Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wiki Indaba - Letter to Katherine (L2K)

[Felix Nartey]

Thanks Katherine for the response. Such an inspiration to continue the L2K
series and to continuously pour out our concerns through this medium.

Cheers,
Felix Nartey

On Sat, Aug 12, 2017 at 4:15 PM, Justice Okai-Allotey 
wrote:

> This answer to our (L2K) is chilling and I hope it will renew our resolve
> in building the African Wikimedia movement.
>
> Thank You Katherine.
>
> On Aug 12, 2017 2:01 PM, "Katherine Maher"  wrote:
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> From Wikimania 2017 in Montreal, please find my formal response to the
>> L2K, in English and French. You can also find a copy on Meta, on the same
>> page as the original L2K.
>>
>> We look forward to meeting you all soon in Cape Town in 2018.
>>
>> Yours,
>> Katherine
>>
>> [1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiIndaba_conference_
>> 2017/Letter_to_Katherine_(L2K)
>>
>>
>> *Response to the L2K*
>>
>> Dear friends,
>>
>> Today, on the first day of Wikimania, I reflect on who is not here with
>> us in Montreal. The reasons are familiar: denied visas, limited time away
>> from work, the prohibitive cost of travel. However familiar the reasons,
>> they never cease to be frustrating: they are an ever-present reminder of
>> the challenges so many members of our global movement face.
>>
>> In particular I am compelled to note how few of our colleagues from our
>> African community are here with us this weekend. The past year has
>> demonstrated the enthusiasm, focus, and energy of our African communities,
>> and your rising voices in our global Wikimedia movement. When you are not
>> with us, we feel your absence.
>>
>> The Letter to Katherine is a vivid manifestation of the emerging
>> opportunity for our Wikimedia communities across Africa. It is a frank
>> acknowledgement of the unique circumstances in which many of our African
>> communities conduct their work. But in its existence, crafted together at
>> WikiIndaba, it is also a powerful reminder of the tremendous
>> accomplishments the community has already achieved.
>>
>> Already, we see the influence of the African communities on our broader
>> community. The L2K set an important precedent for the global movement,
>> including the drafting of the Carta de Buenos Aires [1] from the Iberocoop
>> community. And while we have been at work, so have you. Your continued
>> achievements give support to the momentum of the community — just last
>> month, Wikimedians in Cameroon formed a new User Group.
>>
>> We know that Wikimedia has a bright future across Africa. The diversity
>> of languages and cultures, the richness of your histories, and the
>> creativity and ambition of your nations: these all represent remarkable
>> opportunities for our movement to thrive and grow. We also know that
>> embracing these opportunities means changing some of the ways we do things.
>> We know that for Wikimedia to thrive across Africa, we must embrace Africa
>> in Wikimedia. We must listen to you, learn from you, and consider how we
>> grow together.
>>
>> I wanted to share, briefly, a few instances with you of how the L2K has
>> already guided the Foundation’s efforts. I hope you will accept these as
>> assurance of our commitment to the African community, and as an invitation
>> to continued conversation, while recognizing we have more work to do:
>>
>> *We are seeking new ways to support the capacity of African communities. *We
>> currently provide grants for training and supporting new and emerging
>> Wikimedians in Africa. In the fiscal year 2016-2017, we awarded 24 rapid
>> grants, and continued funding the Project Grants program which supports
>> projects such as the pan-African Wiki Loves Africa, South Africa’s
>> Joburgpedia, and Nigeria’s “Wikipedian in Residence” program, to mention a
>> few. Beyond these grants, we are committed to opening new forums for
>> members to learn communication, technical, and other skills.
>>
>> *We are facilitating peer support. *We agree with you that the best
>> resource is often a fellow Wikimedian, and we want to support members in
>> identifying experienced peers. Many in the African community have gathered
>> through the movement strategy process, and we provided support for
>> workshops and salons led by affiliates in Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, and soon in
>> Nigeria. The movement strategic direction will guide the Wikimedia
>> Foundation’s strategy through 2030; and we are grateful that it not only
>> reflects the voices of our African communities, but aspires to continue and
>> deepen these opportunities for connection.
>>
>> *We are offering resources on how to strengthen partnerships. *We
>> offered partnerships workshops and capacity building at Wikimedia
>> Conference in Berlin. For Africa specifically, we are continuing our
>> regularly scheduled, quarterly “office hours,” with the Foundation’s
>> Partnerships and Global Reach team available to answer questions, share
>> updates, and explore new opportunities.
>>
>> We recognize that 2018 will be Africa’s year in the Wikimedia mo

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wiki Indaba - Letter to Katherine (L2K)

[Katherine Maher]

Dear all,

From Wikimania 2017 in Montreal, please find my formal response to the L2K,
in English and French. You can also find a copy on Meta, on the same page
as the original L2K.

