This page outlines the various projects and activities undertaken by the Wikimedia Morocco User Group in 2023, the group engaged in a range of online and offline initiatives, including editing and writing projects, technical development, conferences, and extensive documentation through photos, audio, and video.

Wikigap, one of the many activities hosted by Wikimedia Morocco in 2023.
Ahidous video dance, documented by the team in 2023, and used to document the corresponding Wikipedia article.
Reda benkhadra presenting at the "Citizenry and Moroccan cultural heritage" conference at Mohamed VI Museum, Rabat. Topic: digitization of content on collaborative platforms

Coordinator: Rachid

General Goals: edit

Strategic Partnerships

  • Achievements: Formed 3 new partnerships (1337, British Council, Regional Delegation of Education - Moulay Yacoub), surpassing the target of 2.
  • Role: Crucial support in Wiki Indaba 2023 and "Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom" program.
  • Ongoing Collaborations: Continued support from The Reading Network in Morocco and Regional Delegation of Education - El Hajeb Region.

Edits-a-thon Participation

  • Results: 65 participants across 4 edits-a-thons, exceeding the target of 50.

Contest Participation

  • Performance: 307 editors in 4 editing contests and 2 photography contests, significantly beyond the target of 100.

Contributions to Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons

  • Total Contributors: 244 (176 from edits-a-thons and editing contests, 68 from photography contests), against a target of 175.
  • Impact: Enhanced content diversity and community engagement.

Organizers and Leadership

  • Active Organizers: 19 members leading events, well above the target of 10.

Reading Wikipedia in the classroom (3rd edition) edit

 
In-person training for teachers of El Hajeb province during February 2023.
  • Scope: Educational institutions in Morocco

Members edit

Goals edit

Concrete goal achievement edit

  1. Trained Teachers
    • Total: 413 / Target: 300
      • In-person: 83 / Target: 80
      • Online: 330 / Target: 220
  2. Certified Teachers
    • Total: 118
      • Online: 65 / Target: 100
      • In-person: 53 / Target: 50
  3. New Certified Trainers: 0 / Target: 2 (The target of training new certified trainers wasn't met because the Wikimedia Foundation's education team, responsible for this training, suspended the program. We acknowledge this challenge and plan to address it in future editions.)
  4. Teachers Using Wikimedia Projects in Course Plan: 100 / Target: 70
  5. Number of New Volunteers Remaining Active After In-Person Events: 20 / Target: 10 (Active defined as at least 10 edits per month or becoming offline organizers)

Activities and tasks edit

 
Participants during the final event in Marrakech.
Video summary of the third edition of RWC Morocco (in Arabic).

Finished edit

In-person Training Sessions: Successfully conducted four in-person training sessions, along with a final event in Marrakech. These sessions provided intensive training, focusing on improving skills in Wikipedia editing and understanding of information literacy.

Online Training Program: Implemented a comprehensive online training course on the Wiki Learn platform, engaging a significantly higher number of participants than anticipated (participation with 330 teachers engaged in the online course on the Wiki Learning platform, surpassing the expected number of 220).

Development of Training Materials: Transformed and translated existing guides into an interactive and accessible format suitable for online learning.

Participant Engagement and Evaluation: Monitored and evaluated participant engagement, ensuring high-quality learning outcomes and adherence to program standards.

Adoption of New Training Platforms: Transitioned from Facebook to the specialized Wiki Learn platform, enhancing the learning experience and facilitating better quality control and participant engagement.

Graduation and Certification: Awarded digital certificates and badges to successful graduates, providing them with recognized credentials for their professional growth.

Media Coverage: Successfully garnered media attention, with articles published in over 10 media outlets, enhancing the visibility and impact of the program.

