Wikimedia Meta-Wiki

Wikimedia MKD/Reports/2025-02

< Wikimedia MKD | Reports
2025
February


Teachers conference at Gymnasium "Josip Broz Tito" - Skopje

edit

Among the key initiatives for Wikimedia MKD are conferences for teachers, where teachers are trained to use Wikipedia. At these conferences, the participants receive guidance on how Wikipedia can be part of the teaching process, opening up opportunities for access and research in education.

So, on February 4, 2025, Wikimedia MKD held a conference for teachers at the Gymnasium "Josip Broz Tito" in Skopje. This conference was attended by 24 teachers who demonstrated the possibilities of using Wikipedia, both as a tool for teaching purposes and as a place where new free content is created. The conference started at 12 o'clock in the school premises.

First, Snezana Štrkovska, executive director of Wikimedia MKD, spoke about how Wikipedia works, which are the benefits by the use of Wikipedia as a teaching tool and the correct use of Wikipedia as an information source for accurate and verified information. After her, Irena Trajkovska Sterjovska spoke about her experience and the achievement of the Wiki Club that she leads. At the very end, Bosa Filipović, the educational program manager of Wikimedia MKD, had a speech and explained in detail the most common mistakes made when editing and improved the basic principles of Wikipedia.

The conference took place in a pleasant and working atmosphere. At the end of the conference, the teachers gave interests for further cooperation with Wikimedia MKD, many of them asked specific questions and had practical advice from the educators on how to start editing articles on Wikipedia. As a result of this meeting, it was agreed Wikimedia MKD to organize more conference and workshops, where teachers will be able to obtain more detailed skills in using and editing the encyclopedia.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

  •  
    Irena Trajovska Sterjovska giving a lecture
  •  
    The participants
  •  
    The participants
  •  
    Snezana Strkovska giving a lecture
  •  
    The participants
  •  
    Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
  •  
    The participants

Training workshop for students from "Gymnasium Josip Broz Tito"-Skopje

edit

Wikimedia MKD continues organizing events for trainings students and the organization aims to teach and motivate young people to edit articles on Wikipedia. In this way, with the increase in the number of students, the wiki clubs also grow and the educational program of Wikimedia MKD is richer.

On February 6, 2025, a training for students was held at the Wikimedia MKD office in the MKC. The training was attended by 5 students from Gymnasium "Josip Broz Tito" who are now new members of Wiki club in Skopje under the coordinator Irena Trajkovska Sterjovska.

The first part of the event was held by Bosa Filipović, Wikimedia MKD's educational program manager, who introduced students the basics of Wikipedia, how to properly use Wikipedia as an information source for accurate and verified information, the most common mistakes made when editing, and also spoke about the basic principles of Wikipedia.

After the presentation started the editing on the topic "Get to know Slovenia", which is the topic of the current editing marathon for members of Wiki Clubs in Macedonia, which is held from February 1, 2025 to February 28, 2025, and is organized by Wikimedia MKD in cooperation with the Slovenian Center of Macedonia and Slovenian embassy in Skopje.

The participants, supported by the organizers, edited, improved and published articles on Wikipedia in the Macedonian language. A total of 5 articles were written.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

  •  
    Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
  •  
    Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
  •  
    Editing articles
  •  
    Editing articles
  •  
    Editing articles

1Lib1Ref 2025

edit
 

Wikimedia MKD's call for participation in the 1Lib1Ref 2025 was announced in January 2025. This year this editing competition started on 15 January and ended on 5 February 2025. The goal of this editing competition is to improve the sources and references of articles on the Macedonian Wikipedia. The participants could also take part in the international call as well, with the same goals and participation rules.

The rules for participation was that the participants should find articles that have no sources or articles that need further sourcing, then to find appropriate reliable sources and put them in the articles. The first three most productive editors are qualified for the three awards planned for this editing competition.

