21st birthday of Persian Wikipedia/Report
The 21st birthday celebration of Persian Wikipedia was held for the first time simultaneously in three cities—Tehran, Shiraz, and Hamburg—and online on December 19, 2024 (29 Azar 1403). Unlike previous years, the main audience of the event included Wikipedia users and enthusiasts of free knowledge.
Pre-Event Organization
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Organizing any event has unique challenges, especially when the organizers are volunteers. Approximately 45 days before the event date, a group of 12 volunteers was formed to decide on the event's details, determine its execution strategy, and enhance efficiency by dividing responsibilities.
The group initially established essential frameworks, such as the date and cities where the event would take place, followed by defining the event's goals and target audience. The next step was to find suitable venues in the selected cities. In keeping with the tradition of Wikipedia events in Iran, the venue needed to be provided free of charge, easily accessible to all, and maintain minimal governmental or political affiliations. Accordingly, agreements were reached with the Computer Museum of Iran in Tehran, Shiraz University in Shiraz, and Hamburg University in Hamburg.
The volunteer group handled decisions regarding the number of guests, designs (such as invitations, posters, cake design, etc.), printing, catering, programme, photography, and more. From 45 days before the event, the group held five online meetings to discuss and finalize the details, with many discussions also conducted via a Telegram group. Following the event, a meeting was held to evaluate its shortcomings and make decisions to improve future celebrations.
Scholarships
editOne of the primary goals of this event was to strengthen collaboration among Wikipedia users and create an environment conducive to learning and exchanging experiences. Recognizing the importance of equal opportunities for all, the organizers provided travel scholarships to enable users from various cities and countries to attend the event. These scholarships covered accommodation and/or transportation expenses for individuals travelling to Tehran, Shiraz, and Hamburg.
In total, 11 scholarships were awarded to applicants, with every request being granted. The recipients travelled from different parts of Iran and abroad to participate in the celebrations. To maintain confidentiality and privacy, the names of these individuals will not be disclosed. However, they benefited from the scholarships to ensure a high-quality experience and actively contribute to strengthening the Wikipedia community.
This initiative enhanced user collaboration and motivated more active involvement in Persian Wikipedia projects and the advancement of free knowledge.
Venues
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The event was held simultaneously in Tehran, Shiraz, and Hamburg. Each of these venues was chosen based on their accessibility and available facilities.
The event took place in Tehran at the Iran Computer Museum, which was selected for its suitability and accessibility as a hosting venue. The modern and well-equipped space of the museum, with its excellent audiovisual facilities, provided an ideal environment for participants to listen to the presentations and engage in discussions and experience exchange. The museum's café and professional barista ensured that participants were well cared for. Due to frequent power outages in Iran, the museum was equipped with an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which helped prevent any interruptions during the event. Additionally, the high-quality internet connection at the museum was a significant advantage, enabling seamless online communication with the other venues in Hamburg and Shiraz.
In Shiraz, the event was held at the administrative building of Shiraz University. This location was chosen for its capacity and facilities, such as a large screen and optimized sound system, which made it an ideal space for gathering people interested in free knowledge and Wikipedia. The Quantum Hall on the 9th floor of this building provided a space where participants could easily gather and attend the various sessions of the event.
The event was held in the main building of the University of Hamburg. This venue was chosen for its easy accessibility and proximity to the metro station. The hall had features such as a large screen and high-quality sound system, making it well-suited for hosting the event. The space was also well-designed for holding smaller meetings and gatherings.
For participants who could not attend in person, the event was broadcast online via Google Meet. A special link was sent to online participants, allowing them to join the event from anywhere and enjoy the lectures and presentations. This method was particularly beneficial for people from other parts of the world who wanted to participate in the event, ensuring that no one was excluded from accessing the event.
Programme
editPrevious Persian Wikipedia birthday events typically served as an opportunity for discussions between the Wikipedia community and its audience, with talks and presentations open to the public. These events provided a space for exchanging views and learning about various aspects of Wikipedia. However, this year's event focused more on strengthening the connections among Wikipedia users. As a result, the presentations were designed to be more specialized and related to the internal projects of Wikipedia, aiming to address the specific needs of the Persian Wikipedia community and encourage more active participation in specialized discussions and projects.
The main programme was held simultaneously in three cities—Shiraz, Tehran, and Hamburg—and also streamed online. Communication between the cities was established via Google Meet.
Joint Programme
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The 21st-anniversary celebration of Persian Wikipedia began with a welcome speech to the participants and an outline of the event's agenda by Darafsh. In this section, Darafsh discussed the activities of the Iranian Wikimedia User Group in 2024 and introduced the plans for 2025.
Next, Persia introduced the top users in six categories. These categories included the top Patroller of the year, the top WikiBan of the year, the top administrator of the year, the top editor of the year, and the top article creator of the year. These individuals were recognized in absentia. Persia also announced the winners of the 2024 writing contests and honoured them.
