CEE/Newsletter/Newsroom/Wikimedia Armenia Strengthens Regional Presence with 9th Wikiclub
- By: Mari Avetisyan
On November 23, Wikimedia Armenia launched a new Wikiclub at the Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University. This marks the establishment of Armenia’s 9th Wikiclub and the 3rd in the Tavush region. Notably, this Wikiclub is unique as it is the first in Armenia to be founded within a university campus.
On November 23, Wikimedia Armenia opened a Wikiclub in the Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University. This is the 9th Wikiclub in Armenia and 3rd in the Tavush region of Armenia. The other two Wikiclubs of the region are located in Koghb village which was founded in 2018 and in Kirants village in 2019.
Wikiclubs play a crucial role in engaging the younger generation and raising awareness about the Wikimedia movement in their respective regions. To address the challenge of regional inclusion, Wikimedia Armenia, based in the capital city, has successfully expanded its outreach through the establishment of Wikiclubs. These clubs are typically hosted within schools or youth centers, ensuring their stability and long-term continuity as generations of young people pass through them.
Wikiclubs are established in communities where there is genuine interest, whether in villages, towns, or cities. Each club is managed by an experienced trainer-coordinator, prepared and supported by Wikimedia Armenia. Funding is another critical component; Wikiclubs are financed by donor organizations, making the identification and engagement of donors an essential step in the process.
Over the past three years, Wikimedia Armenia has made significant progress by opening three Wikiclubs in different regions of Armenia. Among these, the Ijevan Wikiclub stands out as the only club established within a university. For over five years, Wikimedia Armenia has collaborated with the Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University, where students have participated in online internships with Wikimedia Armenia. As interest grew steadily, it became clear that formalizing a hub at the university was both necessary and timely.
The university administration, faculty and students, as well as Wikimedia Armenia staff from Yerevan took part in the Wikiclub opening ceremony. The president of Wikimedia Armenia, Arshak Shahenyan, delivered opening remarks. He introduced the activities and projects of the organization, the role and purpose of the Wikiclubs for Wikimedia Armenia and the movement in the country.
An opening speech was also delivered by the acting director of the Ijevan Branch of YSU, Anushavan Makaryan. He stressed the significance of the collaboration between the Ijevan Branch and Wikimedia Armenia which not only allows for the introduction of modern approaches in the field of education, enriching the creation and dissemination of quality content on Wikimedia platforms, but also provides students with the opportunity to do their internships and acquire practical skills in parallel with theoretical knowledge.
