A Decade of Giving: WiKiDZ’s Journey in Promoting Free Know

Celebrating an Exceptional Anniversary

WikiDz, the Algerian group, celebrated ten years of dedication, creativity, and teamwork. The occasion was more than just a celebration—it was an opportunity to reflect on a journey filled with achievements and experiences that embodied their values and principles. Group members gathered to reaffirm their motto: “Volunteer, there’s room for everyone; knowledge comes first, take action and contribute before asking.” They also reinforced their belief that volunteer work and initiative are the keys to change and progress in spreading knowledge to all.

From Foundation to Innovation: The Story of WiKiDZ and Digital Education

Since its launch in 2014, WikiDz has focused on promoting free knowledge by documenting Algerian content that was previously underrepresented. Despite facing resource challenges, the group relied on their own efforts, building a strong sense of self-reliance and volunteer spirit. Driven by their passion for free knowledge, they’ve kept pushing forward, overcoming obstacles and continuing to make an impact till today.

In Algeria, they launched the Wikipedia Education Program at several universities with support from organizers and professors who believed in the idea. The program ran for several years, reaching hundreds of students across three Algerian cities from 2014 to 2021. They also developed the Wiki Massak MOOC initiative with no funding to mark the 17th anniversary of Arabic Wikipedia. Local startups that believed in the project helped by providing resources and manpower. The course featured educational videos and a fully Arabic-localized website built on the Open edX platform. It attracted over 10,000 participants from around the world, including those who are blind or have low vision learners, making it a successful example of sustainable digital education.

Their efforts didn’t stop at encyclopedic knowledge initiatives and learning how to edit; they added a creative touch by producing Wiki Ghonia, a music video in Modern Standard Arabic celebrating Wikipedia’s role in spreading knowledge. The video, shot in a rap style aimed at young people, was performed by Abdou Salam, the only Arab rapper who sings in formal Arabic. It has garnered over 120,000 views so far, not including views on other platforms.

Pandemic Challenges: A Highly Efficient Digital Conference

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the group adapted thanks to their creative spirit and innovative capabilities. They successfully organized Wiki Arabia 2021—the fifth edition of the only Arab conference of its kind—virtually and remotely under the theme of “Openness.” The event took place from October 15 to 17, 2021, with a minimal budget compared to typical costs, showcasing the team’s efficiency in planning and execution.

The conference stood out by launching 03 simultaneous live streaming channels, a first for Wiki conferences. Wikimedia supported the organizers along with seven local startups over an eight-month period. Despite facing technical and logistical difficulties on their own, the group ensured the success of the event. More than 120 participants registered on the platform, and the organizing committee received 70 proposals for presentations, most of which were accepted to provide opportunities for everyone.

The conference featured global contributions from all continents, ensuring diversity. Presentations were delivered in both Arabic and English, with real-time translation provided for all sessions. The group made sure to offer full support to participants, maintaining communication with registrants and presenters before, during, and after the conference. Training workshops were also held to ensure a smooth experience for everyone, as the conference platform was open-source, and all software used was free and open software.

This achievement was more than just an event; it was a testament to the spirit of collaboration and creativity that defines WikiDz.

Enhancing Visual Content: Global Awards and WiKiDZ Success Stories

In addition to their other initiatives, the group strengthened its presence in photography competitions such as “Wiki Loves Monuments” since 2013 and contributed to enriching and highlighting Algerian and Arab content globally through competitions like “Wiki Loves Africa“. They participated in both local and international photo exhibitions, demonstrating how beautiful imagery can enhance Wikipedia articles. The photos collected during these competitions won several awards, including the most recent award for the Best African Photo, which further improved article quality as visual content continued to grow year after year.

As a summary: Total images uploaded: 18,293; Total participants (uploaders): 2,752; Total images used on Wikimedia projects: 2,568. This effort not only showcased Algeria’s cultural and natural heritage but also significantly improved the visual richness of Wikipedia articles.

As part of the effort to highlight the work of volunteers, one member of the group launched the “Wiki Faces” initiative during the Wiki Indaba conference in Tunisia. The initiative quickly gained widespread recognition and helped introduce the Wikimedia volunteers who work behind the scenes on Wikipedia and its sister projects—those often-unseen individuals who build content for the world’s most famous encyclopedia. Since then, “Wiki Faces” has become a tradition within the Wikimedia community, shedding light on the vital contributions of these dedicated volunteers.

Empowering Arab and African Communities

The group’s activities were not limited to the local level; they were also pioneers in supporting volunteers and Arab and African groups. While they benefited from the support of the global community and other groups, the members of this group did not hesitate to extend a helping hand to many of them in organizing their first events. They also played a crucial role in the emergence of new groups, such as those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Mauritania, providing them with the guidance and support needed to successfully launch their initiatives in the realm of free knowledge projects.

A New Vision: The Future of WiKiDZ with an Innovative Visual Identity

The group did not stop there; they also played an active role in shaping the global strategy of the Wikimedia movement through dialogues with the international community to define the future of knowledge-based projects. Members worked on updating their operational framework by adopting a charter that ensures the preservation of the group’s core values and focus on free, open knowledge, while prioritizing the spirit of volunteering above all else.

In 2024, the group evolved its operations by launching a new annual plan, led by a well-rounded team. They developed an updated visual identity crafted by group members according to their vision, with strong support from the design team at the foundation—and the results were impressive. Among the standout projects this year: Wiki Nomad (Version 2), the Visual Identity (Version 1), as well as other initiatives focused on enhancing both the quantity and quality of content.

On this occasion, the group would like to extend their gratitude to everyone who believed in them and helped support them, including organizations and individuals. Special thanks go out to the volunteers who have been the backbone of their efforts, as well as to Wikipedians from the Arab world and globally for their ongoing support.

Thank you all… the best is yet to come!

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Wiki Dz is a group of Algerian and non-Algerian internet enthusiasts living in Algeria and elsewhere. They use Wikimedia projects to recycle freely shared open knowledge for easier use. The main goal is to inform people about how to share, develop, and disseminate knowledge such as educational, cultural, and historical content, along with other materials available under free and shared licenses, all while complying with all relevant intellectual property and copyright laws.

To get in touch with the group, leave a message on the contact page or the mailing list.

Or read more through the publications.