Celebrating the Digital Inclusion WikiConnect 2024 Achievements
The Digital Inclusion WikiConnect 2024 project has come to a close, and we are excited to share the achievements of our participants in this impactful initiative. Together, we’ve made our contribution to bridging the digital divide by enhancing Wikipedia’s content, improving accessibility, and expanding global awareness about the issue.
To date, our achievements:
- 1 Article Created: A brand-new article was added to Wikipedia, expanding coverage on important topics.
- 9 Articles Edited: Participants made valuable contributions by editing and improving 9 existing articles.
- 56 Total Edits: A total of 56 edits were made, refining the content to make it more inclusive and relevant.
- 14 Editors: 14 individuals took part in the project, learning and engaging in editing and content creation.
- 3.6K Words Added: A collective effort added 3,600 words to Wikipedia, helping to make knowledge more accessible.
- 20 References Added: Participants contributed 20 references and footnotes, enhancing the reliability and credibility of the articles.
- 35.1K Article Views: The articles created and edited by our participants have amassed an estimated 35,100 views, amplifying the impact of their contributions.
- 2 Commons Uploads: In addition to edits and articles, 2 new files were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, enriching Wikipedia’s visual content.
Participants contributed to articles in multiple languages, including English, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, and Korean, furthering the project’s global reach.
A Celebratory Event
We celebrated the end of the project with a special event attended by several of our participants. It was a vibrant gathering filled with great food, valuable feedback, and the joy of accomplishment. Participants shared insights and received certificates and prizes for their outstanding contributions.
The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. Many participants expressed gratitude for the supportive and welcoming environment, and several mentioned how the project helped improve their collaboration and prioritisation skills. The flexibility of the project was particularly appreciated, allowing participants to select topics, languages, and how much time they wanted to dedicate.
What Worked Well:
- The project provided a supportive and collaborative environment that encouraged participants to engage and share their ideas.
- The flexibility allowed participants to explore topics and languages of their choice, fostering a sense of ownership.
- The Wiki-Shepherds played a great role in providing helpful guidance throughout the project.
What We Can Improve:
- Some participants suggested having more time to work on their tasks, as well as additional group sessions to encourage collaboration.
- Clearer initial training on Wikipedia editing, structure, and writing style would have been helpful for many participants.
- Defined milestones and goals, along with more structured guidance, would allow participants to track their progress and celebrate milestones.
Looking Ahead: As the project concludes, the enthusiasm and dedication of our participants continue to inspire us. If time were unlimited, many expressed interest in expanding their work on Wikipedia, including editing articles in multiple languages, adding new content, and making academic articles more accessible.
We’re also excited to share that some participants are still working on their articles, and we’ll keep you updated on how things evolve! Stay tuned for another blog post on their progress and the impact their continued efforts are making.
Reflecting on the success of the Digital Inclusion WikiConnect 2024 project, we’re excited to continue working toward closing the digital divide and fostering inclusive, accessible digital spaces. We’re incredibly proud of the impact made and look forward to future projects that will empower more individuals and communities in the digital age.
A sincere thank you to all participants, funders, staff, and supporters for making this project such a success!
Supported by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Fund, School of Computer Science, CS EDI Committee, and SACHI, and led by the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in Open Knowledge Network (IDEA Network for short!)