AWW Wiki Skill Up– February 2025: Empowering African Women in Wikimedia
The Africa Wiki Women (AWW) Community is addressing the underrepresentation of African women in the Wikimedia movement by giving a series of activities to empower them within the open knowledge ecosystem using community-driven actions, research, and collaboration with other existing groups to bridge the gaps and showcase the diverse contributions of African women in the open movement.
At AWW, we are passionate about empowering African women to become transformative leaders in the global knowledge ecosystem. We equip them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to drive meaningful change across the continent. This February, as part of our ongoing commitment to uplift African women, we have designed several programs and training opportunities aimed at creating positive change in society through the AWW Skill Up workshop. This workshop aims to promote gender inclusivity, and address and reduce the gender gap in Wikimedia projects by enhancing digital literacy, research skills, and technical proficiency to improve content quality and participation in Wikimedia platforms, while actively working to bridge the gender gap in Wikimedia projects.
AWW Skill Up monthly workshops—February 2025
Our first training session which kicked off on the 1st of February, was designed to empower individuals with the tools and expertise necessary to become WikiCommons experts.
The session, facilitated by seasoned trainers Oby Ezeilo and Nwonwu Uchechukwu Pascaline, was hosted by Oluwapelumi Emmanuella Aina. The training attracted 34 participants from across Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, all eager to explore the features of Wikimedia Commons and learn how to contribute meaningfully.
Highlights of the Wikimedia Commons Training
The training provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of how Wikimedia Commons operates, as well as the crucial aspects of licensing and copyright laws that are vital for media contributions. Participants were guided through various skills, including how to upload images, write effective image descriptions, and handle translations to ensure that the materials are accessible to diverse global audiences.
In addition to theoretical knowledge, the training included a hands-on, practical session where participants were able to upload photos to Wikimedia Commons. This interactive segment allowed everyone to apply what they had learned, gaining confidence and competence in using the platform.
The program concluded with participants having a deeper understanding of how they can contribute to the rich pool of global knowledge available on Wikimedia Commons.
Looking Ahead
As we hold more training to skill up our African women within the movement, the Africa Wiki Women community remains committed to expanding opportunities that will support Women in addressing the gender gap in global open knowledge but also creating an ecosystem where African women can shine as leaders, content creators, and contributors to global discourse.
Join our next training program coming up on Friday, February 15th, 2025, by signing up here. Together, we can make a difference and drive the change we wish to see in the world.
For the latest updates on AWW and our upcoming events, follow us on our social media channels or visit our website. Don’t forget to register for our events and join our community by filling out our membership registration form!
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