WikiIndaba conference 2021/Scholarships
Wiki Indaba 2021 (05 - 07 November 2021) will be the 5th in a series of annual African conferences which provide a unique opportunity for the Wikimedia community in Africa and the diaspora to come together. Since its conception, the aim of WikiIndaba has been to build capacity for African Wikimedians, to foster the growth of the coverage and involvement of Africa in Wikimedia projects, and to connect African Wikimedians both within the continent and in the diaspora.
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Ensuring the growth of the Wiki Indaba community requires upholding its diversity and representation both within Africa and in the diaspora. This is achieved by involving a wide range of participation from the Africa regions with consideration of gender identities, and perspectives.
Transitioning Wiki Indaba online this year offers an unparalleled opportunity to expand representation but it also requires participants, speakers, and session organizers to have access to a quality internet connection to meaningfully and actively engage and contribute.
The Scholarship Connectivity fund
For Wiki Indaba 2021, the first virtual edition of Wiki Indaba, we are launching a Scholarship Connectivity Fund to provide direct financial support to connect and engage.
Session organizers, speakers, and participants can apply for 3 levels of funding support ($50 USD, or $75, or $100 USD), which they can use for:
- Direct connecting: Purchasing internet data or contributing to the cost of internet access and use;
- Support connecting: Travel to internet cafes to access computers and internet points;
- Secure connecting: Purchasing privacy screens or VPNs;
- Other support: Cost of childcare or other services that enable active participation.
How it works
The Scholarship Connectivity Fund is application-based and, as always, we will make funding decisions with a focus on amplifying the participation of underrepresented communities in Africa. In recognition that there is no one-size-fits-all model for supporting participation and in an effort to support as many participants as possible, we’ll ask those applying to identify the areas of support they need and the level of funding they require. Selected recipients will receive an update and request further information to support the delivery of funds.
Beyond the Scholarship Connectivity Fund, we are taking a number of steps to ensure Wiki Indaba Online is accessible, including scheduling across time zones, providing lower bandwidth options for engagement, and uploading pre-recorded content that allows for flexible and asynchronous participation.
We recognize that our efforts to provide scholarship connectivity funds will not serve everyone. There are many both within Africa and in the diaspora who live in areas where proper infrastructure is limited or nonexistent. These barriers are systemic and part of a larger reality that makes it nearly impossible for certain communities to fully participate in promoting open and free knowledge.
Apply Now
Apply for the scholarship by October 07 at 11:59pm EAT. This is the first time a fund of this nature will be offered. We deem it necessary as we transition from the familiarity of in-person conferences of yesteryear to the possibilities we are about to explore at the virtual Wiki Indaba 2021. We welcome your questions and feedback. You can reach out to our team by email at [[1]].
Scholarships Connectivity Fund/Criteria
Scholarships applications will be evaluated based on 3 main criteria:
- Offline contributions.
- Online contributions.
- Value added by the applicant for previous Wiki Indaba participants.
Eligibility to apply
Any active contributor (from Africa, Africans in the Diaspora, and non-Africans) to Wikimedia projects as a volunteer is eligible to apply for a scholarship connectivity fund. Individuals whose participation is tied to paid work are not eligible to apply for a scholarship fund, including paid or contract staff of any Wikimedia organization. Interns, part-time staff, and working students are not excluded from this rule except they can show proof of their contributions in their volunteer capacity.
Selection will be based on contributions within the Wikimedia movement while also maximizing the diversity of the conference as a whole, including gender, language, and representation of various communities. Contributions to other non-Wikimedia-related open movements and initiatives are a plus but not a requirement for selection. Scholarship applications submissions after the deadline (7th October 2021) will not be reviewed.
Selection process
This process will be in 3 phases:
Phase 1 - eligibility assessment: applicants must pass basic eligibility criteria before they move further into the scholarship fund process.
Phase 2 - scholarship grading system based on the 3 main areas listed above (online/on-wiki contribution such as edits on wikis, patches made into MediaWiki and related software, etc.; offline contributions such as event planning and organization, recruiting of new wikimedians etc.; value added by the applicant from previous Wiki Indabas and expected value-added after Wiki Indaba 2019). Priority will be given to Wikimedia affiliate members (e.g. board members of chapters and user groups.)
Phase 3 - Final review and approval of scholarships and connecting with other committees and WMF for further recommendations. After that, successful applicants will be informed via email and a list will be published on the Wiki Indaba Meta-Wiki page.
