Affiliations Committee/Candidates/2024/Gopavasanth

Vasanth Gopa (Gopavasanth)

Gopavasanth (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA)

Preferred name	Vasanth Gopa
What languages do you speak, and at what fluency level? (Please include your English proficiency.)	I am fluent in English (en) and Telugu (te) and have a conversational understanding of Hindi (hi).
What region(s) of the world do you have experience with, and what kind of experience do you have? (“Experience” can mean you have lived or worked there or are currently living or working there; you’re familiar with the culture and language; etc.)	Travelling, exploring new places, and learning about diverse cultures, process and technologies have always been a passion for me. I’ve had the rewarding experience of collaborating with Wikimedians from the Middle East, especially through technical engagements and at the WikiArabia conference in Dubai. This experience allowed me to connect, collaborate, and learn together with the community there. I was born and raised in Andhra Pradesh, a state in southern India, where I completed my schooling. For my undergraduate studies, I spent four years (2017–2021) in Kerala, and in 2019, I had the opportunity to study for a few months at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. My time in Israel left a lasting impression—I loved the warmth of the people, their cultural richness, and the way they approached everyday activities with such passion. I admired their deep pride in their nation, language, and education, as well as their emphasis on a balanced life, with meaningful time off after work. This experience brought me a new perspective on life and inspired me to embrace a broader worldview. For the past three years, I’ve been living in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
What Wikimedia project(s) do you actively edit? And in what language(s)?	I’m an active technical contributor across various Wikimedia projects, focusing on User Scripts, Gadgets, Tools, and MediaWiki Extensions and also in outreach activities.
What affiliate(s) are you actively involved with? In what capacity are you involved? Do you serve in a leadership role or have you in the past?	I am an active member of the Indic MediaWiki Developers User Group and have been involved with this community for nearly four years. In the past two years, I stepped into a role as a core committee member, where I help coordinate initiatives that support local Indic Wikimedia technical projects, including organizing consultations, training sessions, workshops, and outreach activities, all as a volunteer. Our group began informally in 2018 and became formally affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation in 2020. Since then, we’ve engaged in a variety of technical projects, such as IndicOCR, Indic Wikisource Stats, MassMove, BookReader, Incubator Stats, and VideoCutTool. We’re also committed to outreach efforts, organizing events to welcome newcomers to Wikimedia’s technical spaces, including the amFOSS Hackathon, Small Wiki Toolkits workshop series, Wikimania Hackathon (regional level), and a Mini-Hackathon in Guwahati. Last year, we applied for our first annual plan grant, aiming to shift from ad-hoc activities to more organized efforts throughout the year. This approach has helped us add some structure to our activities, and we’re now looking to use these learnings to shape our plan for next year. Our focus will be on refining our processes and working toward long-term sustainability for the group.
Have you served on any committees (movement-related or otherwise)? And what was your role on the committee(s)?	While my primary focus has been on technical contributions, I’ve also mentored in outreach programs like Google Code-in and Google Summer of Code from 2020 to 2023. Additionally, I previously served as an Org-admin, helping to coordinate Wikimedia's outreach programs both internally and externally. I have served on various committees within the Wikimedia movement: I was a core member of the WMHack 2022 virtual organizing committee, where I focused primarily on organizing the technical track. For Wikimania 2023, I was involved in the Program Subcommittee, where I also led the hackathon track and had the opportunity to host the hackathon showcase ceremony in Singapore. I served as a scholarship committee member for WikiConference India 2023 and the Wiki Technical Summit (WTS) 2023. Additionally, I was supporting the IIIT Mini Hackathon in 2023 and 2024. Along with several other activities and initiatives within the Indic MediaWiki Developers User Group (IMDUG). These roles have given me valuable experience in both organizing and supporting technical and community-building events within the Wikimedia movement.
Please describe any experience you have with conflict resolution and/or consensus building.	I was a member of amFOSS, an open-source student-run club at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala, where I encountered various situations involving conflicts between multiple teams, differing interests among students, and disagreements between different streams. I helped mediate these situations, ensuring smooth operations within the club. Additionally, in my current roles, such as being a part of outreach programs like Google Summer of Code, I have experience in coordinating mentors, ranking proposals, and ensuring the seamless execution of the program. I have played a key role in gathering opinions, listening to advice, and making well-considered decisions.
In your ideal world, what does the affiliate model and ecosystem look like?	In my ideal world, the affiliate model would empower communities and organizations to grow with strong support from the Wikimedia Foundation across various areas. The model would be designed to effectively support groups of all sizes—from small teams to larger entities—as well as individuals working on specific areas of interest. It would foster collaboration and exchange of ideas, enabling everyone to pursue shared goals with a unified spirit.
In your ideal world, what are AffCom’s roles and responsibilities in relation to the movement and affiliates?	In my view, the affiliate committee would be a dynamic group of volunteers with strong leadership skills, serving as a vital link between the Wikimedia movement and its communities. Their role would involve actively promoting new committees, chapters, and user groups, while also understanding and addressing their needs. They would support these groups by connecting them with resources and assistance from both the Wikimedia Foundation and the broader community. Additionally, the team would collaborate closely with the advisory board, helping to shape key decisions to enhance community growth and development.
What role within AffCom are you most interested in: advisory or voting member?	I am most interested in joining as a voting member, as this role would enable me to make meaningful contributions directly, participate actively in decision-making, and offer constructive feedback within the committee. As a voting member, I would be fully engaged in shaping strategies and supporting initiatives that drive positive change within the Wikimedia movement. I’m eager to bring my perspective, experience, and leadership to the table, working collaboratively to ensure that the needs of diverse communities are represented and met effectively.