Behind The Screen in East, Southeast Asia, and The Pacific (ESEAP)

DEPTH, DIVERSITY, AND COLLABORATION

Behind the screen in ESEAP is part of a wider series that celebrates tireless Wikimedians who make free knowledge possible. It brings to the ‘screen’ stories from ESEAP with the simple aim of sharing, honoring, and celebrating impact. The series also aims to take forward the Movement Strategy’s goal of Knowledge Equity and advancing the same through a stronger regional focus. This series celebrates regional impact in particular. 

The ESEAP Behind the Screen edition brings together a harmony of voices through 7 Wikimedians, a snapshot of their journey within the movement, and a shared enthusiasm to contribute to the wider community. 

The amazing thing about ESEAP and its impact is the individual stories and how after hearing different voices, you hear that one, there’s a bit of serendipity in how they found the movement. Two, there is a bit of luck in finding a group of like-minded people like themselves and then three, finding something that resonates with them, and that they really want to invest their time with and four digging deep and saying, this is something that I really want to give and I give from my heart. When all these things come together, I think magic happens. And that’s what you’ll see in the video .

Jacqueline Chen, Senior Program Officer, Community Resources

In ESEAP, we see the natural elements – geography, language, culture, and history interwoven into the movement’s tapestry and wiki-projects, giving it depth and diversity. 

The Wikimedians in South Korea are putting in a lot of effort into preserving their own language and culture And I feel that, I think that the South Korea which I live in and East Asia, South East Asia and Oceania are having different cultural backgrounds but we try to work together collectively on a common issue and this is very meaningful in my opinion

Eun- Ae, Gu, Executive Officer- Wikimedia Korea

While the human connection and stories draw us closer together through our shared experience. By building on our common understanding, the region is working towards building a shared narrative, and more intentional collaboration for a sustainable future.

I would like to invite much younger people to hold higher positions in a user group or chapters, because, as I have observed, it is always the experienced Wikimedians who have the chance to handle these kinds of groups. But eventually, as the years would pass by these leaders would eventually divert their attention and be busy with some areas of work. So I just hope that as early as now we could develop young leaders.

Anthony Diaz, Co-Founder Wiki Advocates Phillippines User Group & Regional Funds Committee Member- ESEAP

Through the video, we bring you;

• #Appreciation for diversity – How and why we are seeking out who’s missing?
• #Knowledge sharing – passing on the know-how
• #WikiManuscripts– encouraging students and younger generations from Indonesia to learn more and to save Lontar manuscripts
• #Wikisource – The revitalizing of Korean Wikisource through digitizing traditional Korean letters 
• #Taking the movement forward – A shared goal across new and experienced Wikimedians alike 

While supporting our movement in the region, the foundation has learned a lot about the region and how we can support it better. Take a look at some of our learnings from ESEAP here

• Our Evolution and Growth as a Movement- The ESEAP Story!
• Our Future Success Lies in the Investments That We Make Today
• Strengthening Connection in the Wikimedia Movement

Watch the full video here to see ESEAP Behind The Screen!