Additional Insights and Impact: edit

  • Global Reach and Diversity: Expanded participation to non-Arabic speaking countries, illustrating the program's growing international appeal.
  • Quality Focus: Emphasized content improvement and adaptation, ensuring relevancy in the Arabic and Moroccan context.
  • Professional Development: Enhanced the professional capabilities of educators, contributing to the overall improvement of media and information literacy in Morocco.
  • Collaborative Efforts: Fostered partnerships with key educational and governmental institutions, demonstrating the program's collaborative and inclusive approach.

Learnings and Challenges: edit

 
Logo of Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom Morocco.

Learnings: edit

1. Effective Digital Transition: edit

  - The transition to the Wiki Learn platform was a significant achievement, providing a more engaging and structured learning environment. This change proved essential in enhancing participant interaction and learning outcomes.

2. Increased Program Reach and Impact: edit

  - The program's success in exceeding its participant targets demonstrated its growing influence and relevance in Morocco's educational sector. This underscores the importance of ongoing promotion and outreach.

3. Certification and Recognition: edit

  - Issuing digital certificates and badges played a key role in recognizing educators' efforts. While the direct impact on professional development is yet to be fully evaluated, these acknowledgments symbolize accomplishment and could enhance the participants' professional profiles.

4. Integration of Wikimedia in Education: edit

  - The notable increase in educators incorporating Wikimedia projects into their courses is a clear indication of the training's effectiveness in promoting the practical application of open-source educational resources.

Challenges: edit

1. Staffing Instability: edit

  - The unexpected departure of a key project member during a critical period presented significant challenges. This incident highlighted the need for robust contingency planning and the development of a more resilient team structure to mitigate the impact of such unforeseen events.

2. Scheduling and Participant Convenience: edit

  - Aligning the training schedule with participants' availability, especially during busy periods like exams and holidays, was challenging. Future editions may benefit from more flexible scheduling.

3. Training for Trainers Program Suspension: edit

  - The suspension of the trainer training program by the Wikimedia Foundation's education team was a setback. Identifying alternative training strategies or advocating for the program's resumption is critical.

4. Participant Engagement and Retention: edit

  - Despite high registration numbers, maintaining consistent engagement and course completion remains a challenge. Developing strategies to sustain participant interest is crucial for the program's impact.

5. Quality Control and Monitoring: edit

  - Ensuring high-quality training standards and effectively monitoring outcomes was challenging, especially with the increase in participant numbers. Continuous improvement in evaluation methods is vital for training effectiveness.

Technical Challenges: edit

6. Technical Difficulties with the Wiki Learn Platform: edit

  - Technical issues on the Wiki Learn platform, mainly handled by the Wikimedia technical team, posed significant challenges. Effective collaboration and communication with the technical team were crucial for resolving these issues and ensuring a seamless learning experience for participants.

Conclusion: edit

The third edition of "Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom" provided significant insights and highlighted various challenges, which are instrumental for the future development of the program. Addressing these challenges and leveraging the learned experiences will be essential for enhancing the program's effectiveness and impact in the educational community. Our commitment to continuous improvement and adaptability is key to sustaining the program's success and relevance.

Technical project edit

Overview edit

The Wikimedia Morocco User Group's "WikiTechma" project in 2023 aimed to enhance the group's technical capabilities and ensure the transfer and maintenance of technical knowledge through continuous learning and collaboration. The focus was primarily on developing bots and automating repetitive tasks to improve efficiency and content quality on Wikimedia projects.

Scope and Members

Scope: Covers Wikipedia (arywiki, shiwiki), Wikidata, ary Wiktionary Incubator.

Members :

  • Mounir Afifi (Contact person)
  • Zakaria
  • Hachem
  • Abdelilah Jalal
  • Lhoussine AIT TAYFST

Goals edit

  • To enhance the quality and quantity of Morocco-related content on arywiki, shiwiki, and Wikidata.
  • To improve technical aspects for better reader experience.
  • To support Wikipedia editors by automating routine tasks and enhancing code efficiency.

