Insights from the 2024 Arabic Wikimedia Movement Charter Ambassadors

The Wikimedia Movement, encompassing major projects like Wikipedia, thrives through the dedication of its global contributors. To sustain and enhance this success, the Wikimedia Movement Charter, which sets forth fundamental principles and governance structures, requires continuous evaluation and adaptation. This article delves into the experiences of the 2024 Arabic Ambassadors for the Wikimedia Movement Charter, highlighting their pivotal role in gathering feedback from the Arab Wikimedian community—a crucial step toward fostering inclusivity.

Ambassadors

• Osama Eid (Osps7): An active contributor to Wikimedia projects, he has been editing the Arabic Wikipedia since 2017. His primary focus is on the Arabic and Spanish Wikipedias, where he emphasizes editing, translation, and preventing vandalism. He also works to combat vandalism on Wikidata. Furthermore, he has played a role in developing several educational programs at universities and actively participates in promoting human rights and peace through Wikimedia projects..

• Sandra Hanbo: An editor on Arabic Wikipedia since August 2019, she has been the projects coordinator for the Wikimedians of the Levant since June 2022. She also serves as a regional coordinator for WikiForHumanRights 2023 and is a member of the Wiki World Heritage User Group. Additionally, she edits Wikidata and Wikisource and contributes multimedia to Wikimedia Commons.

• Donia AlDomiaty: An Egyptian doctor and member of the Leadership Development Working Program, she has been an editor on Arabic Wikipedia since 2019. She is the founder of the Wikipedian Editor Project and has organized numerous large-scale edit-a-thons and local photo competitions. Additionally, she is a member of the Egyptian Wikimedia User Group and the Arabic Wikimedia User Group, and has been an invited member of the Levant User Group.

• Rotana: Rotana: An editor on the Arabic Wikipedia and various Wikimedia projects, she has organized competitions related to the Arabic Wikipedia and is a member of the Wikimedians of the Levant.

Engaging the Arabic World

In May 2024, the Arabic Ambassador team initiated a series of online meetings. These sessions engaged representatives from 11 recognized user groups across the Arab region, fostering dialogue about the Charter, gathering crucial feedback, and providing a space for clarity and understanding. Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, invitations extended beyond established groups, welcoming all Arab Wikimedians, including unaffiliated volunteers.
Discussions were supported by interactive tools such as Mentimeter for live polling and gauging sentiment, as well as Google Forms for collecting detailed feedback.

Key Findings and Recommendations

1. Enhanced Outreach Needed:
   The report highlighted a low level of awareness and engagement with the Charter among the Arabic community, underscoring the need for targeted outreach tailored specifically for the region.
   
2. Volunteer Empowerment:
   Participants expressed concerns about ambiguous procedures for handling conflicts between communities and an absence of a defined process for addressing volunteer grievances. Some volunteers felt disconnected between the Charter’s rights and their current experiences. The report recommends refining the Charter to safeguard volunteer rights and establish clear conflict resolution mechanisms.
   
3. Clarity in Translation:
   Although the quality of the Arabic translation had improved, further revisions are needed to enhance the clarity of certain sentences and eliminate potential misunderstandings.
   
4. Strengthening the Movement’s Framework:
   The Arabic community called for clearer details about the relationship between the new Global Council and existing bodies. Concerns were also raised about the balance of power within the Council, particularly the distribution of influence between appointed and elected roles.
   

Moving Forward: A More Inclusive Charter:

The Arabic community offered valuable suggestions for both amending the Charter and encouraging its ratification:

Proposed Amendments:

• Define roles within the Charter more explicitly (e.g., distinctions between User Groups and individuals).
• Make the Charter more applicable and understandable for the Arabic-speaking community.
• Foster greater engagement between the Arab community and the global Wikimedia ecosystem.

Ratification Recommendations:

• Integrate awareness of the Wikimedia Movement into mentor-mentee programs for new volunteers.
• Highlight the Arab community’s significant role and responsibilities in shaping the Movement’s future.

The Human Touch: A Call to Action

The report concludes by emphasizing the need for increased outreach activities to educate volunteers about the Movement, the Charter, and related initiatives. A glossary to clarify technical terms used within the Charter would also be beneficial.

A particularly striking point raised by the community was the perception that the Charter focuses more on products (e.g., Wikipedia) than on the contributors themselves. This underscores the importance of emphasizing the human element and nurturing an inclusive and supportive community.

By addressing the concerns raised by the Arab Wikimedian community and implementing the recommended improvements, the Wikimedia Movement Charter can evolve into a more inclusive and effective document. The contributions of the Arabic Wikimedians exemplify how active participation and collaboration can bridge gaps and shape a more inclusive future for the entire Movement.