Wikimania 2023 reports from Malaysian Wikimedians

In this article, I present the Wikimania 2023 reports which Malaysian Wikimedians wrote.

Opening the eyes of newcomers

Wikimania 2023 in Singapore was a fantastic event. It opened the eyes of newcomers.

Wikimania 2023 was an eye-opening experience for me. As a new user of Wikipedia, I was not aware of the scale that the Wikimedia movement poses. To the extent of my knowledge, Wikipedia was just a platform that people use to gather information about important people’s biography or important topics such as facts, science, etc. Little that I know that this was just a small portion of what Wikimedia provides to society around the world. My expectation of the outcome to earn from Wikimania 2023 was delightfully exceeded. Not only have I attained knowledge, but I have also connected with individuals from around the world who share similar values as I do in freeing knowledge for everyone #bebaskanpengetahuan.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/AssFeder]] 13:01, 6 September 2023‎ (UTC)

As a newcomer to Wikimedia, I learned a lot of new things through this conference. The most important thing is that I now know about how this movement works. Before attending Wikimania, I have only known one of the many projects that wikimedia provides but since then, I get to know more projects and more importantly I know how to edit and add new articles in Wikimedia projects. My goal throughout attending this conference is to attend basic editing and article writing workshops to help me enhance my contribution to the wikimedia project. My target was successfully achieved since wikimania 2023 has provided many basic workshop slots such as Wikipedia Simple Basic Workshop, Common Basic Workshop and so on.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Fify Joseph]] 12:48, 9 September 2023‎ (UTC)

As a beginner or novice in Wikimedia projects, I have learned many things from the conference. My focus has been on attending several basic workshops such as Wikipedia Simple English, Wikimedia Commons, Lingualibre, and Incubator. These workshops provide guidance and knowledge for making contributions or edits in Wikipedia projects. The knowledge gained from these workshops can be applied in Wikikamus, Incubator, and Wiki Commons in the Kadazandusun language.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Jilorisa]] 14:31, 4 September 2023‎ (UTC)

I participated in the Wikipedia Basic Workshop, in which I learned the basics of Wikipedia editing and how to contribute. The workshop can be an enriching experience for newcomers like me with little or no prior experience with Wikipedia editing. It is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about Wikipedia and editing. Overall, participating in Wikipedia basic workshops is a valuable step toward becoming a knowledgeable and responsible Wikipedia editor. It equips me with the essential skills and principles needed to make meaningful contributions to this collaborative encyclopedia.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Michelina Michael]] 15:54, 17 September 2023‎ (UTC)

I got to know more about projects on Wikimedia. Before this, I only knew about Wiktionary and Wikicommons. After attending many sessions, I got to know many other projects, such as Wikipedia Simple English, Wikidata, and Wikitounges.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/23jvvn]] 02:23, 2 October 2023‎ (UTC)

Kent Wiki Club

At Wikimania 2023, a student Wikimedian club called Kent Wiki Club was formed! The club aims to focus on preserving Kadazandusun language, their indigenous language.

As a trainee teacher from IPG Kent with a major in the Kadazandusun language, I attended the inauguration of the Wiki Kent Club. Through the establishment and launch of this club, I hope to make greater contributions and encourage other friends to contribute to the Kadazandusun Wikipedia project. Wikipedia can also serve as a source for teaching and learning as it is easily accessible and provides a wide range of free information and knowledge.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Jilorisa]] 14:31, 4 September 2023‎ (UTC)

I actively participated in the organization of the inaugural event for the Wiki Kent Club, a Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia initiative. This event was a fantastic opportunity to show support for the Wikimedia movement in Malaysia and the Wikimedia Foundation. Diverse community members, including those from the Paiwan Wikimedia Community, attended this meetup, making it a memorable occasion.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Jjurieee]] 04:24, 4 September 2023‎ (UTC)

As a student at the Kent Campus Teacher Education Institution majoring in the Kadazandusun language, we have been given the opportunity to inaugurate the Wikikent club. We are very grateful for this opportunity. Although our presence was only attended by eight students accompanied by four directors, many Wikimedia members also joined in to make this inauguration ceremony lively. The inauguration of this club serves as motivation for IPG Kent Campus students to continue actively participating in the Wikimedia movement and serves as a symbol of progress for the Kadazandusun people on a global scale. Wikimedia is also very useful for us as a source of information during our learning journey.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Meqqal]] 00:07, 20 September 2023‎

International Collaboration

Wikimania 2023 was a good place for Wikimedians all around the world to interact. Malaysian Wikimedians report their collaborations.