Contributions and Impact edit

  • Increased Editorial Efficiency: Automation led to reduced manual work, allowing editors to focus on more significant contributions.
  • Enhanced Content Accessibility: Bots developed for Darija and Tachelhit improved content diversity and accessibility.
  • Training and Skill Development: Emphasis on developing technical skills within the community.

Key Achievements edit

  • New Bots: Launched 4 new bots (2 each on arywiki and shiwiki/zghwiki), surpassing the target of 2.
  • Automated Tasks: Successfully implemented 24+3 (still in development) new automated tasks, exceeding the target of 16.
  • Content Creation: Added 2555 automated articles on arywiki and 7823 items on Wikidata, significantly surpassing the target figures.
  • Quality Articles in arywiki: Maintained a 30% quality article rate in arywiki, meeting the set target.
  • New Bot Operators: Successfully trained 3 new bot operators, surpassing the set target of 2.
  • New developers of automated tasks: The project trained 4 new developers of automated tasks (including the 3 bot operators), again exceeding the goal of training 2.

Specific Bot Contributions edit

  1. AmgharBot (Operator: Ideophagous)
    • Function: Primarily an admin bot for arywiki.
    • Key Tasks: Handles administrative duties including tagging pages for speedy deletion and executing bulk deletions.
    • Registration and Activation: Registered in late 2022, it became active in 2023, making it instrumental in efficient content management on arywiki.
  2. Amazigh Bot (Operator: Lhoussine AIT TAYFST)
    • Focus: Specializes in maintaining article quality on shiwiki and zghwiki.
    • Main Activities: Primarily involved in spelling checks and improving the body of articles, ensuring content accuracy and consistency.
  3. Sa7bot (Operator: bisel91)
    • Platform: A Python-based bot designed for arywiki.
    • Primary Role: Concentrates on correcting human-related properties and performing thorough fact-checking. This includes adjustments in data such as dates of birth/death and citizenship details.
  4. BotFunast (Operator: AyourAchtouk)
    • Operation: Active on shiwiki and zghwiki.
    • Contributions: Engaged in article and template creation. Additionally, it plays a vital role in welcoming new editors, fostering a supportive community environment for newcomers.
  5. DarijaBot and PGVBot
    • Status: These are older bots, still under active development.
    • Functionality: DarijaBot operates on arywiki and Wikidata, while PGVBot is active on arywiki and (until July 2023) on arwiki, contributing to a variety of tasks to enhance the user experience and content quality.

Independent Automated Tasks edit

  • Extracting Entries from English Wiktionary: Aimed to compile a list of Moroccan Darija entries from the English Wiktionary for the ary Wiktionary Incubator.
  • Adding 1000 Automated Items to Wikidata: Focused on uploading data about Moroccan public schools to Wikidata using OpenRefine and QuickStatement.
  • Statistics: Several statistics tasks were developed to collect data that can be used by the group for tracking, learnings and insights
  • Search result export: A special task was created to export search results from Wikipedia into an Excel sheet. This can be useful to analyze content manually, such as for linguistic purposes (see research paper below)
  • Collecting word usage and spelling variations: This special task was created for the research project, to learn how editors candidly choose and spell Moroccan Darija words, which would help understand spelling and word choice tendencies in the community, and standardize spelling

Future Directions: edit

  • Extend the automation to additional tasks and languages, broadening the impact across more Wikimedia projects.
  • Continue refining and developing new bots to further enhance content quality and editorial efficiency.
  • Foster a growing community of technically skilled contributors, enhancing the overall technical capabilities of the Wikimedia Morocco User Group.
  • Support communities of small wikis, especially in Africa, by making our bot tasks language and project-agnostic, cloud-based and exportable to different projects and environments

This project represents a significant step towards enhancing the technical capabilities of the Wikimedia Morocco User Group, paving the way for more efficient and diverse contributions to the Wikimedia projects.

Documentation project edit

 
Douar Anfoud, one of the documented villages in the project.
 
