Wikimedia projects are stronger in parts of the world with regular and affordable internet access, large digitally literate population, and existence of significant content in their local languages, among other things. How can we make the Wikimedia projects stronger in parts of the globe where people face complex barriers to access knowledge? How can we raise awareness of the existence of Wikimedia projects in these communities?
The Global South and most emerging economies happen to be the least covered in terms of Wikipedia and its sister projects [1]. This has obvious consequences with regards to geographies of knowledge and how the world is viewed [2] [3], but also has consequences for how developing or emerging editors and communities are viewed by the larger community.
With lower editors, these emerging communities are less developed (although no less passionate), less experienced and not as established and therefore cohesive as their northern or western counterparts. Having said that, their numbers are growing - as is their need to be heard. Several developing community editors have raised their frustration that decisions affecting the community as a whole often do not take developing communities into account - that the systemic bias extends beyond content into decision making and attitude. If developing communities worked together as a collective to make their voices, challenges and suggestions heard, this can change. This discussion will seek to share experiences with other Wikipedians and Wikimedians from the Global South to collate the issues and frustrations, see how they are related, and chart the best way to solve these issues.
What can be done to proactively support the Wikimedia movement in the Global South?
What can be done to change frustrations into action, and provide a greater voice within the movement?
What are some best practices and success stories that can be learnt from or replicated in other places?
What is the strategy being lead by the Global Reach team of WMF, to reach new readers in the Global South?
Find out how collectively we can work together to get emerging Wikipedians heard and therefore increase Wikipedia activities in the Global South. We can also identify the best ways to raise awareness and increase readership of Wikimedia projects in these parts of the world
Targeted participants
All are welcome but especially Wikimedians and Wikipedians from the Global South
Hi Rberchie and Islahaddow, thank you for your proposal, which I find very interesting. Can you expand your description a bit and make it easier to understand for those who do not speak English fluently? Thanks, --Gnom (talk) 13:11, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Disclaimer... I work with Isla and Rberchie. More reading material and links would be good. Current link is not working. Anthere (talk)
@Rberchie: The (geographic) systemic bias seems relevant enough to have a discussion about. I do think it requires a bit more focus though. Right now, the proposal is a bit of a mix between online and real world projects. I think it would be an improvement to focus on the systemic bias in Wikimedia projects in major languages (English, French - maybe Spanish, Chinese?) and how that could be approached. That would also give a good purpose for the discussion (gather information on how these topics are approached, both online and through activities in real life), and what more could be possible. Effeietsanders (talk) 13:55, 21 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Hi @Rberchie:, @Islahaddow:, @JVargas (WMF): & @JRabah (WMF): congratulations! This proposal, renamed "Wikimedia projets and Wikimedia mouvement in the Global South : the way forward" has been accepted by the Discussion Room Committee and will be included in the Discussion Room program. It is tentatively scheduled for Sunday 10.30-11.10, 26 June 2016, but that is subject to change. Please let me know if you have any questions or if there's anything our team can do to assist you with preparations for this discussion. I look forward to meeting you at Wikimania; safe travels! -- Anthere (talk) 20:46, 28 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
