Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Bangwaketse Cultural Documentation (ID: 22824426)
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Applicant Details
edit- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Mothusi Sekhomba
- Organization
N/A
- If you are a group or organization leader, board member, president, executive director, or staff member at any Wikimedia group, affiliate, or Wikimedia Foundation, you are required to self-identify and present all roles. (required)
N/A
- Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)
Main Proposal
edit- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.
Bangwaketse Cultural Documentation
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-02-10 - 2025-06-12
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Botswana
- 5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)
Feminism and Folklore
- 6. What is the change you are trying to bring? What are the main challenges or problems you are trying to solve? Describe this change or challenges, as well as main approaches to achieve it. (required)
Q. 6. IMORTANCE OF SENGWAKETSE DOCUMENTATION PROJECT Preserving Cultural Heritage: By capturing and sharing photos of Bangwaketse culture, we contribute to preserving our unique traditions, practices, and way of life. These images serve as a visual record for future generations, ensuring that this rich heritage is not lost. Educational Value: The photos can be used in educational materials, textbooks, and online resources. They provide valuable insights into the history, customs, and rituals of the Bangwaketse people. Students, researchers, and anyone interested in learning about this culture will benefit from these visual resources. Promoting Understanding and Appreciation: When people from different backgrounds see these images, they will gain a deeper understanding of Bangwaketse culture. It fosters appreciation, empathy, and cross-cultural dialogue. It also breaks down stereotypes and promotes a more inclusive worldview. Enhancing Wikimedia Commons: By uploading these photos to Wikimedia Commons, we contribute to a global archive of freely accessible media. Other editors and writers can use these images to enhance Wikipedia articles related to Bangwaketse culture, history, and geography. Addressing Gaps in Existing Articles: Many Wikipedia articles lack images, which can make them less engaging and informative. Our project will directly address this gap by providing high-quality visuals for articles related to Bangwaketse culture. When this proposal is implemented, people will experience several positive effects: Cultural Awareness and Appreciation: By sharing photos of Bangwaketse culture, individuals worldwide will gain a deeper understanding of their traditions, customs, and way of life. This awareness fosters appreciation and respect for cultural diversity. Educational Value: Students, researchers, and educators can use these images to enhance educational materials. Visual representations provide context and make learning about Bangwaketse culture more engaging and memorable. Community Pride: Locally, the project will instill pride among the Bangwaketse community. Seeing their culture documented and celebrated reinforces their identity and heritage. Enriching Wikipedia Articles: Wikimedia Commons images will enhance Wikipedia articles related to Bangwaketse culture. Articles lacking visuals will become more informative and appealing to readers.
STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS PROJECT
Outreach Campaigns: Broad Reach: Outreach campaigns will allow me to engage a wide audience. By promoting the project through various channels (social media, local events, community meetings), I would attract volunteers, raise awareness, and encourage participation. Visibility: These campaigns create visibility for the project, making it accessible to potential contributors who may not have been aware of it otherwise. Community Connection: Outreach fosters connections within the community, encouraging collaboration and shared ownership of the project. Community Capacity Building: Empowerment: Building capacity within the community empowers individuals. By providing training, workshops, and skill development, you equip volunteers with the tools needed to actively contribute. Sustainability: Capacity building ensures that the project can continue beyond its initial phase. Volunteers become advocates and trainers themselves, sustaining the effort. Quality Contributions: A well-trained community produces higher-quality content (in this case, cultural photos) for Wikimedia Commons. Participant Compensation: Recognition and Motivation: Compensation (whether monetary or non-monetary) recognizes participants’ efforts. It motivates them to contribute consistently. Equity and Fairness: Compensation acknowledges that volunteering involves time and effort. It promotes equity by valuing everyone’s contributions equally. Long-Term Commitment: Compensation encourages long-term commitment. Volunteers feel appreciated and are more likely to stay engaged.
WHY WOULD THESE STRATEGIES WORK
Outreach Campaigns: Community Engagement: Outreach campaigns actively involve community members. By reaching out through local events, social media, and community meetings, I would create awareness and encourage participation. Visibility and Interest: These campaigns would make this project visible. People who may not have known about it will become interested and motivated to contribute. Word of Mouth: Community members sharing information with each other can lead to a snowball effect, attracting more volunteers. Community Capacity Building: Empowerment: Capacity building empowers individuals by providing them with skills and knowledge. Trained volunteers become active contributors. Sustainability: Building capacity ensures that the project can continue beyond its initial phase. Volunteers become advocates and trainers, sustaining the effort. Quality Contributions: A well-trained community produces higher-quality content (in this case, cultural photos) for Wikimedia Commons. Participant Compensation: Motivation and Recognition: Compensation recognizes participants’ efforts. Whether through monetary rewards or other forms of acknowledgment, it motivates consistent contributions. Equity: Compensation acknowledges that volunteering involves time and effort. It promotes fairness and encourages long-term commitment. Retention: Participants are more likely to stay engaged when they feel valued and appreciated.