Road in the Tiznit province, documented in 2023.
 
Imouzzer Marmoucha.
 
Mosque in Sidi El Makhfi Commune.
 
Tigrigra Commune House.
  • Scope: Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, Wikipedia

Members edit

Goals edit

  • Organize a photographic contest
  • Document Morocco's communes lacking photos on Commons

Concrete goal achievement edit

  • Uploaded Photos: The project saw significant success, exceeding the target with a total of 1628 images uploaded (Target: 700). This includes images from two successful contests, Wiki Loves Africa in Morocco 2023 (180 images) and Wiki Loves Folklore in Morocco 2023 (317 images), along with 1131 images contributed directly to the Documentation project
  • Picture Views in Commons: Achieved a total of 8786 views, approaching the target of 10,000 views.
  • Pages Enriched with Photos: Successfully surpassed our goal by enriching 1126 pages across various Wikimedia projects with new photos, exceeding the target of 1000. This achievement demonstrates a considerable enhancement in the visual appeal and informational value of these pages.
  • Enriching Moroccan Communes with Photos: Made significant progress, with 460 communes now featuring photos, moving towards the goal of 600. Additionally, successfully eliminated all duplicates, achieving the goal of zero duplicates among the 1551 items in Wikidata.

Activities and tasks edit

Finished edit

  • Audio Recordings: Completed 182 audio recordings for words in Central Atlas Tamazight, contributing to the linguistic diversity in Wikimedia projects.
  • Photographic Documentation: Uploaded pictures from 110 different communes in 2023, significantly enhancing the visual representation of Moroccan localities.
  • Micro-Funding Program: Launched and successfully managed a micro-funding program (under 200 USD), under which 5 applications were received and accepted. This initiative enabled User Group members to travel and document various regions of Morocco, thus contributing to the coverage of under-represented areas.

Planned edit

Further expansion of the photographic documentation to include more communes, particularly those in remote and rural areas.

Learnings from the Project: edit

  • Logistical Challenges: The project revealed the logistical complexities in documenting rural areas, where distances between communes and accessibility issues require more time, effort, and resources.
  • Financial Management: Adapting to local practices, the team developed a unique approach to manage expenses in rural areas, where formal receipts are uncommon. This involved pre-preparing payment documents for services, which were signed upon delivery.
  • Safety and Security: Emphasizing the importance of safety, the project necessitated risk assessments for documenting remote areas. The team’s policy of not allowing solo trips and ensuring group travel significantly enhanced the safety aspect of these documentation ventures.

Additional Contributions and Impact: edit

  • Wiki Loves Africa and Wiki Loves Folklore Contests: These contests not only contributed to the project's image repository but also engaged the community in documenting cultural and folkloric aspects of Morocco.
  • Diverse Usage of Images: The uploaded images have been used extensively across various Wikipedia articles, enhancing the visual quality and information value of these entries.
  • Engagement with Local Communities: The project facilitated direct engagement with local communities, offering insights into their culture, history, and geography, thus fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation.

Future Directions: edit

  • Expanding Geographic Coverage: Plans are in place to extend the photographic documentation to additional communes, with a focus on those in less accessible regions.
  • Enhancing Community Participation: Efforts will be made to increase community involvement in the project, possibly through more contests and collaborative events.
  • Continued Learning and Adaptation: The project will continue to adapt and refine its approaches based on the learning and feedback from its first year, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in its future endeavors.

