ESEAP Conference 2024/Report/GhoziSeptiandri

Things learned at the conference

• As a member of the RGC (ESEAP), I had the opportunity to see presentations on the implementation of funded proposals. This was important for me, as it allowed me to participate not only as a reviewer and decision-maker but also to observe the implementation process. The grantees's presentations included metrics, obstacles, and next plans.
• As part of the organizing team, I gained deeper insights into how the Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia operates. I also shared my knowledge about the governance of other affiliates and communities in the region.
• Serving on the Program Committee for the third time at a Wiki International Conference, I have learned how to level-up my work by reflecting on and learning from past mistakes. For example, we shared and delegated tasks within the team, as we had more people supporting the organizers :).

Things the participant contributed or participated in the conference

• As Organizer:
  • Member of the Program Committee for the ESEAP Conference 2024. My journey began in December 2023 and continued through May 2024.
• As Speaker:
  • Speaker at Regional Grants Committee (ESEAP) session. I get support from other RGC members and PO (ESEAP) to run the session, particularly for the Q&A.
• As Participant, sessions that I attended:
  • Thursday, 9 May 2024
    • Straight to the Dinner :P. I arrived very late, so I missed Welcome Sunset Reception, Cultural performance :(. I will rewatch all the cultural performance via YouTube :).
  • Friday, 10 May 2024
    • Opening Ceremony
    • ESEAP Hub (1) – Introduction
    • Seeding an ecosystem of partners - funding and beyond
    • Regional Grants Committee (ESEAP) (Ofcourse, this is my session :D)
    • Utilizing Let's Connect in the ESEAP Region
    • Trip Activities - Mari Mari Cultural Village
  • Saturday, 11 May 2024
    • Indonesian Vulgarities in Wiktionary
    • Women@Work: More than just a Wikimedia contribution
    • How to Encourage Women in Mainland China to Actively Participate in the Wikimedia Global Movement
    • Group Photo
    • Preserving The Manuscripts Of The Malay World Using Wikisource
    • WikiMelayu: Inheriting the Malay Audio Visual Heritage of North Sumatra
    • Transforming Boarding School Students Through Wikipedia
    • The report of questionnaire of Japanese Wikimedians 2023
    • A 70-year-old Wikipedian talks about the charm of libraries
    • Creating a wiki club in a university & encouraging students' engagement on wikimedia projects
    • Live Band, Karaoke Party, and Dinner Buffet
  • Sunday, 12 May 2024
    • ESEAP perspectives in Wikimedia global governance
    • Fostering Collaborative Growth: Non-Conventional Approaches to Engaging, Networking, and Affiliate Advancement
    • Learnings from the Global Wiki Advocacy Meet-up - Implications for the ESEAP region
    • ESEAP Hub (3) – Future Plan
    • ESEAP Hub (4) – The Plan
    • Closing Ceremony

Plans after the conference (from what was learned or contributed in the conference)

• Continuing my duties as the Regional Grants Committee (ESEAP). The timing was perfect, as the conference took place before the final decisions for Round 2 (GSF & Alliance) and Cycle 5 (Rapid Fund) FY23/24. I met some applicants and saw their work over the past year, which will help in my decision-making.
• Rewatching all the recorded sessions available :)
• Planning a personal project and presenting it to the future conference (wiki and hopefully, non-wiki).

Comments/suggestions about the conference

• (Suggestion) Allocate funds for paid staff to handle communication with participants, scholars, presenters, and others, ensuring 24-hour availability. This allows volunteers to concentrate on concepts and decision-making.
• (Comment) Compared to the two Wikis International conferences I attended previously, ESEAP 2024 offers the best food options. There's a lot of variety, and I'm very happy with that! :D