WikiWomen Erasmus+ Project

The WikiWomen Erasmus+ Project will bring together schools, Wikimedia chapters and groups and language organisations in minority language regions of Europe to use Wikipedia as a tool to teach digital literacy, social engagement and language skills. There are too few Wikipedia articles on women, and too few in minority languages. Pupils will be guided through the process of researching women who are not yet featured on Wikipedia and writing articles on them in their national and minority languages to redress this balance. In the process they’ll gain vital digital and research skills plus added confidence in using their minority language, as well as contributing to the online presence of their language. WikiWomen therefore addresses some truly European and global challenges for the coming years: the need for digital skills and literacy, the position of Europe’s smaller and minority languages, the need for multilingualism to be mainstreamed across school curricula, and the importance of gender equality, not only in society but also in the information we access.

The project aims to:

Use Wikipedia to equip pupils with the digital and research skills they need to navigate a world with vast amounts of information at their fingertips and empower them to actively use their minority language and see its relevance to their lives and societies, having themselves contributed to its online presence.
Ensure that secondary schools and their teaching staff have the skills and resources they need to teach minority language skills, digital skills and research skills in a comprehensive approach using Wikipedia and in collaboration with regional GLAMs and language institutions.
Make GLAMs and language institutions aware of the opportunities that Wikipedia can offer them in their work, in particular their educational outreach work with schools, by equipping them with the practical skills and inspiration they need to achieve this.
Create a greater and broader online presence of minority languages and strengthen the use of the language to discuss contemporary social issues.
Strengthen the collaboration between schools and other organisations such as GLAMs and Wikipedia foundations, as well as the international links with other likeminded regions.

Are you interested in the project and want to learn more? Contact Simon Tubb (simon@learninghubfriesland.nl) or Mirjam Vellinga (Mirjam.Vellinga@afuk.frl)