Communication project edit

 
Logo of WikiPodcast Morocco
  • Scope: social media

Members edit

Goals edit

  • Reach out to the larger community of Wikimedians and Moroccans
  • Create 12 podcasts (1 per month) as part of WikiPodcast Morocco
Podcast Episodes
# Date Title Guest(s) Video
1 January 28, 2023 Introduction to Wikimedia Morocco User group Anass Sedrati
Rachid Ourkia
Reda Benkhadra
2 February 26, 2023 The Wikimedia Projects Bachounda
Mounir Afifi
3 March 30, 2023 Arabization of Mathematics on Wikipedia Mohamed Mokhtari
4 April 23, 2023 Wikipedia and the Moroccan plastic arts Hayat Ahlamine
Omar Belghiti Alaoui
5 May 28, 2023 I volunteer and introduce my country Rachida Roky
6 June 2023 Wikipedia Moroccan Arabic (Darija) Project Mounir Afifi
7 July 2023 Wikipedia in Tachelhit Project Lhoussine Bentayfaste
Brahim Essaidi
8 August 2023 Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom Mounir Neddi
Hayat Ahlamine
9 September 2023 Arabic Wikipedia Policies and Adminship Fatima Zahra
10 October 2023 Wiktionary and experiences in Arabic Wikipedia Adminship Adel Nehaoua
11 November 2023 Wikipedia in the University project in Egypt Walaa Abdel Manaem
12 December 2023 Experiences from Wiki Indaba 2023 in Agadir Youssef Ben Haj Yahia
Zeineb Takouti
Rachid Baya

Concrete goal achievement edit

  • 12 published podcasts: 12/12
  • 10.000 followers in Facebook: 10,710 / Target:10.000
  • Number of views of produced videos (500*12 - 6000 total views): 1724 / Target:6000

Activities and tasks edit

Finished edit

  • Choosing 12 topics for the podcast
  • Publishing schedule and posts for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
  • 12 first episodes of the podcast (recorded and published)

Planned edit

  • Second season of the podcast.
  • Improvements and changes to be implemented.

Editing contests edit

First 3 Editing Contests: edit

Overview edit

The Wikimedia Morocco User Group successfully organized three editing contests focusing on Moroccan-related topics across three Wikipedia languages: Arabic (arwiki), Moroccan Arabic (Darija - arywiki), and Tachelhit (shiwiki). These contests were part of our continuous efforts to enrich and diversify the content about Morocco on Wikipedia.

Members edit

  • Mounir Neddi: Overseeing all contest operations.
  • Fatima: Contact person for arwiki, coordinating participation and submissions.
  • Mounir Afifi: Contact person for arywiki, facilitating contest logistics.
  • Zakaria: Contact person for shiwiki, ensuring adherence to contest rules and quality standards.

Jury for Each Contest edit

  • Arabic Wikipedia Contest (arwiki):
    • Nehaoua
    • Ajwaan
    • فيصل
  • Moroccan Arabic Wikipedia Contest (arywiki):
    • Ideophagous
    • Mounir Neddi
    • Anass Sedrati
    • Reda benkhadra
  • Tachelhit Wikipedia Contest (shiwiki):
    • Lhoussine AIT TAYFST
    • Essaidib2

Goals edit

The primary objective was to organize editing and writing contests on arwiki, shiwiki, and arywiki, aiming to:

  • Enhance the quality and quantity of Morocco-related content.
  • Engage the community in contributing to underrepresented languages and topics.
  • Foster a collaborative environment among editors across different Wikipedia languages.

Concrete Goal Achievement edit

  • Articles Created / Outcome of the Editing Contest:
    • Arabic Wikipedia Contest: Generated 294 new articles, significantly enriching Moroccan content in Modern Standard Arabic.
    • Tachelhit Wikipedia Contest: Resulted in 11 new articles, expanding the Tachelhit language repository.
    • Moroccan Arabic Wikipedia Contest: Added 34 new articles in Darija, contributing to the diversity of the Moroccan Arabic Wikipedia.
  • Total Pageviews: These contests collectively achieved 239133 views on Arabic Wikipedia, 1575 views on Tachelhit Wikipedia, and 22691 views on Moroccan Arabic Wikipedia, indicating a substantial impact and reach.
  • Participants: Engaged a diverse group of editors, with 194 participants in the Arabic contest, 11 in the Tachelhit contest, and 17 in the Darija contest, demonstrating a strong community involvement.