After that, Ladsgroup gave a speech about the future of the Wikimedia Foundation, introducing its ongoing projects, including the use of artificial intelligence, facilitating the editing process for newcomers, and introducing teachers for new users.
Following this, Arian and Persia announced the winners of the 2024 Wiki Loves Monuments in Iran and thanked them as well as the contest's judges. During this segment, the top 10 photos from the contest were publicly displayed.
At the scheduled time, birthday cakes were cut simultaneously in all three cities, and participants took individual and group photos to commemorate the event.
In the end, Roozbeh, the founder of Persian Wikipedia, spoke online about the project's early days and shared memories of the founding of Persian Wikipedia. Later, Aliparsa, who played a key role in the formation and development of Persian Wikipedia, recounted his memories of the early years of Wikipedia and spoke about his efforts to encourage his students to contribute to the project.
Local Programmes
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After the main programme was held simultaneously in the three cities, each city tailored its activities to the interests and needs of its local audience.
In Shiraz, due to the presence of many members of the free software community, Mojtabakd conducted a session titled "A Review of Some Technical Discussions on Wikipedia," addressing the technical challenges and progress in various projects.
In Tehran, Arash and others answered common questions from users, discussing various issues that might arise for both new and experienced users.
Participants
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This year's event was specifically designed for Wikipedia users and free knowledge enthusiasts. Unlike previous years, where extensive advertising took place, no public advertisements were made this year. Instead, notifications were shared only within Wikipedia. Users were also encouraged to invite friends and acquaintances who were interested in free knowledge. As a result, participation in the event was strictly by prior registration, allowing for accurate participant count and better planning for catering and other logistical arrangements. In total, around 50 people attended in Tehran, 40 in Shiraz, 12 in Hamburg, and 20 participated online.
Challenges
editThis event faced several challenges, highlighting the need for more careful review and planning for future years.
One of the main challenges was the registration process. Despite the call for pre-event registration, some of those who had signed up ultimately did not attend. Additionally, holding the event simultaneously with the Yalda Night and the end of the year negatively impacted participation. This led to an overestimation of the required catering items, such as cakes, which had been prepared in advance for the event.
Another issue was the poor quality of audio and video. The connection between cities was established through Google Meet, but the audio and video quality was unsatisfactory. This issue arose due to the lack of suitable equipment for such a program. It would have been necessary to conduct a trial connection at least one day before the event to assess the quality of the equipment and resolve any potential issues.
Achievements
editOne of the key outcomes of this event was the strengthening and expansion of the communication network among Wikipedia users and free knowledge enthusiasts. The event provided an opportunity for participants to meet each other, share their experiences, and gain a better understanding of Wikimedia projects.
Additionally, the programme's specialized presentations and technical discussions allowed participants to learn about the latest developments in various Wikipedia projects. This exchange of knowledge will improve the quality and efficiency of Wikipedia in the future. Moreover, emphasizing the expansion and strengthening of Wikimedia projects in Iran was another significant achievement of this event. Introducing various projects and familiarizing participants with new editing and content development methods created an opportunity for further collaboration and experience sharing among different users.
Providing stipends for participants enabled those who previously could not attend to participate in the event. This initiative demonstrated a commitment to accessibility and equal opportunities for all Wikipedia community members. The successful execution of the online component of the event also showed that online communications can be effectively carried out in such events, allowing participation from anywhere in the world.
The presence of over 100 participants, both in person and online, reflected a high level of interest and engagement among Wikipedia users. This participation is a promising sign for the continued success of similar events in the future. Furthermore, addressing frequently asked questions and clearing up any confusion that may have arisen for new users was another important achievement. This helped facilitate the participation and editing processes on Wikipedia, reducing the complexities involved in editing.
Ultimately, this event provided an opportunity to strengthen the Wikipedia community exchange experiences and raise awareness about the importance of free knowledge.
Next Steps
editBased on the experiences gained from this event, the organizers concluded that the best time to hold the annual Persian Wikipedia birthday celebration would be in late Azar (December) each year. To this end, planning should begin several months in advance to ensure proper preparation for a successful event. In this regard, a guidebook will be prepared, including a checklist and standards for organizing events, particularly the Persian Wikipedia birthday celebration.
Building on the experience of this event, it was decided that future birthday celebrations should be held jointly in several cities, but each city will have its own special program. The cake-cutting ceremony will be the only part conducted online and simultaneously across cities. Additionally, it was suggested that the scope of the event be expanded and public outreach be carried out to attract a wider audience. This initiative could create an opportunity for greater interaction between the Wikipedia community and the general public, transforming the celebration from a private event into a public and engaging occasion.
Group Photos
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Group photo online -
Group photo Tehran -
Group photo Hamburg -
Group photo Shiraz
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External Links
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