BRIEF EVIDENCE THAT MY PROPOSED STRATEGIES
Outreach Campaigns: This approach aligns with principles of community engagement and empowerment. Engaging communities through outreach is effective in participatory work. Community Capacity Building: Capacity building ensures sustainability and quality contributions. Research on arts programs highlights the need for community capacity building. Participant Compensation: Valuing community expertise fosters ethical, effective, and sustainable outcomes. Equitable compensation recognizes community members’ efforts. Compensation principles apply broadly to motivate and retain contributors.
- 7. What are the planned activities? (required) Please provide a list of main activities. You can also add a link to the public page for your project where details about your project can be found. Alternatively, you can upload a timeline document. When the activities include partnerships, include details about your partners and planned partnerships.
WHAT ARE THE PLANNED ACTIVITIES? Activity 1: Outreach Campaigns Community Meetings and Workshops: Organize meetings and workshops in Kanye to introduce the project, explain its goals, and recruit volunteers. Reason: Direct engagement with the community builds trust and encourages participation. Effectiveness: Face-to-face interactions foster a sense of ownership and commitment among community members.
Social Media Campaigns: Use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote the project, share updates, and highlight volunteer stories. Reason: Social media has a broad reach and can engage younger demographics.
Effectiveness: Increases visibility and attracts a diverse group of volunteers.
Local Media Engagement: Engage with local radio stations, newspapers, and TV channels to spread awareness about the project. Reason: Traditional media can reach audiences who may not be active on social media. Effectiveness: Ensures comprehensive coverage and engagement across different community segments.
Activity 2: Community Capacity Building
Photography Training Workshops: Conduct workshops to train volunteers in photography skills, focusing on capturing cultural elements. Reason: Equips volunteers with the necessary skills to contribute effectively. Effectiveness: Ensures high-quality images that accurately represent Bangwaketse culture.
Wikimedia Commons Training: Provide training on how to upload and categorize photos on Wikimedia Commons. Reason: Volunteers need to understand the technical aspects of contributing to Wikimedia projects. Effectiveness: Facilitates smooth and efficient uploading of images, ensuring they are properly categorized and accessible.
Cultural Sensitivity Workshops: Educate volunteers about the cultural significance of the elements they are documenting. Reason: Ensures respectful and accurate representation of Bangwaketse culture. Effectiveness: Enhances the quality and authenticity of the documentation.
Activity 3: Project Implementation Camping and Cultural Heritage Site Visits: Organize camping trips and visits to cultural heritage sites to capture photos and gather information. Reason: Immersive experiences provide authentic and diverse cultural documentation. Effectiveness: Volunteers gain firsthand experience and deeper understanding of Bangwaketse culture.
Page Writing and Improving Existing Articles:Write new Wikipedia articles on Bangwaketse culture and improve existing ones by adding photos and updated information. Reason: Enhances the quality and comprehensiveness of Wikipedia content related to Bangwaketse culture. Effectiveness: Provides accurate and engaging information to a global audience.
Strategy 4: Participant Support Data Reimbursement: Reimburse volunteers for data costs incurred while uploading photos and accessing online resources. Reason: Reduces financial barriers and ensures volunteers can participate without incurring extra costs. Effectiveness: Encourages consistent participation by alleviating data-related expenses.
Transport Support: Provide transport allowances or arrange transportation for volunteers to attend workshops, meetings, and site visits. Reason: Ensures that all volunteers, regardless of their location, can participate fully in project activities. Effectiveness: Increases accessibility and inclusivity, enabling broader community involvement.
Vouchers for Best Contributors: Award vouchers to top contributors as a form of recognition and reward for their exceptional efforts. Reason: Motivates volunteers to contribute their best work and acknowledges their dedication. Effectiveness: Boosts morale and encourages high-quality contributions.