The editing competition ended on 5 February 2025, where 8 users took part in and 1239 references were added in 840 articles. The final standing of the first three most productive users are as follows:

Place User Added References and improved articles
1 Тиверополник 978
2 Bibliotekarska5 520
3 P.Nedelkovski 281


Wikimedia MKD certificate for cooperation with the primary school "St. Kliment Ohridski"

edit

At the celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the existence of the primary school "St. Kliment Ohridski" in the Drachevo neighborhood in Skopje, Wikimedia MKD had the honor of receiving a certificate of appreciation for its long-standing dedication, openness to collaboration, and continuous support of the school. This recognition is a testament to the successful partnership between educational institutions and the community working towards free access to knowledge.

For the past eight years, a Wiki Club from the school has been actively operating as the part of the Wiki clubs of Wikimedia MKD. This club plays a crucial role in educating students, who learn the basics of editing Wikipedia—the world’s largest free encyclopedia. Students not only learn how to create new articles, but they also actively contribute to improving and expanding existing content.

By participating in the Wiki Club, students develop essential digital skills, enhance their critical thinking abilities, and learn how to research and use reliable sources of information. In addition to their regular school activities, club members have the opportunity to take part in various projects and initiatives, including the Wiki Camps organized by Wikimedia MKD. These camps provide an excellent opportunity for socializing, learning, and exchanging experiences with students from different parts of Macedonia.

Between 2016 and 2024, the Wiki Club was led by teacher Valentina Trajkovska, who dedicated herself to introducing students to the world of Wikipedia and free knowledge. Since 2020, the club has also received additional support from librarian Natasha Stardelova, who has taken on the responsibility of ensuring its continued success.

Over the years, the Wiki Club at the primary school "St. Kliment Ohridski" has become a model for successful cooperation between Wikimedia MKD educational program and the school system in Macedonia.

  •  
    Text at the school monography about the Wiki club
  •  
    Wikimedia MKD certificate
  •  
    Monography of the school cover photo

Wiki club in Radoviš - the newest Wiki club

edit

One of the most significant initiatives for involving young people in the Wikimedia movement are Wiki Clubs. Here students learn how to edit articles, check sources and contribute to the development of free knowledge. Therefore, on 12 February 2025, a Wiki Club was opened for the first time at the Primary School "Krste Petkov Misirkov" in Radoviš, which will aim to educate young people in editing and creating content on Wikipedia. This is Wikimedia MKD's newest wiki club.

The event began with an educational lecture by Bosa Filipoviḱ, Education Program Manager at Wikimedia MKD, who introduced the students to the basic principles of Wikipedia, the importance of free knowledge, and the rules for editing the encyclopedia. She explained how the platform works, how to check sources of information, and how to write encyclopedia articles. The students followed the lecture with great interest, asking questions about how they can contribute to improving Wikipedia content.

After the introductory part, the students were given the opportunity to edit Wikipedia. With the help of the mentors from Wikimedia MKD, as well as the school principal Gordana Zdravkovska and teachers Julija Svirkov and Verica Spasova Isailovska, they wrote on the topic "Meet Slovenia", which is the topic of the current editing marathon for members of Wiki Clubs in Macedonia, which is held from 1 February 2025 to 28 February 2025, and is organized by the Wikimedia MKD in cooperation with the Slovenian Center in Macedonia, supported by the Slovenian embassy in Skopje. A total of seven students participated and 11 articles were created.

With this type of activity, young people become part of the global community of Wikipedia editors, while at the same time developing their research and academic skills. The Wiki Club in Radoviš has the potential to grow into an important center for the promotion of free knowledge in Macedonia.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

  •  
    Bosa Filipoviḱ is giving a lecture
  •  
    Editing articles
  •  
    Editing articles
  •  
    Editing articles
  •  
    Editing articles


Celebration of the fifth anniversary of Wiki club in Veles

edit

Wikiclubs play an important role in enriching Wikipedia on macedonian language with new, high-quality, and reliable articles. One of the most active clubs is the Wiki club in Veles, which for years has served as a center for young people who want to learn how to edit on Wikipedia and how their work can contribute to the wider community.

