At the beginning of August, was held in Katowice (Poland) Wikimania 2024 the annual gathering of Wikimedians from around the world. On this occasion, Wikiesfera participated with several members of the group in the event, and was also present in the program through a presentation at the WikiWomen Summit, a presentation on the project in the general programme of the meeting and a Miss Cirquera Poster.
The Wikisphere Formula
At Wikimania 2024, we proudly share the Wikisphere experience with the presentation titled The Wikisphere Formula: A Feminist Approach to Bridging the Gender Gap, explaining How Our Feminist Community of Publishers Works to Reduce the Gender Gap on Wikipedia. We wanted to convey the importance of creating a collaborative and secure space where the participation of women and underrepresented groups is crucial. Importantly, we have published thousands of articles, improved many more, and filled important gaps in the knowledge available in the world's most consulted free encyclopedia.
What makes us unique is that we are a community composed mainly of women, something uncommon on Wikipedia. Our experience shows that it is possible to build a more diverse and inclusive encyclopedia, and we are sure that our model can inspire other groups to do the same, as in fact is already happening with our comrades in WikiAragon (@WikiAragon) which we had very much in mind.
We take this opportunity for our comrades from WikiEditors LX (@WikiEditorasLX), Ana Bragança (@am_anita) and Flavia Doria (@aflaviadoria) tell their own experience based on the Wikisphere model, and thanks to the fundamental intervention of our beloved Tila Cappelletto (@recortesdela).
It was a very emotional presentation and we felt that, together, we are transforming the digital landscape so that more voices are heard and represented.
The experiences of our wikis
This year, when the deadline for Wikimania scholarships opened, we suggested many of our editors apply. They have been editing for a little or a long time, what we wanted was for them to be encouraged to carry out and process and see another dimension of the project: the Wikimedia Movement's face-to-face events. Despite the accompaniment in the inscriptions, only one person from the team was awarded a scholarship and we began to think if We could help those who finally wanted to travel..
Some had doubts about not speaking English, others about being too new as editors... but I was flying over the feeling that, If we went together, we'd have a good time.. So we made the decision to take money from the grant from the Project Manager's salary to create our own Wikisphere Scholarships. It seemed important to us to have this experience, which, being in Europe, was more economically acceptable than in other parts of the world. And we are very happy with what we have experienced: traveling to these group meetings is much more enriching and fun ⁇
Upon returning from Wikimania, we proposed to the comrades who had come that, if they wanted, they would share their experience. We believe that, beyond the talks that are attended, Wikimania is an opportunity to meet Wikimedians from different countries and feel that we are part of a global movement The main objective of which is: Imagine a world in which every person has free access to the sum of all human knowledge..
I contacted Wikiesfera for the first time in February 2023. Since then Belonging to this group has only brought me beautiful and happy things. And it has also given me a little push on things that maybe I alone would not have dared.
One of them was to travel to Katowice in Poland to attend my first Wikimania: four days of presentations, talks and contacts that have exceeded all my expectations. It is true that my expectations were not very high. Having fun with my fellow Wikisphere members was enough. But in addition to this, which was all laughter, companionship and care among the six of us, I learned a lot about Wikipedia, about the Wikimedia Foundation, about the Movement, I met people with groups in other places (Argentina, Costa Rica, Portugal, ...), I met people who I do not know where they are from but who are doing very cool things on Wikipedia and who offered me collaborations with wonderful content, etc. That is, were a very profitable few days in wiki terms, but without leaving the personal and emotional aspect of everything.
In my specific case, everything I have learned (and everything I want to learn from the brushstrokes heard on Wikimania) I will try to transmit it in WikiMorada, which is the working group that we will start in Vigo from October. I am proud and amazed to have found people in Vigo so interested in reducing the gender gap in Wikipedia that they pull me to want this group to be a success (success here understood as a place of enjoyment, comfort and care). Thanks to the companions of Wikiesfera this will be easier and the road is being very joyful.
With all this, I encourage other Wikisphere partners to sign up for the next Wikimania or any other event of this style because fun, learning and enrichment are assured.
Sabela Cebro
All aspects of the trip, the hotel, the proximity to the city center and the event were perfect. The food, good and frequent. Both Polish people and participants of the event were friendly.
The contents of Wikimania were a pleasant surprise. The people were friendly, and many of them of varied and mixed origins, like me.. They dealt with a wide variety of topics and I know that many of them are of interest to some colleagues, such as Wikipedia in classes, Wikipedia and the press in Argentina, short presentations of works that have been carried out in several countries ... They also presented studies on the presence of the North American theme in all the Wikipedias of the world and groups of retired editors in the Czech Republic, for example. I'm still listening to the talks I missed.
It was a comfortable, friendly and special trip through the satisfaction of traveling with other women with similar interests. It seemed to me to star in a series of female researchers, each participating in the adventure with their specialty. Thank you for your company and patience girls!
Sylvia Hottinger
I come back from my first Wikimania in Katowice with the wish that it is not the last because I thought it was a very interesting experience which has reaffirmed my view that Wikipedia is a very powerful project.
Wikimania is a big conference, not only because of the number and variety of presentations and interesting activities on Wikipedia. The human dimension of this annual meeting with people from all continents is very attractive. Clearly, some continents have been more represented than others by that of the economy I suppose. The Foundation could already encourage the participation of Wikipedians from disadvantaged areas! This didn't occur to me to put in the valuation.
The ability to talk to different people has been very top. The couple of contacts I have brought from Wikimania makes me happy and I have to say that they have been possible thanks to the fact that my colleagues have always been willing to act as interpreters Because, my dear ones, the Wikipedia universe is in English and yet there are some small impulses to alleviate this hegemony. Believe me.
Wikimania is an event that you have to try not to miss and if you go in a group, better. I'm back with more desire to contribute to Wikipedia, with the widest and most delighted look to be part of this Movement. The next one is in Nairobi, in case someone wants to go for a walk.
Elena Ibáñez
All images are from Wikimedia Commons and are licensed CC-BY-SA-4.0. Attributions, Patryk Kajdrowicz (WMF) (cover image), Pedro J Pacheco y Patricia Horrillo.
English (UK)