Second Editing Contest: Moroccan Books edit

Topic edit

 
Winner Announcement of the Contest (in Arabic).

The contest focused on Moroccan books or books by Moroccan authors, aiming to spotlight Moroccan literature in multiple languages on Wikipedia.

Scope edit

  • Platforms: Conducted on Arabic Wikipedia (arwiki) and promoted through social media channels, including WhatsApp.
  • Outreach: Targeted at both experienced Wikipedia editors and newcomers, with an emphasis on the Moroccan community.

Members and Jury edit

  • Organizers: Led by Mounir Neddi, with Pr. Rachida playing a key role in coordination.
  • Jury: Comprised of Mounir Neddi, Anass Sedrati, and Mounir Afifi, responsible for evaluating submissions and deciding on winners.

Achievements edit

  • Article Contributions: The contest witnessed the creation of 60 articles, with 45 new entries and 15 enhancements to existing ones, adding 367627 bytes of content.
  • New Topics Introduced: 38 new topics on Moroccan literature were introduced, significantly contributing to the global visibility of Moroccan literary works.
  • Participants: Engaged 17 participants, effectively bridging the gap between the Moroccan literary world and the global Wikipedia audience.
  • Pageviews: Accumulated a total of 23703 views from September 1, 2023, to January 20, 2024, showcasing the interest and reach of Moroccan literature on Wikipedia.

These contests not only achieved their primary goals but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration among the participants. They highlighted the richness of Moroccan culture and language, making a significant contribution to the representation of Morocco on the global platform of Wikipedia

Edits-a-thons edit

 
Participants at an edit-a-thon in Casablanca.

Scope and Members: edit

Scope: The Edits-a-thons focused on broadening the coverage of Moroccan culture, literature, sports, and language on Wikipedia.

Members/Organizers: edit

  • Pr. Rachida
  • Reda benkhadra
  • Atika Hachimi
  • AyourAchtouk
  • Essaidib2
  • Hayat Ahlamine
  • Abdeaitali

Overview:

In 2023, the Wikimedia MA User Group organized four Edits-a-thons in different cities of Morocco. These events were aimed at introducing Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects to newcomers, as well as addressing content gaps on specific subjects. The Edits-a-thons were conducted in partnership with the Moroccan Reading Network and other local organizations, focusing on diverse themes like Moroccan literature, Moroccan authors, women's content on Wikipedia, and the Amazigh language.

Goals: edit

  • Introduce Wikipedia Editing: To familiarize new contributors with Wikipedia, focusing on how to create articles, add pictures, and manage infoboxes.
  • Cultural Representation: To enrich Wikipedia with diverse content reflective of Moroccan heritage, specifically in literature, women’s achievements in sports, and Amazigh culture and language.
  • Community Engagement: To engage and build a community of new Wikipedia editors and enhance the skills of existing members.
  • Address Content Gaps: To minimize gaps in Wikipedia's coverage of Moroccan subjects.

Events and Achievements edit

 
Participants at an event in Rabat.

- Moroccan Literature Edits-a-thon in Rabat (December 3, 2023):

  • Held in partnership with the Moroccan Reading Network at the Hassan space in Rabat.
  • 17 participants contributed to enriching Wikipedia's content on Moroccan literature.

- Moroccan Authors Edits-a-thon in Casablanca (September 23, 2023):

  • Held at the American Center for Arts in Casablanca, focusing on Moroccan authors.
  • This introductory workshop engaged newcomers in creating and improving various articles on Moroccan literature, effectively reducing content gaps.

- WikiGap Edits-a-thon (March 11, 2023):

  • Organized alongside the local WikiCamp 2023 in Ifrane, with representatives from the Swedish Embassy in Morocco.
  • Aimed at developing women's content on Wikipedia, the event coincided with the upcoming Women's Football World Cup, focusing on profiling female football players.