On February 20, 2025, the Wikiclub in Veles celebrated its fifth birthday with a festive celebration held at the City Library "Goce Delchev". The event began at 2 p.m. and was attended by 20 participants, including club members, supporters, friends, and guests who have been following the development of the club since its founding.

The ceremony was opened by Snezana Štrkovska, Executive Director of Wikimedia MKD, who spoke about the importance of Wiki clubs in the development of free knowledge in Macedonia. She emphasized that these clubs not only help enrich Wikipedia but also encourage critical thinking, a spirit of inquiry, and teamwork. After her, Lili Arsova, coordinator of the Wiki Club in Veles, who was also the organizer of the event, spoke and gave a brief overview of the club’s history, activities, and successes. She emphasized that the club has managed to bring in a large number of new members over the years, who have significantly enriched Wikipedia in the Macedonian language with their edits. In addition, she mentioned that the club has organized numerous workshops, competitions, and educational events that have contributed to the development of digital literacy among young people.

One of the most important moments of the celebration was of course the birthday cake, a symbol of the dedication and enthusiasm of the club members. In a pleasant atmosphere, those present had the opportunity to reminisce about past successes and exchange ideas for future projects and activities.

The fifth anniversary of the Wiki Club in Veles is not only a reason for celebration, but also an opportunity for reflection and setting new goals. In the future, the club will continue to work on expanding its membership, organizing educational events and motivating as many people as possible to become part of the global movement for free knowledge. With the results so far and the dedication of the members, the Wiki Club in Veles is an example of a successful project that shows how volunteer work and the love of knowledge can bring positive changes in society.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

  •  
    Snezana Strkovska giving a speech
  •  
    Lili Arsova giving a speech
  •  
    Lili Arsova and Snezana Strkovska
  •  
    The participants
  •  
    The participants
  •  
    The birthday cake
  •  
    The birthday cake and the particapants

Training workshop for students from High school "Vasil Antevski-Dren"-Skopje

edit

Wikimedia MKD continues its mission to educate and engage young people through innovative educational programs. The main focus of the program is the younger generations, in order to encourage their love of knowledge and the free encyclopedia, Wikipedia. Also with the trainings for students, Wikimedia MKD aims to inspire the younger generations to accept the concept of free knowledge and become active participants in the creation of content available to all.

On February 26, 2025, another successful training for students was held at the premises of Wikimedia MKD in MKC. 11 students from High school "Vasil Antevski - Dren" participated in the training under the leadership of the coordinator Liljana Stojkovska.

The first part of the event was a speech by Bosa Filipović, Wikimedia MKD Education Program Manager, who introduced the students to the encyclopedia itself, how Wikipedia works, how to properly use Wikipedia as an information source for accurate and verified information, the most common mistakes made when editing, and also presented the basic principles of Wikipedia.

After the presentation started the editing on the topic "Get to know Slovenia", which is the topic of the current editing marathon for members of Wiki Clubs in Macedonia, which is held from February 1, 2025 to February 28, 2025, and is organized by Wikimedia MKD in cooperation with the Slovenian Center of Macedonia and Slovenian embassy in Skopje.

The participants, assisted by the organizers, edited and published articles on Wikipedia in the Macedonian language. A total of 21 articles were written.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

  •  
    Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
  •  
    Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
  •  
    The participants
  •  
    Editing articles
  •  
    Editing articles


Teachers conference at High school "Koco Racin"-Skopje

edit

Wikimedia MKD's dedication for increasing its members and increasing the number of educators (teachers) that use and edit Wikipedia and also incorporate Wikipedia in their own curricula have been one of the targets with outmost priority of the organization. Through the conferences or seminars for teachers, Wikimedia MKD tries to train as many teachers as possible to edit and use the encyclopedia and its related project, as well as use these projects as education tools in their classroom.

