WikiFundi


Provides an offline editable environment that enables new contributors to learn how to edit Wikipedia when access to power, technology and the internet is unavailable. In Africa, access to electricity, technology and internet connectivity often fails or is not available at all. Driven by the belief that this should not prevent new editors from being trained or deter them from contributing to...


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More about WikiFundi

Provides an offline editable environment that enables new contributors to learn how to edit Wikipedia when access to power, technology and the internet is unavailable.

In Africa, access to electricity, technology and internet connectivity often fails or is not available at all. Driven by the belief that this should not prevent new editors from being trained or deter them from contributing to Wikipedia – WikiFundi provides an offline editable environment that is a similar experience to editing Wikipedia online.

This platform enables individuals, groups and communities to learn how to edit Wikipedia and work on articles collaboratively. Once completed and connected to the internet, these articles can be uploaded to Wikipedia.

The WikiFundi environment was designed and managed by Florence Devouard and Isla Haddow-Flood (Wiki In Africa) within the frame of the WikiAfrica movement. The creation of WikiFundi, and the proof of concept of Wikipack Africa and WikiChallenge African Schools, was funded by Foundation Orange, and supported by Wikimedia CH.

The project is currently operational in 17 countries via three programmes:

  • Wikipack Africa – where it assists the outreach work of Wikipedians in Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda
  • WikiChallenge African Schools – part of the Orange Foundation’s Digital Schools Project in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinée, Tunisia, Madagascar, Niger, Sénégal, and Mali.
  • WikiAfrica Schools – where WikiFundi is being used as the tool to integrate writing articles for Wikipedia into the school system in South Africa. A proof of concept is being conducted in 2017 at the African School of Excellence and with Global Teachers Institute, funded by lettera27.

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WikiAfrica is an international movement that takes place on the African continent and beyond. It encourages individuals, interested groups and organisations to create, expand and enhance online content about Africa. This involves motivating for the representation of the continent’s contemporary realities and history, its peoples and its innovations on the world’s most used encyclopaedia, Wikipedia. WikiAfrica is not owned by one organisation and it belongs to all people and organisations contributing to its scope.

In its various guises and hosted at several institutions (including Lettera27, Africa Centre, Ynternet.org, and Wikimedia CH), the WikiAfrica movement has consistently instigated and led multi-faceted innovative projects. These projects have activated communities and driven content onto Wikipedia. Examples include Share Your Knowledge, #OpenAfrica training Courses and Toolkits, Kumusha Bus (in Ethiopia and Ghana), WikiEntrepreneur (in Ethiopia and Malawi), Kumusha Takes Wiki (Cote d’Ivoire and Uganda) and Wiki Loves Africa.

Over 2016/17 it is working on Wiki Loves Women (in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut), WikiPack Africa, WikiFundi and the WikiChallenge African Schools (funded by the Orange Foundation), WikiAfrica Schools (funded by lettera27), Wikipedia Primary (funded by SUPSI) and Wiki Loves Africa (funded by Wikimedia Foundation).

>> To read more about WikiAfrica on meta.wikimedia.org 

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License

Creative Commons License
This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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More about The Impact of WikiAfrica

WikiAfrica was started in 2006 as a collaboration between Wikimedia IT and lettera27, since then – via the support of several organisations and the work of a few people – it has grown to embrace the continent and build communities. It has been pivotal in driving the current contributions done by communities across sub-Saharan Africa.

The Wiki Africa movement timeline 2006-2017

The projects detailed below form the main backbone of the WikiAfrica movement. They have all been conceptualised, instigated and led by three members of Wiki In Africa, although until 2017 through the agency or fiscal sponsorship of different organisations.

2006

  • WikiAfrica is launched by lettera27 Foundation in collaboration with Wikimedia Italia, led by Iolanda Pensa.

2009

  • A 30’000 African contributions to Wikimedia projects by 2012 milestone is set.

2011

  • The Africa Centre begins working on WikiAfrica projects, led by Isla Haddow-Flood.
  • Share Your Knowledge is launched to involve cultural institutions in contributing to the WikiAfrica milestone.

2012

2013

2014 

2015

  • The OpenAfrica15, a week-long WIR training course training 6 Wikipedians across Africa at the Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg.
  • 2015. The second edition of Wiki Loves Africa photographic competition is held and completed under the theme Cultural Fashion and Adornment.

2016

2017

  • Wiki In Africa is registered as an NGO in South Africa.
  • Official launch of WikiFundi, a software that provides off-line editing environment that mimics the Wikipedia environment.
  • #16WikiWomen translation drive is held to celebrate International Women’s Day for Wiki Loves Women.

WikiAfrica projects across Africa since 2013

Hosts and Partners

The organisations that have hosted or are collaborating on Wiki Africa projects include:

Credit: This website is managed and run by Wiki In Africa in order to ensure all contributions to WikiAfrica are recorded.