“The people made me stay” – Meet Mari Avetisyan, the Wikimedian of the Year

Mari’s Wikimedia journey began when a shy university student joined a WikiCamp, unsure whether she belonged. Today, she works at Wikimedia Armenia, contributes to Armenian Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata, serves as Chair of the Affiliations Committee, and supports Wikimedia initiatives at local, regional, and global levels. Recently recognized with a Wikimedian of the Year Honorary Award, she reflects on her unexpected path from hesitant volunteer to community leader, the importance of confidence and support, and the lessons she has learned along the way. For Mari, young people should not be viewed only as the movement’s next generation: we need to make space for them now and include them equally in shaping Wikimedia’s present and future.

To start, could you tell us a bit about yourself, and how your journey with the Wikimedia movement first began back in 2018?

M: I’m Mari, a Wikimedian from Armenia who joined the movement in 2018. Since then, Wikimedia has become both a big part of my professional life and a community that I feel deeply connected to. I work at Wikimedia Armenia and, in my free time, contribute to Armenian Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata.

Outside Wikimedia, I have a background in international affairs and political science, and I’m always curious about new things and people. I enjoy helping people, learning, travelling, and taking photos. I would probably describe myself as someone who is always ready to help and guide others, probably because I was raised in a family of teachers. I never say “I don’t know” when I believe there is a chance of finding an answer to a question.

It all started in 2018. I was in my last year of university and was looking for some volunteering opportunities. I saw an announcement about a WikiCamp, and I applied. At that time, I didn’t know that anyone could contribute to Wikipedia, but I used it a lot – the English edition, of course, because the Armenian one was lacking tangible information regarding my studies. Thus, by applying to this WikiCamp, I hoped I would be able to use my knowledge and interests to enrich Armenian Wikipedia.

Probably, the best way of joining the movement is through an active, fun, and Wikimedia project-focused initiative such as the WikiCamp. Being a shy person, I thought I would never belong, because there were so many bright individuals there that I was afraid I’d be lost in the crowd. However, it was actually a one-of-a-kind experience, where I fell in love with Wikipedia editing, socialized with people, developed my teamwork skills, and made friends, with whom I still keep in touch. I would say that the people and the immediate sense of belonging to this amazing community made me stay.

What has your Wikimedia journey been like since then, and what specific projects, roles, or initiatives are taking up most of your time and energy these days?

M: I would describe my journey as a process of gradual growth. I work for Wikimedia Armenia and also contribute as a volunteer to Armenian Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata. I especially enjoy WikiCamps because of the way they combine fun, community, and serious editing. I also love the “Wiki Loves…” photo contests, particularly the photo walks we organize each year. One of the most important lessons I have learned is how to work with people of different ages and backgrounds — how to communicate with different people, understand their needs, and find the right way to engage them.

Currently, I spend most of my time on local, regional, and global outreach for Wikimedia Armenia’s projects. At the same time, after taking the role of the Chair of the Affiliations Committee, I have many responsibilities, so I am trying to get used to this new position.

I would say that I spent most of my time and energy preparing everything for the Peer Learning Exchange between Wikimedia Armenia and Wikipedians of Slovenia User Group, and hosting amazing Nal Mencin at the Summer Youth WikiCamp 2026.

With such a packed schedule, how do you manage to balance your non-Wiki life with your favorite Wiki job, and what keeps you motivated to stay so deeply involved?

M: Actually, I have a full-time job that is completely non-Wiki. But I’ll be honest: even when I’m working in a totally different environment, my mind often keeps coming back to Wikimedia-related work. I have a saying about this: I have one full-time, non-Wiki job, and another favorite job – Wiki.

My regular week looks like a marathon 🙂 I find time during the lunch break to run to Wikimedia Armenia’s office, to catch up with my colleagues and discuss urgent matters. Sometimes my evenings are crammed with meetings, but sometimes I have time to relax and socialize with my family. On the weekend, I like hiking with my sister, hanging out with my family, or going to the countryside to enjoy nature if the weather is nice.

I believe two things keep me motivated. The first is the people and my community — the warmth, friendship, and support I feel all the time. The second is the belief that what we do is useful today and, hopefully, will remain valuable to future generations as well.

Is there a habit or skill you’ve developed through editing Wikipedia that has proved surprisingly useful in your life and work outside the movement?

M: While always looking for information for Wikipedia articles, I developed the habit of checking anything I don’t know. Now, whenever someone asks me a question and I don’t know the answer, I never simply say “I don’t know” — I say, “Let me check.” Over time, my friends and colleagues have learned that I’m the person to turn to when they have a question, because I’ll always try to find the answer and never disappoint them.