So, on February 27, 2025, Wikimedia MKD held a conference for teachers at High school "Koco Racin" in Skopje. This conference was attended by 15 participants, the school's teaching staff who expressed a strong desire to use Wikipedia, both as a tool for teaching purposes and as a place where new free content is created. The conference started at 12:30 pm in the school premises.

Snezana Štrkovska, Executive Director of Wikimedia MKD, spoke first, introducing the participants to the encyclopedia itself, how Wikipedia works, what are the benefits of using Wikipedia as a teaching tool, and how to properly use Wikipedia as an information source for accurate and verified information. She was followed by Bosa Filipović, Education Program Manager of Wikimedia MKD, who explained in detail the most common mistakes made when editing and presented the basic principles of Wikipedia. At the very end, Irena Trajkovska Sterjovska addressed the participants and introduced them to her work and the achievements of the wiki club she leads and operates within the association.

The conference took place in a pleasant and working atmosphere. The participants were interested in the way Wikipedia works, but also in the possibilities that exist for using the encyclopedia as one of the teaching tools in the educational process in Macedonia.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

  •  
    Irena Trajovska Sterjovska giving a lecture
  •  
    The participants
  •  
    The participants
  •  
    Snezana Strkovska giving a lecture
  •  
    Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
  •  
    The participants

Wikimedia MKD collaboration with Rare Diseases Association

edit

For seven years in a row, Wiki Club Ohrid and Wikimedia MKD have been actively collaborating with the Rare Diseases Association of Ohrid, led by Gordana Loleska. This significant collaboration began at the initiative of the coordinator of Wiki Club Ohrid, Natasha Nedanoska, under the motto “So that those who know about rare are not rare”. The goal is clear – through the creation and publication of educational content, to raise public awareness and provide easier access to information about rare diseases.

February – the month of rare diseases February is symbolically associated with rare diseases due to its specific length of 28 or 29 days. During this month, the Rare Diseases Association of Ohrid organizes numerous activities, including educational articles prepared by experts from various fields. These articles are broadcast and published in local media, and Wiki Club Ohrid actively engages in digital education by publishing articles about rare diseases on Wikipedia in Macedonian. With this initiative, every day during February, Wikipedia in Macedonian is enriched with new, peer-reviewed information about rare diseases, which is then used as a source in other media.

This collaboration is an example of how knowledge can be a powerful tool in the fight for the visibility of rare diseases. With every new article on Wikipedia, with every piece of shared data and every volunteer involved, a step is taken towards greater awareness, understanding and support for people living with rare diseases.

Editing Days

edit

Editing days is an activity that lasts for the whole year in organization of Wikimedia MKD. Each Tuesday and Thursday different topics are given and the participants create or improve existing articles. In February 2025 there were in total 8 editing days, where participants edited on different topics in order to enrich the content of Wikipedia. The editing days and the topics were:

  • 4.2.2025 - Dragons
  • 6.2.2025 - Churches in Switzerland
  • 11.2.2025 - Capitalist systems
  • 13.2.2025- Dacians
  • 18.2.2025 - Criminal groups and organizations
  • 20.2.2025 - Revolutionary movements
  • 25.2.2025 - Diamond
  • 27.2.2025 - Ancient Greek women philosophers

Cumulatively, 6 different users took part in these calls and edited. In total, 60 new articles were created during the editing days in February 2025.

Editing Weekends

edit

Editing weekends is another project that is organized during the whole year. During weekends (Saturday and Sunday) user are welcomed to take part in this project activity and improve or enrich Macedonian Wikipedia content. During these weekends, the participants are expected to edit articles on given topics. In February 2025 the following editing weekends were organized:

  • 1-2 February 2025 - Astrologers
  • 8-9 February 2025 - Yoga
  • 15-16 February 2025 - Peace treaties
  • 22-23 February 2025 - Video games

In total, during these weekends there were 7 different users editing on the given topics and they created 46 new articles on the Macedonian Wikipedia.

In media

edit
Retrieved from "https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikimedia_MKD/Reports/2025-02&oldid=28320762"