Interactions with other Wikimedians: Meetings and discussions with other Wikimedians opened my eyes to the importance of the Wiki projects in preserving and promoting our native languages. Sharing opinions and experiences allowed me to learn about various Wiki projects that I was previously unaware of, such as WikiVoyage and translatewiki. These exchanges of ideas also led me to acquire new knowledge about Wikis and other subjects that can enhance my understanding. For example, a new friend I met at the Wikimania conference shared about their project on Wiki, which is adding names of birds that were missing in the Wikimedia Incubator. They informed me that these bird names were only available in English and hadn’t been translated into Malay.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/CorrelMoris38]] 05:03, 3 September 2023‎ (UTC)

The day (17 August) concluded on a global note with the much-anticipated ‘Wikimania 2023 Global Group Photo.’ In the hallowed halls of the Plenary Hall, Wikimedians from every corner of the globe converged for this memorable moment. It was an opportunity to bridge geographical boundaries, as participants exchanged greetings, shared stories, and immortalized the event with photographs. The diversity and unity within the global Wikimedia community were palpable, leaving a lasting impression of the power of collaboration and shared knowledge.

As we reflect on the second day of our event, it becomes evident that this gathering is not just about editing articles or sharing information—it’s a celebration of humanity’s diversity, our shared heritage, and the power of language to connect us all.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Iamirene2]] 15:17, 7 October 2023‎ (UTC)

Wikimania is a great place to exchange ideas with other users. I also find Wikimania as a suitable place to develop socially, mentally and academically. Wikimania must be a lifelong project.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Fify Joseph]] 12:48, 9 September 2023‎ (UTC)

Being a Malaysian Chinese Wikimedian, I aim to collaborate with other Chinese-speaking communities within Wikimedia, especially in Chinese Wikipedia. My goal is to enhance the quality of Malaysia-related articles on the Chinese Wikipedia platform.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/*angys*]] 06:51, 29 September 2023‎ (UTC)

(Plans after the conference) Further communicate with the ones I met, for Wikimedia purposes or perhaps socially.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/PeaceSeekers]] 14:48, 16 September 2023 (UTC)

In addition to attending workshops, I gained insights into Singapore through the Wiki Loves Living Heritage Bazaar session. This session provided an overview of Singaporean culture to Wikimedians. In addition to exploring Singaporean culture, I had the privilege of attending a workshop on the topic of editing ‘Amiwiki’.During the session, the presenters discussed the Paiwan language, an endangered Taiwanese ethnic language whose use is discouraged by government regulations. Each language must be preserved and practiced to prevent its extinction. If no endeavors are made to promote and preserve our Bajau Samah language for example, it may become extinct. And i am pleased to be a part of a Wiki endeavor that serves as an efficient platform for preventing the loss of my home language, and I consider it a privilege to be able to participate in this effort.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Syafiq.y]] 08:09, 27 September 2023‎ (UTC)

I attended workshops by the Paiwan and Puyuma communities from Taiwan. They emphasized the importance of locating sources and documentation of their indigenous languages as well as using cultural history and knowledge to determine the proper words to be used for certain concepts when editing Wikipedia articles so that the articles are not just informative but can be culturally understood and connect with the readers. Collaboration with organizations that involve cultural and historical artifacts such as museums is important in systematically building up the database of terms for the languages for current and future uses. I also got to experience their cultural dances and singing with other participants after the workshops ended.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Ultron90]] 09:44, 20 September 2023‎ (UTC)

The opportunity to participate in the program at Suntec Convention Center also gave me the opportunity to meet Wikimedia people from all over the world and learn more about education without limitations.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Rosmahwati Binti Ebbie]] 08:31, 2 October 2023‎ (UTC)