- Amazigh Language Edits-a-thon in Agadir (November 5, 2023):

  • Held in alongside with Wiki Indaba 2023 at the Dunes d'Or Hotel in Agadir.
  • Twelve enthusiastic participants in the Amazigh language, engaged in an introductory workshop on article creation in Amazigh. They focused on one article to demonstrate how to add pictures, handle infoboxes, and other article creation aspects, enhancing content related to Amazigh culture and language.

Impact and Outreach: edit

  • Wikipedia's Coverage: The Edits-a-thons made a contribution to enriching Wikipedia’s coverage of Moroccan culture and language.
  • Community Involvement: Engaged new contributors and provided opportunities for existing members to enhance their skills.
  • Cultural Showcase: Emphasized Moroccan cultural elements such as Moroccan literature, literature, sports, and language, increasing their visibility on Wikipedia.
  • Editor Base Growth: Successfully introduced new individuals to Wikipedia editing.

Challenges and Adaptations

  • Diverse Participant Skills: Managing the varying skill levels of participants, from beginners to more experienced editors, was a challenge. Tailored training and support were provided to ensure productive contributions from all attendees.
  • Logistical Coordination: Organizing events in different cities required efficient logistical planning and coordination with local partners to ensure smooth execution.

Future Plans

  • Expanding the Scope of Topics: Future Edits-a-thons will aim to cover more diverse and underrepresented topics in Moroccan culture and history.
  • Increasing Participation: Efforts will be made to attract more participants, especially from underrepresented communities, to diversify the content and perspectives on Wikipedia.

Wikicamp Morocco 2023 edit

 
Working session during Wikicamp Morocco 2023 in Ifrane.

Overview edit

Wikicamp Morocco, held from March 10th to 13th, 2023 in Ifrane, was a significant event for the Wikimedia User Group in Morocco. Organized in partnership with the Reading Network in Morocco and supported by the Wikimedia Foundation and the Swedish Embassy in Morocco, the conference brought together Moroccan Wikimedia enthusiasts. The focus was on sharing experiences, nurturing new projects and partnerships, and strategizing for the growth of Wikimedia projects within the Moroccan context.

Members edit

The successful execution of the conference was led by key members:

  • Rachid
  • Reda benkhadra
  • Anass Sedrati
  • Abdelilah Jalal
  • Lhoucine
  • Zakaria
  • Loubna
  • Mounir Neddi

Each member played a vital role in various aspects of the conference's organization and execution.

Goals edit

The conference aimed to:

  • Engage at least 20 participants.
  • Enhance communication and collaboration within the Wikimedia community in Morocco.
  • Establish new projects and partnerships to strengthen the Wikimedia movement locally.

Partnerships and Support edit

  • Reading Network in Morocco: Significantly contributed to the organization of the conference.
  • Wikimedia Foundation: Provided essential financial support.
  • Swedish Embassy in Morocco: Supported the WikiGap initiative, focusing on enhancing women's representation on Wikipedia.

Activities and Achievements edit

  • Successfully hosted 23 participants, exceeding the initial goal.
  • Featured presentations on diverse initiatives such as the Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom program, content development in the arts, and projects in Darija and Amazigh languages.
  • Organized a WikiGap editing workshop, led by representatives from the Swedish Embassy, to develop content about women on Wikipedia.

Program Highlights of Wikicamp Morocco edit

Day 1: Opening and Introduction edit

  • Welcome and Opening Remarks: Set the tone for the conference, welcoming participants and providing an overview of the event.
  • Dinner: An opportunity for early networking and informal interactions among attendees.

Day 2: Foundation, Roles, and Editing Basics edit

  • Overview of Wikimedia Foundation Projects: Presented by Rachid, offering insights into the global scope of Wikimedia.
  • Roles in Wikimedia Movement: Discussed by Anass, exploring opportunities for individual contributions.
  • Basics of Wikipedia Editing: A session by Mohammed on Wikipedia’s editing guidelines and best practices.

