Wikimedians of the Asia Pacific User Group
 | Non-Recognized Affiliate This group is currently not recognized by the Affiliations Committee. This may be because their application to become an affiliate was not approved or they may be operating outside the Wikimedia Affiliations system. To find the list of active Wikimedia affiliates, please visit the formal list of Wikimedia Movement Affiliates. |
| Wikimedians of the Asia Pacific User Group | |
|---|---|
 Proposed logo for Wikimedians of the Asia Pacific User Group | |
| Official language(s) | English |
| Other language(s) | Bengali, Hindi |
| Founder | Aishik Rehman |
| Key people | Aishik Rehman, Muhammad Yahya, Shakil Hosen |
| E-mail address | wapusergroup gmail.com |
| Telegram | @wapusergroup |
| @wapusergroup.fb | |
| Motto | Bridging cultures, sharing knowledge |
Wikimedians of the Asia Pacific User Group is a community of passionate volunteers committed to preserving and promoting the diverse cultural heritage of Asia and the Pacific region. Our mission is to save endangered or tribal languages, cultures, folklore, and other traditional knowledge of Asia-Pacific through Wikimedia projects such as Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata.
As a user group, we strive to build regional connections and support local or national Wikimedia communities across Asia and the Asia-Pacific. Through collaboration, advocacy, and knowledge-sharing, we aim to empower local Wikimedia communities to better serve their respective regions, and promote the values of free knowledge, open access, and community engagement.
Our work is guided by a commitment to cultural diversity, multilingualism, and local relevance. By working together, we can help to preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Asia and the Asia-Pacific for generations to come.
Regions
[edit]- Included Regions in WAP
- South Asia
- East Asia
- Southeast Asia
- Oceania
Objectives
[edit]- Approaches and Goals
Promoting Asian Languages and Cultures through Wikimedia Projects
WAP is dedicated to preserving and promoting the languages and cultures of the Asia-Pacific region through Wikimedia projects. By supporting language-specific initiatives, translation efforts, and the preservation of indigenous knowledge, WAP aims to ensure the representation of diverse languages and cultural heritage. Through the localization and expansion of Wikimedia projects in regional languages, WAP facilitates the creation of quality content and the documentation of local knowledge, fostering a platform that reflects the richness and diversity of Asian languages and cultures.
Strengthening Collaboration in the Asia-Pacific Wikimedia Community
WAP promotes collaboration and partnerships among diverse Wikimedia communities in the Asia-Pacific region. Through fostering connections between communities and facilitating knowledge sharing, WAP aims to enhance the availability of diverse content and strengthen the community of Wikimedia contributors. By organizing meetups, conferences, and online discussions, WAP encourages networking and collaboration, fostering cross-cultural understanding and regional initiatives. WAP also facilitates coordination and support among Wikimedia chapters, user groups, and individual contributors, promoting best practices and joint projects for a vibrant Asia-Pacific Wikimedia community.
Empowering Underrepresented Communities in Asia-Pacific
WAP is dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities in the Asia-Pacific region by providing resources, training, and mentorship. Serving as a representative organization in areas where no local chapter or user group exists, WAP aims to bridge the digital divide and amplify voices that are often unheard. By fostering collaboration, offering support, and facilitating community building efforts, WAP strives to uplift underrepresented communities across the region. Through comprehensive training programs, access to resources, and mentorship initiatives, WAP empowers individuals and communities to enhance their skills in content creation, editing, technical development, and community leadership. Additionally, WAP focuses on enriching small wikis of Asian languages, ensuring their growth and sustainability.
Enhancing Accessibility and Advocacy
WAP is dedicated to enhancing accessibility and promoting practical use of Wikimedia projects. Through initiatives like integrating Wikipedia into classrooms and fostering partnerships with educational institutions, WAP strives to increase public participation and support for Wikimedia initiatives. With a focus on open knowledge, free access to information, and advocacy efforts, WAP aims to amplify the value and impact of Wikimedia projects in the Asia-Pacific region.
Enhancing Technical Support for Asian Languages
Addressing language obstacles in Asian language Wikimedia communities, we aim to improve the writing, reading, and rendering experience of Asian scripts. Our focus is on localizing existing tools, developing new tools and scripts, and providing seamless technical support. With a vision for the future, we aspire to establish a dedicated technical support team to cater to the unique needs of Asian language Wikimedians.
Activities
and Events
[edit]- Ongoing and Planned Activities
- 2023
- February 2023
Done 01 February - 31 March : Wiki Loves Folklore in Bangladesh 2023- Done 01 February -15 April : Feminism and Folklore edit-a-thon 2023 in Bengali Wikipedia
- May 2023
- Done 22nd: Hold a preliminary meeting on WAP to discuss the official establishment of the user group.
- Done 23rd: Form a founding board comprising dedicated individuals who will oversee the operations of WAP for a period of two years.
- 24th: Submit an application for official recognition to Affcom.
- July 2023
- 01 -31: Organize Wiki Loves Women (+children) Asia 2023, building upon the success of Wiki Loves Women South Asia 2021, across all Asia-Pacific language Wikipedia communities.
- August 2023
- 01 - 15: Organize Wiki Loves Children 2023
- 16 - 30: Organize Wikiquote #SheSaid 2023
- September 2023
- 7 - 28: "WikiSync Asia-Pacific"
- Wiki Loves Monuments in 2023 on Asia
- October 2023
- --
- November 2023
- Wikipedia Asian Month 2023 on bnwiki
- December 2023
- ---
Management team
and contacts
[edit]Contacts
[edit]- Email: wapusergroup@gmail.com
- Social Media:
Founding Board
[edit]- Contact Persons
- Aishik Rehman, contact
aishikrehman.com - Muhammad Yahya, wikiyahia.xyz
- Shakil Hosen, mdsshakiltoolforge.org
- Structure and Regulations
-
- Initially, a three-member executive board, consisting of the founders and key individuals, will oversee the user group for a two-year term. Some of them will also serve as contact persons.
- In the second year, the board of the organization will be expanded to include up to seven members. The selection of new board members will be conducted through an election process, with active participation and voting from the user group members.
- From the third year onwards, the entire board will be elected annually by the members, with each board member serving a one-year term.
- Please note that these processes are subject to the user group's bylaws and may be modified based on member decisions.
Members
[edit]Interested in participating ?
- WAP offers open membership to active contributors of Wikimedia projects or participants in an organization whose mission aligns with it. Everyone interested in joining us is highly welcome! just add your name to the list below:
- Aishik Rehman (talk) 18:55, 7 May 2023 (UTC)
- —Yahya (talk • contribs.) 13:59, 8 May 2023 (UTC)
- ≈ Farhan «Talk» 14:41, 20 May 2023 (UTC)
- -J. Ansari Talk 16:06, 20 May 2023 (UTC)
- —MdsShakil (talk) 16:38, 20 May 2023 (UTC)
- -- कन्हाई प्रसाद चौरसिया (talk) 04:13, 21 May 2023 (UTC)
- ≈ MS Sakib «TalK» 16:00, 22 May 2023 (UTC)
- — SHEIKH (Talk) 16:04, 22 May 2023 (UTC)
- ~~ DeloarAkram (talk) 12:53, 7 December 2023 (UTC)
Stay connected with us :)
If you are enthusiastic about participating in our future events, we encourage you to stay connected with us. Join our community and follow social media channels to receive updates and announcements, ensuring that you never miss out on exciting opportunities.