Dear Wikimedians, In celebration of International Women’s Day, Open Foundation West Africa (OFWA) is thrilled to announce the third edition of the Shine Her Light Writing Campaign, running from 4th March to 1st April 2026 under the theme "African women in governance."
This year is particularly special as it coincides with the 10th Anniversary of Open Foundation West Africa. For a decade, we have worked to empower communities and bridge the knowledge gap, and this edition of Shine Her Light is a testament to our continued commitment to gender equity in open knowledge. The Challenge: Despite their immense contributions to politics, science, leadership, and culture, African women remain significantly underrepresented on Wikipedia and its sister projects. Shine Her Light is our collective effort to change that narrative. How You Can Participate: - Write and Improve: Join our writing contest to create new biographies or improve existing articles about notable African women. - Join the Launch: Be part of our official kickoff event where we will outline the campaign goals and how to get involved on 4th March at 2:00 PM UTC. You will receive the Zoom link automatically after registering on Meta <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Event:Shine_Her_Light_Writing_Campaign_2026/Home> . - Participate in the Anniversary Special: At the end of March, we will host an "All-Female Brunch & Mentorship Session" in Accra, Ghana—a unique space for connection and learning as we wrap up the campaign and celebrate a decade of OFWA. Campaign Details: - Duration: 4th March – 1st April 2026 - Find all relevant information on the campaign’s meta page <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Event:Shine_Her_Light_Writing_Campaign_2026/Home> - Focus: African women leaders in politics and advocacy, activists, professionals, and heads of institutions. Don’t worry if you do not know where to start; we have curated an article list <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Event:Shine_Her_Light_Campaign_2026/Article_List> to help you out. We invite individuals, user groups, and chapters across the movement to join us. Whether you are a veteran editor or a newcomer, your contribution helps ensure that African women’s voices are visible and permanently recorded for future generations. Let’s work together to shine a light on the stories that matter. Best regards, -- Jael Serwaa Boateng Executive Director Open Foundation West Africa
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