We look forward to meeting you all soon in Cape Town in 2018.

Yours,
Katherine

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiIndaba_conference_2017/Letter_to_Katherine_(L2K)


*Response to the L2K*

Dear friends,

Today, on the first day of Wikimania, I reflect on who is not here with us
in Montreal. The reasons are familiar: denied visas, limited time away from
work, the prohibitive cost of travel. However familiar the reasons, they
never cease to be frustrating: they are an ever-present reminder of the
challenges so many members of our global movement face.

In particular I am compelled to note how few of our colleagues from our
African community are here with us this weekend. The past year has
demonstrated the enthusiasm, focus, and energy of our African communities,
and your rising voices in our global Wikimedia movement. When you are not
with us, we feel your absence.

The Letter to Katherine is a vivid manifestation of the emerging
opportunity for our Wikimedia communities across Africa. It is a frank
acknowledgement of the unique circumstances in which many of our African
communities conduct their work. But in its existence, crafted together at
WikiIndaba, it is also a powerful reminder of the tremendous
accomplishments the community has already achieved.

Already, we see the influence of the African communities on our broader
community. The L2K set an important precedent for the global movement,
including the drafting of the Carta de Buenos Aires [1] from the Iberocoop
community. And while we have been at work, so have you. Your continued
achievements give support to the momentum of the community — just last
month, Wikimedians in Cameroon formed a new User Group.

We know that Wikimedia has a bright future across Africa. The diversity of
languages and cultures, the richness of your histories, and the creativity
and ambition of your nations: these all represent remarkable opportunities
for our movement to thrive and grow. We also know that embracing these
opportunities means changing some of the ways we do things. We know that
for Wikimedia to thrive across Africa, we must embrace Africa in Wikimedia.
We must listen to you, learn from you, and consider how we grow together.

I wanted to share, briefly, a few instances with you of how the L2K has
already guided the Foundation’s efforts. I hope you will accept these as
assurance of our commitment to the African community, and as an invitation
to continued conversation, while recognizing we have more work to do:

*We are seeking new ways to support the capacity of African communities. *We
currently provide grants for training and supporting new and emerging
Wikimedians in Africa. In the fiscal year 2016-2017, we awarded 24 rapid
grants, and continued funding the Project Grants program which supports
projects such as the pan-African Wiki Loves Africa, South Africa’s
Joburgpedia, and Nigeria’s “Wikipedian in Residence” program, to mention a
few. Beyond these grants, we are committed to opening new forums for
members to learn communication, technical, and other skills.

*We are facilitating peer support. *We agree with you that the best
resource is often a fellow Wikimedian, and we want to support members in
identifying experienced peers. Many in the African community have gathered
through the movement strategy process, and we provided support for
workshops and salons led by affiliates in Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, and soon in
Nigeria. The movement strategic direction will guide the Wikimedia
Foundation’s strategy through 2030; and we are grateful that it not only
reflects the voices of our African communities, but aspires to continue and
deepen these opportunities for connection.

*We are offering resources on how to strengthen partnerships. *We offered
partnerships workshops and capacity building at Wikimedia Conference in
Berlin. For Africa specifically, we are continuing our regularly scheduled,
quarterly “office hours,” with the Foundation’s Partnerships and Global
Reach team available to answer questions, share updates, and explore new
opportunities.

We recognize that 2018 will be Africa’s year in the Wikimedia movement. One
year from now, we will gather together in South Africa, for the second
African, and first sub-Saharan African, Wikimania. This will be an
opportunity to bring the global movement to what is currently (but
certainly not for long) the continent’s only chapter. We will also visit
Tunisia, for the first WikiIndaba in North Africa. I am deeply excited for
what the year will bring, and already looking forward to all of the
achievements we will have to celebrate together at Wikimania in one year’s
time..

I am grateful to you, the African community, for sharing your voice and
your experiences. Today at Wikimania, I pledge to continue our commitment
to the African 

[Wikimedia-l] Wiki Indaba - Letter to Katherine (L2K)

[Felix Nartey]

Dear Katherine,

I hope this email finds you well.

As resolved from the recent Wiki Indaba 2017 in Accra, Ghana please find
attached the L2K.[1]

This letter consists of the feedback collected from participants on two
sets of questions (explained further in the letter). The organizers of
Indaba analysed this data on behalf of the African conference participants.

We would also like to take the opportunity to appreciate Wikimedia
Foundation support including Asaf Bartov and Kacie Harold from Community
Engagement, Jack Rabah from the Global Reach Team, and Zack McCune from the
Communications Team.

See you soon at our next Wiki Indaba in Tunisia.

Best,

- Felix Nartey

[1] -
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiIndaba_conference_2017/Letter_to_Katherine_(L2K)
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