Dear all,

We are now October 2nd, the beginning of the Community Review of the 2014-2015 Annual Grant Program.

Wikimedia CH is one of the Wikimedia Affiliates asking for Movement funds through this process.

This year is an important period for us, for two reasons: first we wan’t to move forward with the support of the Offline Movement with the creation of a small software development team focusing on Kiwix, and second we apply for the pilot experiment of two years funding.

Wikimedia CH has always been a big supporter of the Offline Movement, and we believe that the volunteers active in this field need to be more supported.

It’s obvious, but I wan’t to emphasize it, Wikimedia CH's core ambition is to add significant value to volunteer work - not replace it.

I read sometimes comments who oppose Wikipedia Zero and Offline wikipedia, or present them as concurrent or redundant projects. But from our point ov view, this is not the case, on the contrary:  By creating an Offline Department we also want to give to the volunteers the mean to became strong partners of the Wikipedia Zero program. Wikipedia Zero is a unique program by its capacity to build partnership with powerful partners who can act on the digitale divide, but sometimes, if not often, the "Zero"  option is not the most suitable one and Wikipedia Offline would be more appropriate. By creating this Offline department we want to enable the Zero program, and other actors of the movement to, answers right away « you can talk to these folks, they have a solution ». I emphasize the « right away » on purpose; today, most of us had opportunities where we said «look with these folks, they may have a solution », knowing that it’s not possible to ask to volunteers to assume our promises. 

This year we apply for the pilot of two years funding, we believe that creating a software department is something ambitious, with some risks, and that it cannot be done without at least a two years planning, recruiting the best people takes time, setting up structure and processes  takes time, and if we don’t take this time, we just waste the money.

Bottom line: We need your support!

You can also show your support directly on the talk page of our APG proposal https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:APG/Proposals/2014-2015_round1/Wikimedia_CH/Proposal_form

FDC members would certainly appreciate, and me too ;-) , to see that Wikipedia Offline is something that matters for the Wikimedia Community.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you need more details.

Charles