Selection criteria
Phase 1 - Applications will fail Phase 1 if any of the following criteria apply;
If the applicant’s application is incomplete or didn’t address any vital questions in the application form or failed to make reasonable efforts to address the questions in the application form. If the applicant is an inactive contributor to Wikimedia projects or has failed to show any significant Wikimedia contributions or activities which may merit the awarding of a scholarship connectivity fund such as;
- Active contributor to a Wikimedia project (e.g. Wikipedia, Commons, MediaWiki, Wikidata, etc), with at least 300 contributions (global edit count)
- Active MediaWiki code contributor, gadget, or other tool-builder for Wikimedia projects.
- Involvement in some form of Wikimedia affiliate organization (chapter, thematic organization, or user group).
- For applicants who have attended previous Wiki Indaba, further contributions and post-conference impact (to the community) after their previous Wiki Indaba.
- On-wiki leadership roles, e.g. Wikimedia CheckUser, Admin, Bureaucrat, Steward, or OTRS volunteer (current or former).
- Wikimedia Researcher.
- Participant in a Wikimedia program (e.g. GLAM partnership or education program).
- Participant in Wikimedia organized events (e.g. photographer contributing to Wiki Loves Monuments (WLM), workshop attendee).
- Organizer of Wikimedia events (e.g. WLM, edit-a-thons).
Wikimedia Uganda LOC reserves the right to remove people due to their conduct on or off-wiki (phase 3) Applications for which no failing criteria apply will pass into Phase 2 for further evaluation. Impact after previous Wiki Indaba (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019) will be considered.
Phase 2 - In this phase, applicants will be evaluated in depth according to the points listed in phase 1, considering the three main areas/dimensions listed above. Based on this evaluation, the committee members will propose a list of applicants to enter phase 3. These criteria are put in place to get the most exceptional Wikimedians together to maximize the experiences, learnings, and skills to be brought back home to enrich their communities.
Selection criteria
Phase 1 - Applications will fail Phase 1 if any of the following criteria apply;
If the applicant’s application is incomplete or didn’t address any vital questions in the application form or failed to make reasonable efforts to address the questions in the application form. If the applicant is an inactive contributor to Wikimedia projects or has failed to show any significant Wikimedia contributions or activities which may merit the awarding of a scholarship connectivity fund such as;
- Active contributor to a Wikimedia project (e.g. Wikipedia, Commons, MediaWiki, Wikidata, etc), with at least 300 contributions (global edit count)
- Active MediaWiki code contributor, gadget, or other tool-builder for Wikimedia projects.
- Involvement in some form of Wikimedia affiliate organization (chapter, thematic organization, or user group).
- For applicants who have attended previous Wiki Indaba, further contributions and post-conference impact (to the community) after their previous Wiki Indaba.
- On-wiki leadership roles, e.g. Wikimedia CheckUser, Admin, Bureaucrat, Steward, or OTRS volunteer (current or former).
- Wikimedia Researcher.
- Participant in a Wikimedia program (e.g. GLAM partnership or education program).
- Participant in Wikimedia organized events (e.g. photographer contributing to Wiki Loves Monuments (WLM), workshop attendee).
- Organizer of Wikimedia events (e.g. WLM, edit-a-thons).
Wikimedia Uganda LOC reserves the right to remove people due to their conduct on or off-wiki (phase 3) Applications for which no failing criteria apply will pass into Phase 2 for further evaluation. Impact after previous Wiki Indaba (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019) will be considered.
Phase 2 - In this phase, applicants will be evaluated in depth according to the points listed in phase 1, considering the three main areas/dimensions listed above. Based on this evaluation, the committee members will propose a list of applicants to enter phase 3. These criteria are put in place to get the most exceptional Wikimedians together to maximize the experiences, learnings, and skills to be brought back home to enrich their communities.
Sandra Aceng gives further explanations about the scholarship process during WikiAfrica Hour episode 6
Reporting
Like other scholarships, Wiki Indaba scholars are asked to share something that results from their participation at the conference with the Wikimedia movement after the conference has ended. This brief report is typically due on January 10, 2022, after the end of the conference, and includes the following:
- Sessions attended: Which sessions did you attend?
- New Networks made: What are the new contacts and networks that you have made during Wiki Indaba?
- Learning pattern: What is one useful learning pattern you can share with the Wikimedia movement?
- Outcome (Plan for post-conference impact (to the community) after Wiki Indaba). What was one useful outcome of the event for the Wikimedia movement and African Wikimedians?
Ready to create your report? Use the input box below to name your page and click the button to get started.