Org:Let’s Connect Peer Learning
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| Description | Purpose: To further develop skills, share knowledge and promote human connections and mutual support, in alignment with the Movement Strategy. Born in response to Movement strategy discussions around skills development/peer learning, also conversations about new grantmaking strategies and communities requesting support beyond funding.
What? Flexible and fun peer learning spaces to share and learn a variety of skills and experiences around: 1. organizational and funding-related issues (such as writing proposals, 2. qualitative evaluation to tell impact stories, staffing issues, volunteer retention), 3. programmatic tactics (such as innovative approaches to training newcomers and good or innovative practices in areas such as culture & heritage, education), 4. interpersonal skills (such as conflict management, 5. Wikimedia project-related tools. For whom: It is for Wikimedians that are part of “organised groups” (this can range from a group of individuals that are not formally organised, user group, chapters, and mission-aligned organisations). They can be Wikimedia Funds grantee partners or potential grantee partners. How: So far we have 140 participants (60% from MEA region). How do these people participate? Learning clinics 1:1 connections - skills directory - human connections Connections to resources and other spaces Provide support structures to reduce barriers for those that currently find it more difficult to participate to share knowledge or learn from others. The let’s connect program is intended to build social connections and cooperation, diverse formats for a continuous, autonomous process, driven by needs and interests as they arise, and complement, not replace, other forms of more formal training and other capacity-building initiatives. It is a horizontal, non-formal, and flexible way of sharing knowledge amongst colleagues. Promotes a learning culture: we all have something to share (no stupid questions), this is not a form of evaluation, values learning from “failures' '. Valuing errors and honest reflection about WHY and HOW something worked or didn’t work. Newcomers, fresh ideas, and limited knowledge of the “Wikimedian ways of doing things”. Giving space for groups that are not often seen. Results to date: Stage of the activity: Piloting (started April-August). Learning and adjusting stage for thinking about the second phase. Some results: Consolidated a Community-Foundation team to co-operate the programme. Open call to participate through community-based communications: 140 Wikimedians registered (65% MEA, 14% South Asia, 12% LAC, 2% CEE 2%, 2,% NWE, 1% USCA, 1% ESEAP, 1% NWE, 2% WMF staff) Diverse participants: mostly new and medium-level organisers, keen to learn more. About 50% are closely associated with affiliates. Tools and methods: 10 Learning clinics: workshop-type online encounters around skills of interest. With shared resources. In each workshop there have been about 25 live participants. 17 1:1 online encounters or cluster groups (3-4 people) around skills of interest. Involving about 40 participants. Skills directory on Meta. Find people in the Movement to connect with Procedures to support connections and match people based on skills Pedagogical guidelines for skills sharing. Guides for preparing sessions Financial support (through rapid funds) and incentives (recognition and badges) Weekly conversation hours and telegram group (80 members) Resources page Incentives and recognitions 25% of participants have given feedback through surveys and interviews We have an inventory of the skills most participants want to share and learn. |
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| Primary recommendation | 6. Invest in Skills and Leadership Development |
| Secondary recommendation(s) | 10. Evaluate, Iterate, and Adapt • 5. Coordinate Across Stakeholders • 7. Manage Internal Knowledge |
| Regional focus | Global • East, Southeast Asia and Pacific (ESEAP) • South Asia • Sub-Saharan Africa • Middle East and North Africa (MENA) • Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Central Asia • Latin America and Caribbean • North America (United States and Canada) |
| Language focus | We are trying to be multi-lingual. Most activities are in English with translation when available and on request. It is an ongoing challenge. Particularly for learning resources and video translation. |
| Links | Links: Let’s Connect: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Knowledge_Sharing/Connect
Skill directory: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Knowledge_Sharing/Connect/Skills_Directory Registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiea87tSYmB2-1XHn_u8RLe7efMJifJBzffIM-6rtpx0PWqw/viewform |
| Stage | Evaluating (eg., monitoring, evaluation, learning) • Pilot (e.g., testing idea or model) |
| Seeking collaboration? | Yes |
| Seeking collaboration with | Work with affiliates to be part of the program as an organised group. Support and encourage you to organise learning clinics. Connect to learning clinics you are already organising. If resources are needed this can be done within grants or by applying for new funds. |
| Collaboration needs | Talk about our idea • Co-design a new activity • Replicate/Adapt our activity somewhere else |
| Contact person | JStephenson (WMF) Douglaseru Owula kpakpo |
| Wikimedia affiliation | Other |
| Other affiliation | Let's Connect Working group (I am part of the Foundation working with this group) |
Contact: letsconnectteam@wikimedia.org