I shall make an effort to investigate possible avenues of collaboration with the Wikimedia community as a whole.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Dyzahmail]] 00:48, 6 October 2023‎ (UTC)

Every session demonstrated the strength of individuals coming together with a shared passion for open knowledge. I learned that building and nurturing these communities is essential. It’s about fostering a sense of unity, trust, and collective purpose. Together, we can achieve more than we can alone.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/WAqil (WMYS)]] 06:04, 1 October 2023‎ (UTC)

The “Volunteer Retention Strategies” clinic emphasized the importance of personalization in volunteer engagement. I discovered that understanding the unique motivations and strengths of volunteers is key to retaining their commitment. It’s not just about recruiting; it’s about creating a sense of belonging and purpose. The clinic taught me that every volunteer has a story to tell, and it’s our role to listen and support them on their Wikimedia journey.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/WAqil (WMYS)]] 06:04, 1 October 2023‎ (UTC)

I also had the opportunity to interact and discuss with experienced Wikimedians not only from Malaysia but also from other countries. Therefore, through interactions with them, I gained new ideas and knowledge for contributing to or editing any Wikipedia project. Through several sessions, I also realized that many languages in the world would disappear if there is no effort to promote them. Therefore, through wiki projects, all knowledge can be easily accessed while also helping to promote endangered languages. 

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Jilorisa]] 14:31, 4 September 2023‎ (UTC)

The Wikimania conference in Singapore was incredibly exciting. I’m deeply thankful to the Malaysian Wikimedia User Community Group (WUCG) for granting me a scholarship to gain a broader understanding of the Wikimedia movement on a global scale. The conference also served as a strong motivation for me to continue contributing to Wikimedia projects.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Blusjai]] 04:35, 19 September 2023‎ (UTC)

The first and most striking lesson was the incredible diversity of individuals who make up the Wikimedia community. People from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds came together with a shared passion for knowledge sharing. It reinforced the idea that open knowledge knows no boundaries.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Michelina Michael]] 15:54, 17 September 2023‎

Wikimedian of the Year from Malaysia!

At Wikimania 2023, Taufik Rosman from Malaysia was named Wikimedian of the Year 2023! Taufik’s achievement should encourage other Wikimedians!

I shall also express my gratitude and respect to the heart of Wikimedia Malaysia, Taufik Rosman (Username: Tofeiku) for his constant belief and effort in preserving the indigenous languages and cultures in Malaysia. It is truly inspiring to see someone working so hard to ensure that originality should not be left behind regardless of civilization and evolution. Undeniably, his award as the Wikimedian of The Year is well-deserved.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/AssFeder]] 13:01, 6 September 2023‎ (UTC)

I was proud to learn that the Wikimedian of the Year 2023 hails from Malaysia, reinforcing my pride in being a part of the Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Jjurieee]] 04:24, 4 September 2023‎ (UTC)

I attended the opening ceremony event held in the plenary hall from 5 to 6:25 in the evening. During this session, the announcement of the Wikimedian of The Year opened my eyes to the fact that every Wikimedian will be awarded according to their own effort. This encouraged me to continue actively participating in Wiki projects, not because I want the award but I also want to share the knowledge to the others.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/CorrelMoris38]] 05:03, 3 September 2023‎ (UTC)

I am proud to share that the Wikimedian of the Year 2023 is from Malaysia, reinforcing my pride in being part of the Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Michelina Michael]] 15:54, 17 September 2023‎

At this moment, I am greatly enjoying and celebrating the Opening Reception, such as the captivating dance performance. I am also savoring every moment of this event, especially when each Wikimedian of the Year award winner is announced, providing me with immense motivation to stay active in the Wikimedia movement.

MetaWiki [[Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/Meqqal]] 00:07, 20 September 2023‎

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank all the Malaysian Wikimedians who have written great reports! These reports are fun to read and serve as valuable references for Wikimedia history! As a member of Wikimedia Japan-Malaysia Friendship Project, I’m looking forward to working with them more.