The history of organizing WikiCamps by Wikimedia Georgia began in 2019 when the first WikiCamp was held in Bakuriani, and students from different parts of Georgia participated. 2020, the camp was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2022, we revived the tradition and held a WikiCamp in Borjomi.
The idea of a Teachers’ WikiCamp was born in 2022, and the first camp was held in March 2023. We selected teachers for the camp without registration, hoping to open new WikiClubs in their schools. Where there was an appropriate base, many of the participants were selected from these schools. After the camp ended, it turned out that most of the participants became active editors of Wikipedia, stayed on Wikipedia, and thus began to increase Wikipedia’s content. The idea paid off! Based on the results obtained, we decided to include the Teachers’ WikiCamp again in the 2024 Annual Plan of WMGE.
For the 2024 WikiCamp, we implemented a mixed selection process for participants. Six out of the 16 participants were selected from teachers at public schools in Sagarejo, Poti, and Zugdidi, where we plan to establish new WikiClubs this year. Each school contributed two participants. To fill the remaining 10 slots, we launched an open competition under the “WikiCamp for Teachers” banner, promoting it on social media starting January 22, 2024. Registration was open for four days and concluded on January 25, 2024, at 6:00 PM. Interested participants registered via our official Facebook page using the registration form.
The response from teachers exceeded all expectations. More than 500 teachers from all regions and municipalities of Georgia registered, which was very satisfying because we saw how popular Wikipedia and Wikitechnologies are throughout Georgia.
Following the close of registration, the selection committee dedicated several days to carefully reviewing applications. Their work, though challenging and exhaustive, was also deeply rewarding. Ultimately, the committee selected 10 participants, marking the conclusion of their tireless efforts.
WikiCamp, after all the preparatory work, was held in Borjomi on March 8–11, 2024. Sixteen teachers from various schools in Georgia learned the basic principles of working on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects for four days. WikiCamp participants learned Wikitechnologies and worked on Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia, Wikidata, Commons, Wikiquote, Wikisource, etc.). The main priority was working on Wikipedia.

(photo by MIKHEIL (WMGE); CC BY-SA 4.0)
Participants spent four days at a hotel arranged by Wikimedia Georgia, where they were provided with three meals daily. Guided by experienced Wikimedians, they actively contributed to the Georgian Wikipedia by creating and translating articles, adding items to Wikidata, and uploading images to Wikimedia Commons.
The WikiCamp successfully familiarized a group of highly motivated new volunteers with Wikipedia, Wikiquote, Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, and Wikisource. Notably, one participating teacher competed in Wikimedia Georgia’s “CEE Spring 2024” contest after the camp, creating 56 impressive new articles for the Georgian Wikipedia and earning second place in the contest.
Wikimedia Georgia is already working on organizing the 2025 Teacher’s WikiCamp, which will traditionally be held in March in Borjomi.

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