Why These Activities Will Be Effective Community Engagement: Direct interaction through meetings and workshops builds trust and fosters a sense of ownership. Skill Development: Training workshops ensure volunteers are well-equipped to contribute high-quality content. Immersive Experiences: Camping and site visits provide authentic cultural documentation. Recognition and Motivation: Data reimbursement, transport support, and vouchers motivate volunteers and sustain their involvement. Broad Reach: Combining social media, traditional media, and community events ensures comprehensive outreach.
- 8. Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required) Include more details of the team, including their roles, usernames, Wikimedia group, and whether they are salaried, volunteers, consultants/contractors, etc. Team members involved in the grant application need to be aware of their involvement in the project.
Organizer: Mothusi Sekhomba. Username: Mothusi Sekhomba Mentor: Oteng Kolobetso. Username Kolobetsoo
Mothusi is supported with stipend to carry out all the required activities of the project effectively. Oteng Kolobetso will provide mentoring support as a well experienced wikimedian and organiser. Both Mothusi and Oteng are members of the Wikimedia Community User Group Botswana.
- 9. Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities? (required)
Target participants are people from Kanye and surrounding areas. the challenge would be advertised through social media and posters around the community. Participants would be trained through in-person and online trainings. All the participants who have registered to participate would be added to the WhatsApp group for the project. Their participation would be tracked with categories created and hash tags on Wiki Commons.
- 10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)
No
- 10.1. Please provide a link to your Youth Safety Policy. (required) If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, you are required to outline compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provide a youth safety policy aligned with these laws. Read more here.
N/A
- 11. How did you discuss the idea of your project with your community members and/or any relevant groups? Please describe steps taken and provide links to any on-wiki community discussion(s) about the proposal. (required) You need to inform the community and/or group, discuss the project with them, and involve them in planning this proposal. You also need to align the activities with other projects happening in the planned area of implementation to ensure collaboration within the community.
I have created a survey which we shared with our community members to get their views on the project and also invite them to participate. Bellow is the link to the form that was shared with the community members: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1NPtfjwAOe05E6qVH3jE85nyeZNOkRIPfJaLqCxJBolrW7Q/viewform?usp=send_form
- 12. Does your proposal aim to work to bridge any of the content knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Cultural background, ethnicity, religion, racial
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Culture, heritage or GLAM
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Ethnic/racial/religious or cultural background
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Improve User Experience
Learning and metrics
edit- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Learning Questions:
- Community Engagement and Participation:
1.How effective were the outreach campaigns in engaging the community? 2.What percentage of the community participated in the project activities? 3.What were the main motivations for volunteers to join and stay involved in the project?
- Skill Development and Capacity Building:
1.How did the photography and Wikimedia Commons training workshops impact volunteers' skills? 2.What new skills or knowledge did volunteers gain from the cultural sensitivity workshops? 3.How confident do volunteers feel in contributing to Wikimedia Commons after the training?
- Cultural Documentation and Representation:
1.How accurately and comprehensively were the cultural elements of Bangwaketse documented? 2.What types of cultural elements were most frequently captured and uploaded? 3.How did the community perceive the representation of their culture in the documented photos?
- Project Implementation and Logistics:
1.How effective were the camping trips and cultural heritage site visits in capturing diverse cultural elements? 2.What logistical challenges were encountered during the project implementation? 3.How well did the transport support and data reimbursement facilitate volunteer participation?
- Impact on Wikimedia Content:
1.How many new Wikipedia articles were created and how many existing articles were improved with the new photos? 2.What was the quality and relevance of the photos uploaded to Wikimedia Commons? 3.How did the addition of photos enhance the overall quality and engagement of Wikipedia articles related to Bangwaketse culture?
- Volunteer Motivation and Retention:
1.How did the compensation strategies (data reimbursement, transport support, vouchers) impact volunteer motivation and retention? 2.What forms of recognition were most appreciated by the volunteers? 3.What factors contributed to the long-term commitment of volunteers to the project.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 20 | |
| Number of editors | 15 | |
| Number of organizers | 1 |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 2 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 500 |
| Wikidata | |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
N/A
- 19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)
No
| Main Open Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
- 20. What tools would you use to measure each metrics? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support. (required)
Number of images uploaded to Commons. We are targeting 500 images.
Financial proposal
edit- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
Budget Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kdvXVxEM68DEo_iNGZ17MxYfJXhmv68nhnLRdXn322s/edit?usp=sharing
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
55550 BWP
- 22.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done only to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD.
4192.95 USD
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
Yes
Endorsements and Feedback
editPlease add endorsements and feedback to the grant discussion page only. Endorsements added here will be removed automatically.
Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:
- Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
- Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
- Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
- Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
- Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).