Thanks On 3/29/12, Abbas Mahmood <[email protected]> wrote: > Never mind, Branton. Chris beat me to it :) > > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:01:16 +0000 > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia Kenya] ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY ANN NJERI > > > Branton, > > It is quite unclear which candidate answered these questions. Please > clarify. Also, do indicate whether these Q's are coming from the electoral > team or ordinary members. > > Abbas. > >> Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:45:23 +0300 >> From: [email protected] >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: [Wikimedia Kenya] ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY ANN NJERI >> >> 1. Why do you think you suit to be in the board of WKME? >> Firstly, I am willing to contribute my time and other resources as a >> leader as I seek to serve others with the objective of attaining the >> common good for society as a whole. I know there are those specialized >> skills and talents that I have which will contribute to build WKME, >> especially the Kenyan chapter. I may not know much but I’m willing >> to learn and I believe that’s the most important thing. I am a team >> player who believes that the more is yielded when we collaborate. We >> also need a female representative on the board and a place which I am >> ready to take up. >> 2. What is your take on the level of participation of members in the >> WKME projects/meetings/mailing list? Anything you think should be >> done differently? >> There is room for improvement, I speak also for myself. We need to be >> more dedicated to the projects that we do as well as build the spirit >> of solidarity in our midst by taking all successes and failures as a >> team and not individually. >> I would suggest that we attempt to have online meetings where we can >> conference as well as chat live. This will help counter the problem of >> unavailability of members for the meet-ups, increase number of >> meetings and kill the problem of need for geographical proximity. >> 3. As a board needs members with different skills (e.g. >> administrative, financial, public relations etc) please tell us which >> particular skill set you have worked in previously, like another >> society or organization? >> I have accounting skills that have been gained not only theoretically >> but practically. I have completed CPA (certified Public Accountant). >> I have also worked in Sarova Stanley in the accounts department. This >> will help assist greatly in maintaining accurate accounts based on >> accounting standards requirements. >> I am also a marketer having only one year left to complete my degree >> in Marketing and Finance. Early next month I will be working in >> Synovate Kenya, a research firm. The skills gained therein will be >> useful for us to develop strategies and invest in research that is >> useful in solving various challenges we have like getting and >> retaining editors. >> I also serve in the Leadership of Global Leadership interlink (GLI), >> an international organization that is seeking to build leaders in >> their formative years so that they can uphold ethical principles all >> through their lives. We carry out duties like organizing conferences, >> training of members, preparing content to be taught and discussed >> among other administrative tasks. >> >> >> >> >> 4. Which languages have you worked in so far? And what is your >> position on both a language policy and language strategy for WMKE? >> Sadly I have not worked in any languages so far but I do intend to in >> the future. A language strategy can be that of getting as many tribes >> as possible to contribute to building of Wikipedia. It may seem >> difficult but we have an example from the current local radio stations >> broadcasted in various local languages to learn from. Our pride comes >> from our culture which gives us our identity, something we should all >> be proud of. >> 5. How would you best deal with the issue of editor attraction and >> retention in our local chapter to ensure the growth of WKME as a >> whole? >> I think the best place to start is to research into the question “Why >> don’t people edit, and if they do, why are most people not committed?” >> The answers to the above questions can give us a guide to formulate >> strategy that will increase and retain editors. >> On speculation though, I think the idea of Wikimedia has not really >> sunk in the mind of many Kenyans let alone the issue of editing. I >> remember when we went to Kenyatta University and one of the senior >> lecturers had not heard of the concept Wikipedia. There is need to >> increase the sensitization that will help us attract more Kenyans. We >> need to come up with appeals that will reach out to the human >> component in all humans; that of contributing to the common good of >> all. There is need to communicate the benefits that people will get >> once they become contributors because most people look at their end of >> the deal “What’s in it for me?” The benefits need not be monetary >> because the last thing we need to do is increase our costs. >> >> 6. Now that we are an independent chapter, how do you plan to raise >> funds supposing the parent Wikipedia Foundation won’t avail funds to >> run the aforementioned project? >> Partnerships are crucial, which can be very fruitful in a day when >> firms are seeking avenues for CSR (corporate social responsibility). >> We just need to be bold and creative enough to come up with projects >> and present them to the corporate for financing. It’s not easy, but >> it’s possible. It doesn’t have to be about the money only since there >> are institutions that periodically change their computers so we can >> solicit for donations of computers to those schools that have few or >> none. >> The Ministry of Education can be a powerful source of finance. We can >> avail ourselves as the tools they will use to carry out their >> objectives since theirs is about advancement of education. The offline >> Wikipedia that is customized to the Kenyan syllabus can be very >> useful. >> >> 7 What kind of project/activity would you envision WKME and its >> members to undertake in order to fulfill the objectives of Wikimedia >> Foundation as a whole? >> I believe the project that is of utmost urgency is to both localize >> the content of the offline Wikipedia as well as continue sensitizing >> others of our existence and attract more people on board that will >> contribute to achievement of these objectives. >> There should be increase in telling the African story, be it through >> stories or even telling the history of our country in ways that will >> make people grow in the knowledge of the richness of our heritage. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WikimediaKE mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediake > > > _______________________________________________ > WikimediaKE mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediake
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