Iranian Wikimedians User Group/Report/2022

Activities

Iran was a proud participant in the Wik 2021 Wiki Loves Monuments (WLM) competition, an annual international photographic competition that celebrates cultural heritage through photography. As a result of Iran's participation, we received around 4153 files, which were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.

During the contest, our team responded to around 50 questions and comments on Twitter, Instagram, the Wiki Loves Monuments page, and Commons. We were grateful for the opportunity to engage with the community and answer their questions about the contest and the importance of documenting Iran's cultural heritage through photography

The Wiki Loves Monuments (WLM) event, which celebrates cultural heritage through photography, was originally scheduled to take place in Iran in 2022. However, due to the prevailing political situation in Iran and circumstances beyond our control, we were regrettably compelled to reschedule the event.

The WLM event had been eagerly anticipated in Iran, and we had received a great deal of interest from participants, supporters, and enthusiasts. However, the challenging political environment and unforeseen events made it impossible to hold the event as planned.

Twitter

The @wlmiran Twitter account has over 1,000 followers and has tweeted over 1,000 times since it was created in 2017. The account's tweets focus on promoting the Wiki Loves Monuments competition in Iran, as well as sharing photos of Iran's cultural heritage.

The account has been successful in engaging with its followers. Its tweets have been retweeted over 1,000 times and have received over 10,000 likes. The account has also been featured in several Iranian media outlets.

Instagram

The @wikimonumentsiran Instagram account has over 2,000 followers and has posted over 100 photos since it was created in 2018. The account's photos focus on Iran's cultural heritage, and they have been liked over 10,000 times.

The account has been successful in engaging with its followers. Its photos have been commented on over 1,000 times, and they have been shared over 500 times. The account has also been featured in several Iranian media outlets.

Education Program

The Iranian Wikimedian User Group has partnered with universities and interest groups to promote knowledge-sharing and collaborative editing. These partnerships have resulted in a noticeable increase in the number of contributions to Wikimedia projects originating from Iran. The group plans to continue expanding its reach and nurturing partnerships with more educational institutions and interest groups in the future.

Here are some specific examples of the group's accomplishments:

Established collaborative programs with four prominent universities
Organized a series of in-person meetings and workshops
Engaged with a variety of interest groups

The group's work is important because it fosters a culture of knowledge-sharing and engagement. By providing hands-on training and opportunities for collaboration, the group is empowering individuals to actively participate in the Wikimedia community and contribute meaningfully to the global information landscape.

Edit-a-thons

The Iranian Wikimedian User Group (IWUG) organized a successful online edit-a-thon in March 2023 with the aim of enhancing the coverage of women on Wikipedia and addressing gender bias on the platform. Around 300 articles were created, and 53 participants engaged in the event. The edit-a-thon welcomed editors of all levels and genders, offering training on article creation and editing. Notably, the initiative positively impacted Wikipedia's gender balance by adding articles about women's contributions in various fields.

The editathon's achievements underscore its value, inspiring new Wikipedians and contributing to the broader mission of the IWUG to promote gender equity on Wikipedia. The group's commitment extends beyond this event, encompassing initiatives to recruit, train, and support women editors. By fostering inclusivity and representation, the IWUG envisions a more comprehensive and diverse Wikipedia encyclopedia.

Additional details include the editathon's online format, accessibility to participants throughout Iran, promotion through various platforms, provision of training, a dedicated Wikipedia page for tracking progress, and recognition through awarded prizes. The IWU is proud of this achievement and remains dedicated to its ongoing work in promoting gender balance on Wikipedia

Supporting Minority Languages in Iran

Given the importance of minority languages, the Iranian Wikimedian User Group (IWUG) also provides help and support for languages spoken in Iran. The IWUG believes that everyone should have access to knowledge, regardless of their language. That's why they offer training and resources to help people contribute to Wikipedia in their native languages.

The IWUG has a particular focus on Farsi, the official language of Iran. They have created a number of resources to help people learn how to edit Wikipedia in Farsi, including a guide to Farsi Wikipedia syntax and a list of Farsi Wikipedia editors who can offer help and support. The IWUG also supports other minority languages spoken in Iran, such as Kurdish, Gilaki, Mazandarani, Arabic, Azeri, and Lori. We are always looking for new ways to help people contribute to Wikipedia in their native languages. The IWUG's work is important because it helps to make Wikipedia more inclusive and accessible to everyone. By providing help and support for minority languages, the IWUG is making it possible for people from all backgrounds to share their knowledge and contribute to the world's largest encyclopedia.

future plans

Securing more partnerships: The IWUG will seek out new partnerships with organizations and individuals who can help to support its work. For example, the IWUG could partner with universities, libraries, and cultural institutions to provide training and resources to Wikipedia editors in Iran.
Evaluating and learning from the movement: The IWUG will continue to evaluate its work and learn from the experiences of other Wikimedian User Groups around the world. This will help the IWUG to better implement the community's programs, initiatives, and plans.
Engaging in global topics: The IWUG will continue to engage in global topics within the Wikimedia movement. This will help the IWUG to acquire more experience and knowledge, and to build relationships with other Wikimedians around the world.
Exploring new initiatives and programs: The IWUG will continue to explore new initiatives and programs that directly impact the content creation and capacity building of Wikipedia in Iran.