2025:Program/(infographic) Egypt Wikimedians User Group's epic journey through restrictions, problems, and challenges.
Session title: [infographic] Egypt Wikimedians User Group's epic journey through restrictions, problems, and challenges.
- Session type: Poster
- Track: Community Engagement
- Language: en
Egypt Wikimedians User Group is the second Arab group and the fifth African group. It had remarkable activities and received praise from others. However, in 2019, it faced problems and government restrictions that completely paralyzed the group, halting most of its activities. Most of its prominent members left the group, and it was even banned—for security reasons—from receiving any grants from WMF. In addition to numerous problems within the group, how was the group able to rebuild itself, return to the field, build partnerships, and restore a significant portion of its activity in such a short period of time?
Description
Egypt Wikimedians User Group is the second Arab group and the fifth African group. It had remarkable activities and received praise from others. However, in 2019, it faced problems and government restrictions that completely paralyzed the group, halting most of its activities. Most of its prominent members left the group, and it was even banned—for security reasons—from receiving any grants from WMF. In addition to numerous problems within the group, how was the group able to rebuild itself, return to the field, build partnerships, and restore a significant portion of its activity in such a short period of time?
Without drama, the Egypt Wikimedians User Group's journey was indeed a difficult and arduous one. It faced many difficulties, challenges, and problems, it was able to overcome them and rebuild itself. We believe this experience is beneficial and should be shared so that other groups can benefit from it and learn many lessons from it.
This journey will be presented in the form of an infographic and a timeline that illustrates all the milestones the group has achieved over the past two years, leading it to become one of the most active groups in the region.
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
In terms of impact, I believe that explaining this journey will have a positive and beneficial impact on many user groups that may have gone through the same experience. It will also be useful lessons for groups experiencing problems so that they can avoid these problems in a way that guarantees their stability.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Resources
Speakers
- Ibrahim Elaidy
- I'm a volunteer in Wikimedia since 2009, Bureaucrat and admin in ArWiki, Executive Director and Board member of Egypt Wikimedia User Group, founder of "Wiki Awareness" Project.
- a member of Wikimedia Regional Fund Committee, and a member of Coordinating Committee of the Universal Code of Conduct (U4C).
- I'm advocate for free images and Creative Commons licenses, I am a Creative Commons member, a VRT & license reviewer at Commons, and have authored two books and several articles on free licenses.
- Donia
- I am a board member of Egypt Wikimedians User Group the communication manager. I have been active in Wikimedia projects since 2019, organising many event: edit-a-thons, campaigns, photo contests, and writing contests.