This update can be found on the Wikimedia Diff blog here:
https://diff.wikimedia.org/2023/07/12/abstract-wikipedia-gains-new-support-…
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We are pleased to announce today that Abstract Wikipedia has gained the
support of The Rockefeller Foundation. We are quoting here from the Diff
blog post
<https://diff.wikimedia.org/2023/07/12/abstract-wikipedia-gains-new-support-from-the-rockefeller-foundation/>
:
*Abstract Wikipedia gains new support from The Rockefeller Foundation*
The Wikimedia Foundation is pleased to share that The Rockefeller Foundation
<https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/> has provided a $1 million grant to
support the development of Abstract Wikipedia
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Abstract_Wikipedia>, an initiative that
will enable more people to share more knowledge in more languages across
Wikipedia, accelerating the Wikimedia movement
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_movement>‘s Knowledge Equity
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_movement/2017#Our_strategic_direction:_Service_and_Equity>
goals.
The long-term aim of Abstract Wikipedia is to build a knowledge base
independent of language, making it easier for Wikipedia editors to share,
add, translate, and improve knowledge across languages on the online
encyclopedia. In short, the initiative will enable more people to
contribute content in their preferred languages, making the knowledge
available to a larger and more global audience.
The grant from The Rockefeller Foundation will also allow the Abstract
Wikipedia team to further develop Wikifunctions
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Abstract_Wikipedia>, the technical
infrastructure behind the idea of Abstract Wikipedia. Wikifunctions will
empower volunteers to create reusable code that can perform specific tasks,
such as generating text in a certain language.
“We are grateful to The Rockefeller Foundation for its generous support
towards the Wikimedia Foundation’s mission to ensure every person on the
planet has free and equitable access to knowledge,” shared Denny Vrandečić,
Head of Special Projects at the Wikimedia Foundation. “This project will
enable different language communities of Wikipedia volunteers to work
closer together by sharing code and content when writing Wikipedia
articles, regardless of whether they speak the same language.”
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on
collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and
innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish.
Their focus is scaling renewable energy for all, stimulating economic
mobility, and ensuring equitable access to health care and nutritious food.
Their support of Abstract Wikipedia aligns closely with The Rockefeller
Foundation’s goal of increasing access to reliable knowledge and
information.
“We are thrilled to support the Wikimedia Foundation and the wider
Wikimedia movement in its efforts to create Abstract Wikipedia, which has
the potential to revolutionize the way we think about and share knowledge,”
said Zia Khan, Senior Vice President of the Innovation initiative at The
Rockefeller Foundation. “By generating content from structured data,
Abstract Wikipedia can make knowledge more accessible and inclusive than
ever before. We are proud to be a part of this exciting project and look
forward to seeing its impact in the years to come.”
The Wikimedia Foundation remains focused on building a secure financial
future
<https://medium.com/freely-sharing-the-sum-of-all-knowledge/building-a-secure-financial-future-for-wikipedia-367c468ba471?source=friends_link&sk=a318053ff78b4a681d4f512c5ee956a0>.
Purpose-specific donations are one way to work with other organizations
that share our goals and want to support the vision of the Wikimedia
Foundation and wider free knowledge movement. Abstract Wikipedia’s work to
address knowledge gaps and increase the availability of multilingual
knowledge is closely connected to the movement’s 2030 strategic direction
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_movement/2017#Our_strategic_direction:_Service_and_Equity>
goals
of Knowledge Equity and Knowledge as a Service.
Thanks to The Rockefeller Foundation for their trust!