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