Peer Support Networks within the Wikimedia Movement/History

This is an old version of this page. Please do not edit it. A summary of what happened in this first phase will come up in early 2023

Overview

What is Peer Support?

"Peer support occurs when people provide knowledge, experience, emotional, social or practical help to each other. [...] Peer support is distinct from other forms of social support in that the source of support is a peer, a person who is similar in fundamental ways to the recipient of the support; their relationship is one of equality. A peer is in a position to offer support by virtue of relevant experience: he or she has "been there, done that" and can relate to others who are now in a similar situation."

This definition taken from the English Wikipedia article about peer support relates to the key values of the Wikimedia community - knowledge sharing, equality and building on our strengths.

Peer support in the Movement

While the Wikimedia Movement in a way is a peer support network in and of itself with the goal of sharing, distributing and curating knowledge, Wikimedians have been asking for more dedicated peer support groups within this ecosystem for some time, specifically focusing on the support of mental health of volunteers or the support of targets of harassment. Examples of volunteers asking for peer support networks could be seen in the UCoC Consultations of phase 2, as well as in two talks from Wikimania 2019 on mental health and the support of targets of harassment.

The Wikimedia Foundation is moving from a position of only taking responsibility for the technical support of volunteers by providing and maintaining the hard- and software needed to run the projects, to recognizing the needs of volunteers in a much more holistic way. Creating Wikimedia Foundation support for peer support networks is taking all of us one step further in this direction.

As with many other issues, some peer support groups have formed already in the typical Wikimedian grassroots fashion. They range from fully informal small local groups of friends to user group supported efforts. The current approach of the Wikimedia Foundation is to learn more about these networks, explore their strengths and weaknesses and to find ways to support them.

Where we are now

Building connections with affiliates and individual volunteers that engage with or want to engage with peer support networks.
Learning about existing networks
Learning about the needs of volunteer support networks and what the Wikimedia Foundation could do to support them
Starting to build a knowledge base for peer support
Looking for partners within the movement who would like to partner with the Wikimedia Foundation for a pilot
Looking for external partners who could help in this endeavour. The Wikimedia Foundations has partnered with organizations like the Samaritans, but would like to partner with other organizations as well that could support volunteers in different regions of the world

How to participate

Help us find out more about already existing networks by filling out the table below
Sign up below as an interested partner for upcoming conversations
Take part in one of our upcoming Focus groups, please sign up below or register by writing to Christel directly via Email
Time for the Focus groups have been decided on. They will be on:

- 1 October 2021, 7:30 - 9:30 UTC
- 15 October 2021, 15:00 - 17:00 UTC
- 22 October 2021, 19:00 - 21:00 UTC

Let us know about already existing networks within the Wikimedia movement by filling out the table below
Tell us about organizations that could be great partners for volunteer support networks in the Wikimedia movement in your region or country, by listing them in the table below
Let us know what you think peer support networks would need from the Foundation to be successful, by listing and explaining the needs below
Leave other thoughts and comments on the talk page here, or contact Christel directly via Email

I am interested and want to be involved

I am interested and want to be part of a Focus group

please sign here

Anupamdutta73 (talk) 10:34, 13 October 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Existing Networks

Existing Peer support networks
Name of the Network	Supporting affiliate	Channels used	Languages used	Special focus	Wiki page	Contact information
Volunteer Supporters Network		Mailing list, in person meetings, online meetings	Main language: English	Staff of Wikimedia affiliates working in volunteer/community support	Volunteer Supporters Network on Meta	volunteer-supporters@lists.wikimedia.org
please fill out here

Possible local/regional partners

Possible partners for peer support
Organization	Region or country	Special focus	Homepage
Mind	UK	Mental Health	Mind.org.uk
Peer Connect	Australia		peerconnect.org.au
Mental Health America	USA	Mental Health	mhnational.org/about
Yayasan Pulih	Indonesia	Mental Health	yayasanpulih.org
NAKOS	Germany		nakos.de
Peer Support Canada	Canada	Mental Health	Peersupportcanada.ca
Coalition Against Online Violence/Online Violence Response Hub	USA/International	How to support others	[1]
Hollaback!	USA	Bystander Intervention	[2]
PEN American	USA/International	Resources	[3]
Vita Activa	USA/International	Peer support hotline	[4]
Aluna Acompañamiento Psicosocial, A.C.	Latin America	Mental Health	[5]
Mind	The Netherlands	Mental Health and peer support	[6]
please fill out here

Needs of volunteer support Networks

Please put in here what you know or what you think peer support networks might need from the Wikimedia Foundation. We will start by listing those things that were brought to our attention at a session at Wikimania 2021 and will add on things we learn through other channels from community members.

A knowledge base for peer support networks (session at Wikimania 2021)
Practical recommendations for off-wiki channels (session at Wikimania 2021)
Training for volunteers, Train-the-peer-supporter program (session at Wikimania 2021)
Professional support in the background, if problems are too heavy to be handled by volunteers only (Wikimania 2021)

Exisiting resources outside the movement

Best practices guide for allies and witnesses from Pen America