
WikiClub Tech is an initiative by a group of young tech and open-source enthusiasts who joined hands with a single aim: To empower students to contribute to the Wikimedia ecosystem through technology. Incubated by the IndicWiki Project at IIITH, our goal is to bridge the gap between academia and industry by providing students with the opportunity to gain practical experience, enhance their skills, and make a meaningful impact in the world of technology.
The initiative took early steps in mid 2023 and has now been running for the last one year. Hence, through this blog series, we aim to provide an introduction and share other key updates about the project with you all, stay tuned for more!
Road To Wiki Program
A critical part of our initiative is our program called Road to Wiki, it is an instrumental program that aims to create a platform for aspiring developers to immerse themselves in the open-source world of Wikimedia technologies. Over the past few months, the program has witnessed remarkable participation from students across diverse universities, enabling meaningful contributions to the ecosystem. From kick-off calls to hands-on assignments, this program has successfully bridged the gap between aspiring developers and the powerful ecosystem of Wiki technologies. In essence, The Road to Wiki program is all about empowering developers and building vibrant local communities through cohort-based learning opportunities and Collaborations
WikiClub Tech Outreach Events
Through the program we hosted sessions and in-person discussions at various Indian educational institutes like United Institute of Technology, Prayagraj, where more than 100 eager students attended the Kickoff Call, expressing a strong interest in becoming part of WikiTech ecosystem. Similarly, at Chitkara University, Alvas Institute of Engineering and Technology, and KIPM College of Engineering and Technology, each institution hosted an in-person session, with over 100 students attending each college. The enthusiasm across these campuses was tremendous, showcasing the students’ desire to engage with the WikiTech ecosystem at different times and venues.
Wiki Developer Playbook
To ensure a smooth onboarding process, we launched a Developer Playbook as a go-to guide that simplifies a contributor journey by offering step-by-step instructions, best practices, and resource links to foster collaboration and impactful contributions. Students and developers alike have been able to use the playbook to initiate their contributions with confidence and we have seen a positive engagement and retention rate among our audience.
Key Outcomes
- A major accomplishment of the program thus far is the successful installation of MediaWiki by more than 50+ students. This task, which involves downloading and configuring MediaWiki software, serves as a fundamental step towards engaging with Wikimedia platforms. Students reported their experiences through feedback forms, providing valuable insights into the installation process.
- Over 20 students have been able to sustain their engagement with the program and few of the cohort students secured successful scholarships to Wikimedia Technology summit 2024 (7 Students) , Indic Wikimedia Hackathon Bhubaneswar 2024 (6 Students), Wikimedia Hackathon 2025 (1 Student).
- Notably, Cohort 1 had nearly 25% participation from women; highlighting the growing involvement of women in open-source and tech communities, supporting our commitment to diversity and inclusion. But also a gap we will aim to plug further in our outreach efforts.
The Road Ahead: For Road To Wiki
The Road to Wiki program will continue to grow, with mentors and students collaborating closely to address challenges, explore new opportunities, and expand the reach of the Wikimedia movement. As we celebrate these early milestones, we remain committed to empowering communities and fostering innovation within the open-source ecosystem.
This journey is more than just installing software; it’s about empowering students to explore the vast possibilities within the WikiTech ecosystem, contribute to real-world projects, and collaborate with a global community of like-minded developers.
We would like to thank our mentors and guides from the Indic MediaWiki Developers User Group who have been instrumental in ensuring our students have the right information, support, and infrastructure available to them as they build on their WikiJourney. We also extend our thanks to the IndicWiki Team at IIITH for their critical support and encouragement of the WikiClub Tech initiative.
To know more about the program and to get in touch please visit our Meta Page or email wikitech@indicwiki.org

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