 EUR |
| 12 VSN skill share meetings | 1,400 | ~100 EUR each, paid to organizing VSN affiliates |
| VSN conference | 2,300 | paid to organising VSN affiliate |
| 5 awards packages for Wikidata Contest | 2,600 | each package with 3 awards (~150 EUR each) |
| Material costs, postal costs | 600 | |
| Graphic designer for report | 600 | |
| Unforeseen costs | 1,100 | used for external trainers if not needed otherwise |
| SUM | 31,400 | |
TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED USD: 25,000
Completing your application edit
Once you have completed the application, please do the following:
- Change the application status from
status=drafttostatus=proposedin the {{Probox}} template. - Contact strategy2030
wikimedia.org to confirm your submission, as well as to request any support around your application.
Endorsements edit
An endorsement from community members (especially from outside your community) will be part of the considerations when reviewing your application. Community members are encouraged to endorse your project request here!
- Support! I'm a VSN community member, and the meetings have been incredibly useful. Really appreciate the work that's been done, and excited about the work that's being proposed. Sara Thomas (WMUK) (talk) 17:04, 14 December 2021 (UTC)
Support I am a VSN community member too, and I look forward to be a part of what comes next! —-Marta Arosio (WMIT) (talk) 07:58, 16 December 2021 (UTC)- Support I am also a member of the VSN, and I found the activities of the Network (nowadays one would call it hub) very useful and important in the past years. I hope we can extend our programs using this experiment. I am very excited about it. Samat (talk) 17:47, 16 December 2021 (UTC)
- Support I'm a (very peripheral) member of the VSN community. The group does excellent work and supporting the proposed activities would add a lot of value. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 12:26, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
- Support Conozco el trabajo que viene realizando este grupo y es espectacular y un modelo a seguir dentro del Movimiento!Anna Torres (WMAR) (talk) 16:08, 19 January 2022 (UTC)
- Support I am also a member of the VSN community and I think the Network is doing a great work. I look forward to the proposed actions that will undoubtedly add even more value to the work being done. Rubén Ojeda (WMES) (talk) 18:31, 20 January 2022 (UTC)
Participants edit
- Volunteer Skills leadership Development Edward ambele (talk) 16:44, 6 April 2022 (UTC)
- Volunteer i would help this project by providing the education to the youths and the younger ones in my society where by,by providing the education it will bring knowledge to the youths about wikipedia.also to cooperate well with others in the community so as to train them inorder for it to bring changes in the society Glory Athanas (talk) 15:47, 30 October 2022 (UTC)