In October 2024, the African Wikipedian Alliance (AWA) held two bi-weekly webinars for its Anglophone community, aimed at equipping participants with essential skills in editing and content enhancement on Wikidata and Wikivoyage. The sessions, held on October 23 and October 25, were led by Romeo Ronald Lomora, Team Leader at Wikimedia Community User Group South Sudan, and Chris Benard Macholi from Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda. AWA Community Coordinator Bukola James moderated both sessions, attracting attendees from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Botswana, Uganda, and Ghana. These webinars provided a practical introduction to Wikidata and Wikivoyage, with the goal of fostering more precise and culturally rich contributions from African Wikimedians.
Key Highlights
- Wikidata: Practical Workshop to Improve Items
In the first session, held on October 23, Romeo Ronald Lomora guided 12 participants through the foundational elements of Wikidata, including labels, descriptions, properties, and statements. Discussions emphasised the importance of these components in creating reliable and structured data entries. Romeo demonstrated practical techniques for using qualifiers, references, and statements to improve data accuracy, and introduced tools like the Wikidata Query Service for advanced data retrieval and analysis. By the session’s end, participants were more comfortable navigating Wikidata’s structure and equipped to make well-referenced contributions. - Wikivoyage: Practical Workshop to Enhance Entries
The second session on October 25 focused on enriching travel entries on Wikivoyage, facilitated by Chris Benard Macholi. Attended by 15 participants, this workshop explored how Wikivoyage can serve as a platform for promoting local tourism and cultural representation. Discussions centred on creating well-organised and engaging travel content, emphasising readability, accuracy, and the value of authentic local insights. Participants practised structuring entries to improve accessibility, thereby helping diversify travel content on Wikivoyage. The session highlighted how contributors can use their local knowledge to support sustainable tourism and increase cultural understanding. - Community Support and Collaboration
Both sessions underscored the importance of engaging with the broader Wikimedia community to share insights and gain feedback. Participants were encouraged to collaborate with experienced Wikimedians, facilitating continuous learning and enabling them to refine their contributions over time. Trainers also recommended starting with simple edits before advancing to more complex entries, allowing new contributors to build confidence and gradually develop their skills.
Conclusion
The October 2024 bi-weekly webinars provided participants with foundational and practical skills to enrich Wikidata and Wikivoyage. By focusing on data structure and cultural authenticity, attendees left with a deeper understanding of how their contributions can impact Wikimedia’s mission of accessible knowledge. The hands-on approach of both sessions fostered confidence and skill-building, with participants encouraged to utilise tools like the Wikidata Query Service to enhance their work. Additionally, the emphasis on local insights in Wikivoyage entries reinforced the importance of cultural representation on the platform. These sessions exemplify AWA’s commitment to empowering African Wikimedians, enhancing their ability to share Africa’s diverse knowledge across Wikimedia projects. For those who missed these sessions, recorded versions are available on the community programs page. Don’t forget to register for upcoming CfA WiR bi-weekly webinars to join our growing community and shape Africa’s digital presence on Wikimedia!
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