Wikimedia European Affiliates Cooperation/Prague Workshop April 2025

Affiliate-Communities Relationships Workshop (working title)

The Wikimedia projects thrive thanks to the dedication and contributions of thousands of volunteers around the world. Wikimedia Affiliates play a pivotal role in supporting and empowering local communities, and linking them to the global Wikimedia Movement. While these two groups are deeply interdependent, their relationships can sometimes be challenged by tensions and mistrust, which may undermine our collective mission and put the future of the Wikimedia projects at risk.

We believe that this relationship has improved over the last years. However, recent governance conversations have shown that there is still a perceived gap between affiliates and the project communities that undermine our ability to make essential decisions as a Movement. We would like to discuss this narrative with you to get a better idea of the current state of the affiliate-communities relationship in your context, and reflect together on what can be done to strengthen ties between both groups.

To make a first step in this direction, we would like to organize an in-person workshop after WMEU general assembly to start exploring if and how this topic could be addressed in the future:

What do we want to do during this workshop?

1. Gather insights into the current landscape of affiliate-community relationships and the dynamics between Wikimedia organisations and individual contributors in Europe.
2. Create space for peer learning and exchange among affiliates, to identify ways to strengthen these relationships (e.g., community building, partnerships with local organizations, community health, etc. …)
3. Reflect on the role of affiliates within the Movement, including their responsibilities and commitments to the communities they support.

Who is organizing this?

A few European affiliates

Who can participate?

Everyone who will be in Prague to join the Wikimedia Europe General Assembly. The workshop is intended for affiliates (in and outside of Europe) but we are considering how to best include participation from others within the movement should they be interested. (please note: this is not a hybrid meeting, you have to be in Prague)