CIS-A2K/Events/She Leads/Report

The She Leads program, launched by CIS-A2K in March 2024, aimed to empower and support Indian female Wikimedians in executing Wikimedia projects aligned with International Women’s Day celebrations. March is a notably active month within the Wikimedia community, with numerous initiatives centered around women’s representation and empowerment. CIS-A2K’s initiative sought to create a supportive platform that encouraged women to lead community activities, enhance content about women, and foster leadership skills. This report summarizes the program’s objectives, structure, outcomes, and impact.

Overview

Throughout the month of March, She Leads aims to provide support to Indian female Wikimedians keen on engaging in various activities. This program is run by CIS-A2K, with many Wikimedians organizing initiatives during this period. Historically, A2K has spearheaded numerous activities aimed at enhancing content related to women. In 2024, A2K is urging community members, particularly female Wikimedians, to lead activities customized for their language communities. Through workshops, mentorship programs, and networking events, She Leads equipped women, especially Wikimedians, with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to lead initiatives, organize events, and contribute meaningfully to Wikimedia projects.

The She Leads initiative was established to foster women’s participation and leadership within the Wikimedia India community. By providing resources, mentorship, and financial support, CIS-A2K encouraged female Wikimedians to design, implement, and document activities that aligned with their community needs and aspirations.

The She Leads program sought to address the gender gap within the Wikimedia community by providing opportunities for female Wikimedians to step into leadership roles.

Types of Support Provided

• CIS-A2K provided multi-faceted support to help participants execute their projects successfully:
• Mentorship: For each activity proposal the mentorship was provided from CIS-A2K, providing one-on-one guidance on project development and execution.
• Documentation Support: A2K offered assistance in documenting activities on Meta, ensuring that community initiatives were accurately captured and shared.
• Financial Aid: Necessary funds were provided for project-related expenses, enabling participants to host workshops, edit-a-thons, and meet-ups.

Analysis

Outcomes and Impact

The She Leads program received enthusiastic participation from communities across India, resulting in a range of impactful activities focused on women’s representation and leadership.

Key Statistics

• Metric | Outcome
• Total Proposals Submitted | 16
• Activities Successfully Executed | 13
• Female Leads/Orgranisers | 20
• Languages Represented | 8 (including Assameses, Bangla, Marathi, Punjabi, Urdu, Tami, Tulu, Kannada)
• Wikimedia Projects Edited | Wikipedia, Wikisource, Wikimedia Commons, Meta Wiki
• Mentorship Support | CIS-A2K

Notable Activities and Success Stories

The program facilitated 13 activities across various Indian language communities, achieving measurable impact and generating enthusiasm among participants. Highlights including different kind of activities, such as,

• Outreach Activities:
• Cultural Documentation
• Awareness programs
• Photography Contest
• In-person Meetups cum Edit-a-thons or Content Creation Activities
• Training Sessions

Stories

There were many female Wikimedians who have done their own activities or took lead on things for the first time and here are some stories with impact from She Leads Campaign:

1. Vinoda’s journey as a Wikimedian began with a deep love for her native languages, Kannada and Tulu, and a keen interest in preserving oral culture. Driven by the desire to capture the unique stories and traditions passed down through generations, Vinoda proposed a project for documenting oral culture and approached CIS-A2K for support. This was her first collaboration with CIS-A2K, and she found guidance from a fellow female Wikimedian who shared her passion for language preservation. Together, they embarked on this mission, collecting and documenting oral histories, which she shared during the She Leads campaign. Her dedication and fresh perspective brought these stories to a broader audience and underscored the importance of documenting intangible cultural heritage. Recognizing her potential and growing leadership, Vinoda applied for Train The Trainer 2024. Her selection marked a new chapter in her journey, as she joined a community of experienced Wikimedians eager to further her skills. Now, as she steps into a leadership role, Vinoda is ready to bring her rich experience to the next generation, with the vision to grow and inspire others in Wikimedia and beyond.

2. Kavita Ganesh, the second active contributor from the Tulu language community who also contributes to Kannada, is a librarian by profession. Inspired by her experience at Train The Trainer 2023, Kavita developed a strong interest in digitization and relicensing, aligning her work with Wikisource. She proposed an outreach activity under the She Leads campaign and organized a Wikisource workshop at a college in Mangalore to introduce students to the world of digital preservation. Following the She Leads campaign, Kavita began discussions with CIS-A2K about utilizing books on Wikisource and expressed her interest to take lead, which led to the planning of a series of training sessions. Her vision was ambitious: to see Tulu Wikisource become a live, independent resource. As the community coordinator, Kavita took on the responsibility of leading these efforts, handling each aspect of the project with dedication and persistence. After five months of intense work and collaboration between Kavita and CIS-A2K, Tulu Wikisource was finally launched in October. This milestone represents a tremendous achievement for the Tulu language community, driven by Kavita's leadership and commitment to preserving Tulu literature and knowledge for future generations.

3. Sujatha Nettime is an active Bangla Wikimedian engaged in various Wikimedia projects. After attending TTT 2023, she began collaborating directly with CIS-A2K. Through the She Leads program, Sujatha spearheaded an outreach initiative, where she trained students and teachers, more individuals in Wikimedia editing and activities. Among those she mentored was Bono Ruma, another Bangla-language Wikimedia editor. Thanks to Sujatha’s efforts, Bono Ruma became an active contributor and, in 2024, participated in TTT 2024—a remarkable milestone for the Wikimedia movement. This level of commitment and mentorship not only fosters community growth but also contributes to increased women’s representation in Wikimedia projects and events like Train The Trainer.

4. SMarndi is a new and enthusiastic Wikimedian, full of ideas and a strong passion for the Santali language and community. While she is not a highly active editor, her focus lies in planning and organizing activities that benefit the Santali Wikimedia ecosystem. One of her notable proposals was the Indian Tribal Culture Photography Contest, initially designed for the Santali community. Later, she collaborated with CIS-A2K to expand the initiative by engaging individuals and other communities, fostering a broader exchange of ideas and knowledge about Wikimedia Commons. During this period, SMarndi also conducted several training sessions, and invited iMahesh as trainer, which successfully mobilized participants and resulted in a significant number of high-quality photographs being contributed to Wikimedia Commons. Building on this momentum, she played a pivotal role in organizing the Santali Community Regional Conference in collaboration with CIS-A2K, further strengthening the Santali Wikimedia community. SMarndi’s commitment extends beyond her regional efforts; she actively participates in South Asia-level calls as a moderator and shares updates on her initiatives and the progress of the Santali language community. Her dedication exemplifies how collaboration and strategic planning can drive growth and engagement within Wikimedia communities.