Grants talk:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Conference Fund/Wiki Gulf Camp (WGC)

Inquiry Regarding Gulf Countries Listed in the Proposal

Dear Applicant,

First of all, thank you for your efforts in supporting connections among Gulf region countries. This is crucial, as many of these countries are relatively small and have low Wiki activity.

I wanted to inquire about the Gulf countries you listed—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Notably, Iraq is missing from the list, despite being part of the Gulf region, as referenced here: Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

I bring this up not only because Iraq is geographically and culturally part of the Gulf, but also because there has been a recent influx of ambitious newcomers to the Wikimedia movement in Iraq. I believe this camp would provide them with a valuable opportunity to engage with peers from their region and strengthen their sustainability within the movement and it's a perfect fit for them since other conferences focus to bring more experienced wikimedians.

Once again, I truly appreciate your initiative in supporting New Arab Wikimedians in the Gulf, and I fully support this proposal.

Best, Alli Khalil (talk) 21:52, 9 February 2025 (UTC)

Feedback on Wiki Gulf Camp Proposal

Hi Serine, hi Duaa, hi everyone,

Thank you for submitting the proposal for the Wiki Gulf Camp. I appreciate the effort put into designing a regional event with a focus on engaging new contributors from the Gulf region. It is encouraging to see a proposal that seeks to address the underrepresentation of Gulf voices in the Wikimedia movement, and I recognize the strong organizational experience of the team behind this initiative. Below, I provide feedback on key aspects of the proposal, including its strengths, areas of concern, and recommendations for improvement.

Strengths of the Proposal

• The Gulf region remains significantly underrepresented in Wikimedia projects, and this initiative presents a promising opportunity to address that gap by encouraging participation from young contributors.
• The organizing team has demonstrated strong capacity in event coordination, particularly through their previous work on WikiArabia and other Wikimedia outreach efforts. Their ability to mobilize and engage participants, particularly through successful programs like the Emirates Literature Festival, highlights their strengths in outreach.
• The proposal acknowledges the importance of structured learning experiences for newcomers, which is essential in ensuring long-term engagement.
• The idea of regional collaboration is promising, particularly given the potential to strengthen networks and partnerships across Gulf countries.

Concerns & Challenges

• Newcomer-focused camps of this scale have limited proven effectiveness. While there is strong evidence that organizer-focused camps (e.g., Train-the-Trainer programs in Europe, Bootcamps in DC, trainings in Nigeria and Ghana, and future organizer programs in India and Indonesia) have high impact, large-scale newcomer camps with international travel and a five-day intensive structure have not been well tested.
• Participant selection & retention risks: Evidence suggests that successful programs typically require some prior engagement from participants before offering them an in-person experience. For instance, in the Green Digital Skills program in LATAM, participants had to complete an online course and demonstrate editing interest before receiving internship sponsorships. Similarly, WMF education projects in Iraq and Jordan required students to contribute to writing contests before receiving rewards, increasing long-term engagement.
• The challenge of ensuring meaningful participation: Without prior Wikimedia experience, there is a risk that newcomers may struggle with the complexity of Wikipedia's editing and policies. Many previous attempts to introduce newcomers via short-term events have struggled with retention. The event structure should ensure participants move beyond just an introductory experience.
• The high-cost-per-capita investment in non-contributors is difficult to justify. When events offer incentives such as fully-funded retreats, they risk attracting attendees who may not remain engaged in the movement. Experienced-focused retreats have been more effective in making progress on specific issues, such as resolving community disputes and fostering deeper engagement among established contributors.

Recommendations

1. Implement a structured pre-conference online learning component.
   • This could serve as a preparatory course where participants complete a set number of edits (e.g., 50–100 edits) or engage in multiple online events before being selected for the in-person camp.
   • Hybrid programs, such as Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom, have successfully leveraged asynchronous and pre-conference training to prepare participants.
   • A phased approach would ensure that attendees come to the camp with baseline knowledge and a demonstrated interest in contributing to Wikimedia.
2. Refine the target audience to prioritize high-potential contributors.
   • Rather than selecting participants solely based on interest, the camp should recruit participants from prior Wikimedia engagement programs.
   • This approach ensures that attendees have already shown commitment and are more likely to stay active beyond the camp.
3. Shift focus toward skill-building for contributors rather than pure outreach.
   • If the event includes newcomers, the training structure should be designed to upskill them beyond the basics, ensuring they are prepared to take on more meaningful contributions in the movement.
   • Bringing in experienced Wikimedians as mentors can help address common newcomer challenges, such as difficulty navigating Arabic Wikipedia’s rules and content moderation.

Conclusion

While the Wiki Gulf Camp has great potential to foster Wikimedia engagement in the region, I strongly recommend refining its structure to ensure long-term retention and impact – and reapplying in the next funding round. A phased approach with online pre-learning will help filter for serious participants and maximize the camp’s effectiveness. Additionally, aligning the event with best practices from successful training initiatives—such as requiring demonstrated contributions before selection—will help create a more sustainable impact.

Considering the concerns outlined, I recommend withdrawing the proposal. However, if you decide to proceed with the submission as it stands, please note that it is unlikely to be approved.

Best regards, --Cornelius Kibelka (WMF) (talk to me) 19:07, 20 February 2025 (UTC)