Grants talk:TPS/Vantharith/BlogFestAsia2012/Report

Hi, Vantharith!

Thanks for this detailed report, and congratulations on your successful presentations. I found the background information on the status of Khmer Wikipedia and your outreach efforts very helpful.

I have a couple of further questions:

1. Could you clarify more explicitly whether there are, as a result of this event, new partners for you in (specifically) Wikimedia outreach (about Wikipedia, Commons, or any other project), in Cambodia? Asaf Bartov (WMF Grants) talk 22:52, 13 November 2012 (UTC)
2. When you say "we" and "our", relating to the social media presence you have created for the Khmer wiki projects, could you tell us a little more about the people behind it, besides yourself? Asaf Bartov (WMF Grants) talk 22:52, 13 November 2012 (UTC)

Thanks! Asaf Bartov (WMF Grants) talk 22:52, 13 November 2012 (UTC)

Dear Asaf,

Thanks for your questions. And please find the below responses:

1- During the event, we met people both individuals and those from several organizations from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap who expressed their interest in the free knowledge movement. They would like to cooperate with us to introduce such meaningful cause to their respective organization members and students, by conducting Wikipedia training events at their institutes, universities..etc. These institutions include Dept. of Media and Communication (DMC), RUPP; Pannasastra University, Sithi.org of CCHR and Open Institute.

• The problem we are having right now is, the lack of active offline support team based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to coordinate all these future cooperations and outreach activities because currently I am based in Seoul.
• We are relying strongly on volunteers and with the nature of volunteering, they come and go and we can't force people to devote and commit their time - it's all up to their willingness and free time availability. The next plan is to recruit active volunteers and set up an active offline team in the capital and we need to work on how to keep them active with some sorts of rewards and recognition.

2- Behind our social media, there are 7 admin including myself (Anirudh, some other kmwp sysop (Sovanvichet, Pheara, Sovichet), Nisetpdajsankha (active editor at kmwt) and Kimheng), managing our FB Fan Page.

• Again, with the nature of volunteering, and with their respective busy schedule, most of them become inactive as time flies. I am not sure if I am right, we have issues with retaining active volunteers and not yet able to making them feeling as they are part of a global community.
• Anirudh and I have briefly discussed on this issue and we still need to talk further on the plan and how the WMF can help us in any means.

Hope this answers your questions. Thank you very much! --វ័ណថារិទ្ធ (Vantharith) (talk) 06:59, 14 November 2012 (UTC)

Yes, thanks, these answers are perfect. Good luck with following up on the opportunities generated at this event, and let me know when you figure out what the WMF can help you with. Cheers! Asaf Bartov (WMF Grants) talk 17:35, 14 November 2012 (UTC)

Report accepted

Hello, Vantharith: Thank you for the report and for your answers to Asaf's questions. The committee has accepted this report and WMF will process your reimbursement now. Feel free to follow up with updates at any time. Regards, Wolliff (talk) 17:57, 14 November 2012 (UTC)