Hello everyone
Wiki Loves Africa launches again in 2022!
Our 2022 theme will be Home + Habitat.
Another amazing opportunity to submit photos, videos or audios that will this year celebrate Home+Habitat across Africa! To have a better idea of what can be covered by the theme, check out this page : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Wiki_Loves_Africa_2022/Theme
We plan to launch at the same time than last year, Feb 15th.
Whilst it seems we are back in touch very early on (nearly 3 months in advance), it is to give the time to interested parties to organize themselves. As a reminder, everyone can participate to WLA, as long as it is on the theme and related to Africa.
Contrariwise to contests such as WLM, there is no notion of "registered countries". It is possible to participate from the entire African continent and beyond. However, every year, some african teams auto-organize to propose a program in their region or country around the photo contest. Such program can include training sessions, photo-walks, edit-a-thons, photo upload sessions, press conferences, ceremonies for national winners. The key point is flexibility. A group of two people will not do as much as a group of 15 people. A group may have grand ideas with many activities whilst another group will simply organize a photo-walk. Another will simply do some buzz on social media. The choice is entirely the group decision and any participation will be welcome.
HOW YOU CAN HELP (even if you are not african and/or not living in Africa)
1) you may participate to the contest - if you have relevant pictures on your hard drive, - or if visit Africa in the next 3 months, or - if you go to museums/festivals relevant to this year theme.
2) you may volunteer to help organize the contest. Typically, we are ALWAYS looking for people to - translate the meta pages or the Commons pages in French, Arabic and Portuguese in particular - join the jurys (national and international) - review the images, categorize them, label them as best images etc. - help on social media to promote the contest - etc.
There is a organizing portal on meta with lot's of information : https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wiki_Loves_Africa_2022 And a telegram group : https://t.me/+Smc82PP53yscNUIs
ACTIVITY FUNDING
When a group decides to host activities, it may need some funding. Funding can be obtained through different means, and in particular through rapid grants requests. What is important is that... to have a chance to have the funds in time for the contest, it is required to submit a Rapid Grant application now. The Rapid grants application deadline is 15th December.
To best support you, this year, the Wiki Loves Africa team propose Office Hours in the next two weeks. 2 will be hosted in English and 2 will be in French. More meetings will be organized early 2022, but those December Office Hours are primarily meant to help you if you need support to submit a Rapid Grant to Wikimedia Foundation. If you can not join one of those, we can always help on the Telegram Channel. Do not hesitate to ask for feedback and advice.
WLA Rapid Grants Office Hours: •In English, Saturday 4th December 2021 (10:00 AM UTC+2) •In French, Monday 6th December 2021 (12:00 PM UTC+1) •In English, Monday 13th December 2021 (17:00 UTC+2) •In French, Wednesday 15th December 2021 (18:00 UTC+1)
Details: https://bit.ly/3d5wIvY
Florence for the team