The gathering hosted at University for Development Studies, Ghana, attracted an impressive turnout of over 80 participants eager to contribute to Wikimedia projects. The event’s success is evidenced by the event dashboard, which logged 38 editors. These editors collectively crafted a remarkable 109 new articles, edited over 500 existing articles, and made a total of 3,660 edits. Notably, the event adopted a hybrid format to cater for participants who couldn’t attend in person.

The project period coincided with the university’s holiday period. This occasioned me and my team organizing the training workshops during the vacation. Inasmuch as it became tedious getting a large number of participants, this otherwise setback propelled us to work extra and made us connect closely with the first few participants or trainees.

Towards the conclusion, the event transformed into a contest, drawing the participation of 34 editors. Remarkably, this contest yielded over 109 newly created articles on the Moore Wikimedia Incubator. Prizes were distributed to the top performers, numbering approximately 5 individuals and 10 others taking consolation prizes. For detailed information, you can refer to the contest dashboard and scoresheet.

Post-event, we actively sought feedback from participants through a survey, aiming to understand their perspectives on the event and gather insights on areas for improvement. A total of 15 responses were received, providing valuable insights into the overall experience. The subsequent section encapsulates a summary of the findings and discussions derived from the participant survey.

Occupation of participants

The event took place at the university with a primary focus on engaging university staff and students. Interestingly, the event’s impact transcended this intended audience, as individuals from the broader university community, who were neither staff nor students, attended. This broader reach was a result of effective outreach and awareness initiatives.

Analyzing the responses received, it’s noteworthy that students of the University demonstrated the highest level of participation, closely followed by the Staff and attendees from other backgrounds. Refer to the chat below for a comprehensive breakdown of participant details and contributions.

Level of satisfaction and relevance of the event

Most participants indicated that they were satisfied with the event; content, facilitators, communication, practical sessions, venue, and food. A few were not satisfied. Most of the respondents agreed that the event was very relevant.

The event yielded significant outcomes as expressed by participants. Many participants expressed gaining new skills and valuable experience, particularly in editing Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. Participants learned how to add labels and Alias to Wikidata items, showcasing a diverse range of skills acquired. Respondents highlighted the acquisition of translation skills. The event emphasized the language diversity of Wikimedia projects, providing an opportunity for participants to contribute to their native languages, notably Moore.

Some participants had attempted individual edits before but faced challenges. The event served as an effective learning platform, enabling a positive experience in contributing to Wikimedia projects. Key takeaways for some participants included the richness of content, engagement in the contest, and the provision of refreshments, enhancing the overall experience. The event served as a period of collective learning for both facilitators and participants. Participants valued their experiences as editors and expressed gratitude to the Wikimedia Foundation for promoting inclusion and diversity. Acknowledgement was also extended to facilitators and experienced Wikimedians for their effective teaching.