Benutzerin:Sparrow (2019)/Wikimanai2019Report

First of all I have to say that I felt somewhat bad that I even went to Stockholm or applied for the scholarship. I had too many other things going on to prepare as thoroughly as I had for the Wikimanias before. I didn't submit anything because of that.

I do also have to say that through experiences I made within the last months and also life changes my perspective on life changed. This includes everything starting from how I view the world, how I see myself in it and what I expect from myself and others. And this process had already started before I came to Stockholm. I don't know if this voluntary work is actually that helpful and good for the people doing it. I think it transcends into territory often where what they do should be compensated monetarily but isn't especially when people organise events etc. or coordinate spaces at Wikimania this year or just put in a lot of work for a specific project.

I thus have reconsidered my engagement and even though I had great experiences within events that I organized it was too much work and took too much time away from me. I don't see myself organising such event again if there is not even a small compensation for the organisers of it. Which there won't be because all work has to be voluntary and I get that. I'm still proud of all of the articles that I wrote. And everything else that was developed during all projects that I organized or coordinated.

I also feel like Wikipedia and the Wikimedia movement is somewhat biased. And I still feel conflicted about continuing to contribute to a project in which some voices are obviously silenced or people are again and again slandered to an extend where it's not possible to fight against that as a normal editor without fearing to get blocked. I just don't think that this is how it should be.

As I realised that I have to face the issue of sexual assault and abuse for myself in my life and I have to do so in a more open manner I could imagine if I'd organise some sort of cooperation then with organisations that are involved in combating those problems. Maybe small regular events would be better. Or targeted cooperations.

1. What bring I back from Wikimania for me and my work in Wikipedia?
   1. Well as always a lot. I guess the most valuable thing to take away was the human rights group. I hope that I'll be able to cooperate with them internationally and that they'll help to advance and spread awareness on sexual assault/ abuse and human trafficking.
   2. Any competitions or international contests have to be targeted on specific areas in which there is content missing for them to be successful.
   3. Editathons are most succesfull when they are fun, when they are organized by a small group and when they are regular events.
   4. Mental health is still heavily stigmatised and I can't talk about suffering from depression and PTSD without being stared at afterwards. But you can also gain a friend just by being open about being crazy. Any kidding aside I hope that other people feel less afraid about talking about heir issues if I'm able to do it. And I'll do it for as long as it takes to be able to do so without being stared at afterwards. Until it's as normal as saying that one has diabetes or asthma.
2. What have I learned in the chosen topic area (international exchange or movement strategy)?
   1. I might have learned about the stages that groups go through in their formation within the movement. With the LGBT group for example there was a quite chaotic group for a while. Then there were the two events that I organized and people got to know each other better through them and through meet- ups at international events. Then there was the event that Thomas orgnanized with more people from within the movement. And before and afterwards regular online meet- ups. Which made for a stable enough group to now organize a conference for the group and also to have valid representation within the movement and with the affcom etc. For the human rights group it will probably have to go through the same stages. That might take at least 1 or 2 years. So it's an organic process that mainly needs people that are dedicated and consistently there.
   2. People were fascinated by the LGBT event in Tunis that happened this year. Which made me happy because it somewhat happened because Houssem participated in my event in Stockholm. And I had also helped him a lot in setting it up. I don't know if I'm exaggerating but I somewhat think that the fact that this event was able to take place there started a butterfly effect in which the strategy meeting for the working groups then could also take place there, the work of the Tunesian user group was far more recognized within the movement and also maybe the human rights conference could take place there next year. So a small event had a big impact at the end internationally and specifically for the MENA region and I'm very happy about that. Small events can start chain effects.
   3. I understand why the movement strategy was implemented now better. It was in order to not lose focus on the main goal and clearly think about what steps need to be set to reach it in what time.
   4. I learned what departments and employees within the foundation are there to support whom and of additional support that I didn't know about before. For example concerning digital security and secure working spaces or paltforms provided, technical support, legal support and support in mental health issues.
3. What have I contributed to the conference? What worked out well and what not?
   1. Well as I didn't submit anything unfortunately far less than at previous editions. I stood next to the Wiki Loves Love poster during the poster session.
   2. I did also organize a human rights meet- up. Which was great to get to know more people within the movement interested in the topic and for everyone to connect. We learned what the issues are globally and I collected all contact details for people to stay in touch later.
   3. I was the first person to admit that I'm crazy during the mental health meet- up and demanded for some sort of training to be giving to all people dealing with the community internationally. I also talked with someone from the community health team later and said that it would be great if there were measures in place that would make it possible to report discrimination or wrongful behaviour of a chapter towards a mentally ill person.
4. Which ideas for projects or similar activities came into existence? How have I pursued them so far, what are my plans for the future?
   1. Human rights group. We'll have a meeting soon to talk about future plans. I would also like to write an article for wiki news about the group but would have to talk to everyone about it.
   2. Maybe an LGBT event in India with the help of Rupika (was also an idea of Houssem).
   3. Cooperation with Norwegian chapter especially in diversity and starting events in Trondheim or NTNU in particular.
5. Which contacts to international Wikimedians have I made or foster, on which topics? How do they affect my activities in Wikipedia or its sister projects, and how do I intend to carry on dialogue?
   1. Fostered: Rupika Sherma, MB- One, Shikeishu, Joy Agyepong, Kritzolina, Lukas Metzger, Axel Petersson, Mohsen Salek, Anas Sedrati, Irina Safaryan
   2. Made: Anna Torres, Carl Johan Sveningson, Sambasoccer27, Jon Harald Søby, Matthias Smed Larsen, Astrid Carlsen, Åsa Paaske
      1. I might work with Rupika Sherma on an LGBT event in India in 2020. Also probably within the Wiki Loves Folk international competition that will take place similar to WLL but more focused.
      2. Anna Torres is mainly coordinating the human rights group. I hope to cooperate with her on human rights issues in the future.
      3. Jon Harald Søby, Astrid Carlsen and Åsa Paaske are part of Wikimedia Norway and if I'll find the time I'll cooperate with them on diversity issues.
6. How have I shared my Wikimania experiences with my local community? Which activities are still planned for sharing?
   1. Nah. Not yet.
      1. Update: Around december 10th 2019 (anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights) will be different initiatives on human rights globally within the movement. I'd like to have one against commercial sexual exploitation of children and I've been working on a comprehensive list on that. As many milestones in this area were reached in Sweden or with the help of the Swedish government I hope to be able to have a small event in Stockholm. This is the list: [1] Once I receive the communication material from the human rights group I would also like to write an article in the Kurier about it.