Day 3: Workshops and Discussions edit

  • WikiGap Editing Workshop: Conducted by the Swedish Embassy representatives, focusing on developing content about women on Wikipedia.
  • Wikidata Introduction: Led by Mounir Afifi, introducing participants to Wikidata.
  • Discussions on Wikimedia Projects in Education: Facilitated by Mounir Neddi, highlighting the integration of Wikimedia in educational contexts.
  • Presentation on Moroccan Painters and Darija Projects: Showcased specific projects focusing on local arts and the Moroccan Arabic language.
  • Organizing Workshops Session: Shared best practices for conducting Wikimedia workshops.

Day 4: Recap and Conclusion edit

  • Closing Discussions: Concluded the event with final discussions and networking opportunities.

Participant Feedback edit

A post-conference survey provided valuable insights:

  • General Satisfaction: Participants expressed high satisfaction with the program quality, organization, and logistics.
  • Impactful Sessions: Highlights included presentations on Wikidata and the Moroccan painters project.
  • Constructive Suggestions: Feedback emphasized the need for more interactive workshops, improved time management, and a greater variety of session topics.

Reflections and Future Directions edit

Wikicamp Morocco 2023 successfully fostered a community spirit among Moroccan Wikipedians and enhanced the visibility of Wikimedia in Morocco. The feedback will guide the improvement of future editions, focusing on diversity, interactivity, and expanded topics. This conference has laid a strong foundation for the continued growth and strengthening of the Wikimedia community in Morocco.

Research project and Moroccan Darija Whitepaper edit

Members edit

Goals edit

  • Performing and publishing research that could be benificial to the Moroccan User Group, and to the Wikimedia movement in general
  • Write a paper detailing observations, guidelines and rules for writing Moroccan Darija, in addition to

Activities and tasks edit

Finished edit

  • First meeting with Leila and Emily to discuss how the Foundation can us support in this activity
  • Sending summary of ideas, suggested research partners, and excerpts about the participants to Leila and Emily.
  • Choosing an idea: we decided to apply for the Moroccan Darija conference held in Spain next year (2024), and applied with the abstract of a State of the art paper, and a panel about the Moroccan Darija Wiktionary
  • Choosing/contacting research partners/mentors
  • Write a first outline of the paper with the main points, and share it with the team
  • Participating in relevant Wikimedia workshops: the application for this year's Wikimedia research workshop had been rejected
  • Meeting to develop the first draft: the White paper project was merged with the research project
  • Apply and get acceptance at the 8th edition of the Moroccan Arabic conference held at the University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain (April 2024)
    • State of the art paper about Moroccan Darija Wikipedia
    • Panel about Moroccan Darija Wiktionary

Planned edit

  • Write full paper (see 2024)

I volunteer and introduce my country edit

  • Scope: Educational institutions in Morocco (universities)

Members edit

Goals edit

  • Introducing Wikipedia editing as part of the school and university curriculum
  • Writing and editing Morocco-related topics by students (workshops), in several languages
  • Photography and uploading pictures to Wikimedia Commons
  • Areas: culture, arts, science, geography, environment, education, technology, health, literature, history, libraries, museums, cuisine, cities and villages, wild life.

Activities and tasks edit

Finished edit

  • Registration form (reach out to contact person to get the form)

Planned edit

Wiki Indaba 2023 edit

Ahwach group performing at the Wiki Indaba 2023 social event in the Sidi Wassay region.

Even if not planned initially as an activity for 2023, the Wikimedia Morocco user group stepped up to organize the Wiki Indaba 2023 conference after being contacted by the Wiki Indaba Steering Committee for that matter. Full information about this conference can be found at its Meta page, where all details are provided in the different tabs and categories.


  Wikimedia MA User Group activities
2015201620172018201920202021202220232024