Mina,
Thanks for your input, and I hope you are eventually able to work your idea
into a proposal. I see that my original mail (which included the link you
request) didn't make it to the list. You can still see it here in the
archives from July as the last mail in the list under "Thread".
I don't know why it was blocked so I won't link it here but if you scroll
to the bottom of this mail and click there and then click through to
archives you will get there.
Maybe it's because I included too many links - I sometimes wonder about
these lists!
Jane
On Sat, Aug 1, 2015 at 9:38 AM, Mina Theofilatou <theoth(a)otenet.gr> wrote:
Hi all and happy August:)
I've been watching this discussion on Wikimania Scholarships, and I'm
happy that Ellie joined in the discussion: I think her reply was the most
valuable and well-referenced in the thread.
Being a first-time Wikimania scholarship participant - I was offered a
partial scholarship in 2011 but had to decline NOT because I wasn't
satisfied with the terms, but for serious personal reasons - I would like
to add a few comments to the discussion.
1) The Wikimania experience not only met my expecations, it exceeded them.
It was amazing to live the energy, the enthusiasm of the Wikimedia
community "live" for the first time instead of online. Finally meeting the
faces behind the usernames I had interacted with for years was magical. And
words cannot describe how I loved the place - Mexico City - all the new
Mexican and international friends I made both inside and outside the wiki
commuity, people I feel as if I've known for years... memories and
acquantances that will be treasured for life:)
2) That said, I have to agree with all those supporting newcomers to
Wikimania: this experience has added a new dimension to my relation with
the community, and even if I never attend another Wikimania, its impact
will last forever. So yes, I would be willing to "sacrifice" my chance at
another scholarship if I knew that in 2016 another equally eligible and
enthusiastic Wikimedian would have the opportunity to gain the Wikimania
experience like I did at Wikimania 2015.
3) New participants want to soak in as much Wikimania as they can: they
attend more sessions, interact with more people, attend all the receptions
and parties (which means MORE interaction, more acquaintances, more
prospects for collaboration on exciting transnational projects) and do not
have the attitude "been there, done that" that I discerned in a couple of
repeat scholarship recipients.
4) I agree that this doesn't mean repeat applications should be
discouraged: just that their applications should be STRINGENTLY reviewed.
For example: for me the most important session was IdeaLab, during which
the two wonderful ladies holding the session helped me shape an idea that
was going around in my mind for months into a proposal, which I will
hopefully develop into a grant. That was absolutely amazing and it wouldn't
have been possible if I weren't there. IF however I fail to develop the
proposal further, I see no reason why I should be entitled to eligibility
for a scholarship next year.
5) Finally, I would like someone to please provide a quick link to the
Scholarship online report section for 2015, as I am eager to write about my
experience.. I don't recall having received an e-mail pointing to the wiki
for this (I've only submitted the general attendee survey).
Thanks to Wikimania 2015 for an amazing experience, best wishes from
Kefalonia, Greece:)
Mina (User:Saintfevrier)