In today’s world, what do you see as the biggest value of Wikimedia, and why does it make so much sense for young people to join, contribute, and take on active roles within the movement?

Mari: Volunteerism and the people behind it.

I think that today young people are looking for new opportunities to grow in a fast-changing world. They want to contribute to something meaningful, but also to meet people, learn new skills, and take on responsibilities.

When I first joined, I was mostly attracted by the idea of contributing to free knowledge and sharing what I knew. At that time, volunteerism was not as widespread or visible as it is today, so young people were often eager to take advantage of any opportunity they came across. Today, I think young people also see Wikimedia as a place where they can grow personally and professionally, develop new skills, take on leadership roles, and have their voices heard.

It makes a lot of sense for young people to become contributors and take on different roles within the movement. As contributors, they help create and develop free knowledge, while taking on other roles gives them the opportunity to shape the movement itself and have a say in the decisions that affect its future.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for young people in the movement, and what would you tell those who feel intimidated or hesitant?

M: One of the biggest challenges for young people in Wikimedia is a lack of confidence, especially when they are new to the movement and feel that others have much more experience than they do. More experienced Wikimedians can help by creating a welcoming and supportive environment where young people feel comfortable asking questions, sharing their ideas, and taking on new responsibilities.

To young Wikimedians who lack confidence, I would say: don’t be afraid to take risks. Sometimes the most frightening roads lead to the most amazing destinations. Step outside your comfort zone, take on roles and responsibilities that may seem intimidating, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every new experience will make you more confident and, eventually, bolder.

You’ve collaborated extensively with young Wikimedians across the CEE region. What have you learned from that experience, and did anything surprise you?

M: What impressed me most was the enthusiasm of young Wikimedians from our region. Seeing how actively they contribute, take on roles and responsibilities, and come up with new ideas motivated me even more. It also reminded me that young people are often ready to take responsibility and lead when they are given the opportunity and support to do so.

What surprised me was how, despite being in different countries and sometimes having almost no interaction with each other, we often face very similar local challenges and come up with surprisingly similar ideas and solutions. It made me realize how much we can learn from each other and how much potential there is when we connect with each other.

Experienced Wikimedians have a lot to offer, but what can they learn from younger contributors, and how can they better support them?

M: I think young Wikimedians bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and different approaches to problems that experienced Wikimedians may have been dealing with for years. Sometimes, simply looking at a familiar problem from a different perspective can lead to a completely new solution.

I also think we should pay more attention to giving young people space to speak and act, rather than seeing them only as the future of the movement. They are already part of the movement today and have ideas and perspectives that can make it stronger. Creating a welcoming environment where they feel comfortable sharing their opinions, taking initiative, and even making mistakes is one of the best things experienced Wikimedians can do.

Receiving the Wikimedian of the Year award is an incredible milestone. What does this recognition mean to you, and what was it like stepping onto that stage?

M: It was completely unexpected and came as a real surprise. I had never really looked at my work from a bigger perspective because many of the things I do have become part of my everyday routine, so sometimes I forget just how much I am involved in. That is why receiving the Wikimedian of the Year award means the world to me. It reminded me that what I do is not invisible – it has an impact, and people see and appreciate it.

On stage, I was reliving the same feelings I had when I first found out about the award: surprise, happiness, and excitement. I think it really sank in when people, including those I had never met before, came up to congratulate me, say kind words, or simply smile at me as if they already knew who I was. That was a very special feeling.

Looking ahead to the coming years, what are your personal plans, dreams, and hopes for your continued involvement in the movement?

M: My dream is to keep going, supporting and motivating many more people, and becoming someone whom others can rely on and remember when they need a helping hand.

My plan is to continue being actively involved at different levels of the movement, to have an impact on both its present and future, and to help make Wikimedia a better place for everyone – whether they are experienced Wikimedians or newcomers.

Ultimately, I would like to look back one day and feel that I helped make a difference, not only through the things I accomplished myself, but through the people I supported and encouraged along the way.

To close, what is one simple thing we could all start doing in our daily Wikimedia activities to help make the movement even better?

M: I think we could all start talking more about the work we do and the impact it has outside the Wikimedia movement. We sometimes get so used to what we do that we forget how meaningful it can be to people who are not part of our community. Sharing those stories, explaining why free knowledge matters, and showing the real people who benefit from it could help more people understand our work and, hopefully, inspire them to become part of it.