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This gap does not stem from a lack of significant stories but from barriers such as limited access, inadequate digital skills, and a lack of mentorship opportunities. The program seeks to change this narrative by offering tailored training, close mentorship, and ongoing support to empower African women to confidently contribute to Wikimedia projects. Each cohort focuses on specific Wikimedia platforms, enabling participants to deepen their skills and make meaningful contributions in targeted areas.
What We Offer
Cross-community support: We welcome and mentor women nominated by other Wikimedia user groups, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the movement.
Small-group mentorship: We match experienced Wikimedia editors with small groups of mentees, ensuring personalized guidance, close support, and a safe space to learn.
Project-specific training: Participants receive tailored mentorship on selected Wikimedia projects whether Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, or Wikisource based on their interests and skills.
Why this matter
- Our 2024 Africa Wiki Women Technical Research reported that the majority of women lacked mentorship and skills on Wikimedia projects. The programs seeks to address this gap.
Who Can Join?
We welcome emerging African women Wikimedians who are passionate about knowledge creation, gender equity, and skills building on wikimedia projects. Whether you’re new to Wikimedia or already editing, this program will deepen your skills and confidence. In previous cohorts we have received selected women from other User groups to be mentored and groomed.
Duration
- 3-month period online mentorships
Why It Matters
Representation matters. The On WikiSkills Mentorship Program is about creating a more inclusive Wikimedia Movement—one where African women are mentored on skill building, knowledge sharing, and networking. This program invests in women’s capacity to tell their stories, document their histories, and shape the future of open knowledge.
Benefits for being a mentee
- Skill Enhancement: Mentees gain practical experience in Wikipedia editing, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and applying Wiki tools for storytelling and advocacy. This improves their digital literacy, research, and content creation skills.
- Personalized Guidance: Mentees receive one-on-one and group mentorship to help address challenges, stay on track, and achieve their learning goals within the program structure.
Visibility through documentation, publications
Networking: Through regular sessions and community interactions, mentees connect with mentors, peers, and Wikimedia leaders across countries, expanding their professional networks.
Confidence Building: By learning in a supportive environment and actively participating in tasks such as edit-a-thons, WikiSpaces, and visibility campaigns, mentees gain confidence and strengthen decision-making skills.
Certificate of Completion: All participants who complete the program successfully receive a certificate recognizing their new skills and contributions.
Additional Opportunities:
Stipend reward for active participation
Opportunity to host an AWW workshop in their local community
Paid volunteering opportunities in Wikimedia projects
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But despite the progress made over the years. True visibility remains elusive, as african women remain underrepresented and often confined to narrow, stereotypical frames. The diversity and authenticity of their stories are often overlooked .
The Africa Wiki Women Voices podcast has been created as an avenue for African women within the Wikimedia ecosystem and beyond to share their journeys, Ideas and inspire change that challenge stereotypes.
Editorial Scope
This podcast cut across African culture, lifestyle, and womanhood spotlighting the experiences, voices, and journeys of African women across the continent and in the diaspora.The conversations will delve into the realities, and challenges African women face within the ecosystem as well as their achievements.
Though inspired by the Wikimedia ecosystem, the podcast will go beyond it touching on a wide range of areas including technology, education, etc. Each episode will examine how these areas shape the representation of African women and how women are, in turn, shaping these spaces.
The aim is to amplify underrepresented voices, bridge knowledge gaps, and birth dialogue that drives growth, visibility, and empowerment for African women. Whether it’s a discussion on cultural preservation, navigating tech spaces, or the future of knowledge-sharing, the Africa Wiki Women Voices podcast is a platform for meaningful, thought-provoking conversations that inspire action and change.
Target Audience
The podcast is designed for diverse audience passionate about shaping Africa’s future:
- Community leaders who are committed to driving grassroots impact and empowering their communities through inclusive leadership.
- Young changemakers ; individuals who are challenging the status quo and redefining what’s possible across sectors.
- Gender advocates dedicated to promoting equality, inclusion, and the advancement of women and girls across Africa.
- Wikimedians and knowledge activists passionate about open access, representation, and closing the content gap for African women on global platforms.
- Women and young girls seeking inspiration, mentorship, and stories that affirm their identity, voice, and potential.
Join the Conversation
This podcast is available on all podcast platforms.To be a part of the great conversations that would be happening within this space, subscribe and follow on Spotify
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Objectives
To guide newbie editors to participate in contributing to the community’s goal of bridging gender-content gaps
Create new articles about African women who advocate for climate action
Improve and translate Wikipedia articles about these women
Address content gaps on gender and regional representation in sports.
Create and improve Wikidata items for African women in climate action
To guide newbie editors to participate in contributing to the community’s goal of bridging gender-content gaps
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This year, Africa Wiki Women (AWW) is excited to actively participate in the #SheSaid campaign as part of the initiative’s ongoing commitment to recognizing and celebrating the achievements of remarkable women leaders across the African continent and solving the problem of gender inequality and underrepresentation of African women in the Wikimedia space. AWW believes in the power of knowledge sharing and amplifying the voices of inspirational women.
Throughout the campaign, we will be organizing a series of engaging and informative training sessions. These sessions will equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to the creation and enhancement of Wikiquote entries dedicated to influential women from Africa and beyond.
Together, we can make a significant impact by ensuring that the voices and stories of these remarkable women are heard, celebrated, and shared with the world. Join us in celebrating women’s leadership through the #SheSaid campaign, and let’s work towards a more inclusive and equitable representation of women’s accomplishments on Wikiquote.
