Proposal: 2012 Languages conference

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http://wikimania2011.wikimedia.org/wiki/Submissions/Missing_Wikipedias
http://wikimania2011.wikimedia.org/wiki/Submissions/Missing_Wikipedias


In order to continue the development of a strategy of creating Missing Wikipedias, and move towards implementing that strategy, we need to bring together people form the Language Committee, language experts and native speakers, in order to address issues relating to languages and writing systems that are preventing these Wikipedias from forming.
In order to continue the development of a strategy of creating Missing Wikipedias, and move towards implementing that strategy, we need to bring together people from the Language Committee, language experts and native speakers, in order to address issues relating to languages and writing systems that are preventing these Wikipedias from forming.


The best way to achieve this is to have conferences.  For cultural and accessibility reasons, these conferences should be held in the regions where the native speakers are, rather than in Europe and North America.
The best way to achieve this is to have conferences.  For cultural and accessibility reasons, these conferences should be held in the regions where the native speakers are, rather than in Europe and North America.

Revision as of 06:21, 6 August 2011

This page is a proposal being developed by our members.  The proposal was moved by John Vandenberg and seconded by Tony1. If you are not a member of the organisation, you may request an account on this wiki using special:RequestAccount, and discuss this proposal on the discussion page.


This proposal is for Wikimedia Australia to allocate AUD$60,000 to fund a languages conference held in Indonesia between August to November 2012.

Background

In May, the Wikimedia Australia committee looked at the issues relating to assisting languages which do not yet have a presence within Wikimedia. We had been specifically asked to look at funding the development of free fonts for one writing system of Indonesia, however we were conscious of the fact that there are many writing systems and languages missing from the Wikimedia community. We first needed a global strategy, and then the Wikimedia Foundation and chapters need to select which languages they will champion.

Also in May, Wikimedia Australia resolved to commission an expert to assist the Language Committee (LangCom) develop a strategy document for languages and writing systems, and the Language Committee held its first face-to-face meeting in Berlin.

http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Language_committee/May_2011_meeting#Projects_and_plans

Since May, LangCom member Millosh has created the Missing Wikipedians documentation, which will also form part of the languages strategy document that is needed. Millosh will be presenting this at Wikimania.

http://strategy.wikimedia.org/wiki/Missing_Wikipedias http://wikimania2011.wikimedia.org/wiki/Submissions/Missing_Wikipedias

In order to continue the development of a strategy of creating Missing Wikipedias, and move towards implementing that strategy, we need to bring together people from the Language Committee, language experts and native speakers, in order to address issues relating to languages and writing systems that are preventing these Wikipedias from forming.

The best way to achieve this is to have conferences. For cultural and accessibility reasons, these conferences should be held in the regions where the native speakers are, rather than in Europe and North America. As there are many missing languages in the Oceania region, we should hold a conference in this region that will be a model for other regions to follow.

(This part is a bit confidential until Wednesday) Wikimedia Australia is planning a conference in Adelaide for early 2012. The scope of this conference is broad, but limited to issues relating to existing free content Wikimedia projects. The organisation of this conference will be undertaken by Wikimedia Australia. As a result of this existing conference project, Wikimedia Australia doesnt have the capacity to also run the languages conference. John met with Siska in Canberra in May and is confident that Wikimedia Indonesia is best placed to run the language conference for languages in our region.

Budget

Wikimedia Australia will initially provide AUD$ 10,000 to Wikimedia Indonesia to organise the conference. These funds will be unrestricted and be provided to Wikimedia Indonesia after Wikimedia Australia, Wikimedia Indonesia and LangCom have an in-principle agreement on the scope of the conference. Wikimedia Indonesia will provide the Wikimedia Australia committee with a request for further funding once they have developed the conference and obtained quotes. This proposal reserves AUD$ 20,000 for this purpose.

AUD$ 10,000 for travel grants to be allocated by Wikimedia Australia for Australian attendees.

Flight from Australia to Bali : AUD $ 1,000 x 5 = $5,000
Two nights at Bali: $ 200 x 5 = $ 2,000

AUD$ 20,000 for travel grants to be allocated by LangCom for their own members and international attendees that they invite to attend.

Flight from Europe to Bali : AUD $ 1,500 x 10 = $15,000
Two nights at Bali: $ 200 x 10 = $ 2,000

The total amount that WMAU will allocate is AUD$60,000, with the following organisations responsible for the use of the funds:

  • $AUD 30,000 - Wikimedia Indonesia
  • $AUD 10,000 - Wikimedia Australia
  • $AUD 20,000 - LangCom

Responsibilities

Wikimedia Australia will be responsible for determining the scope and program of the conference, in consultation with the Language Committee and Wikimedia Indonesia. Wikimedia Australia will set up a private wiki for Wikimedia Australia, Wikimedia Indonesia and LangCom to use for internal communication.

The Language Committee will be responsible for selecting the papers and attendees.

Wikimedia Indonesia will be responsible for any other decisions regarding the conference, specifically any aspect of running the conference, and for requesting additional funding from Wikimedia Australia as required to achieve the desired outcomes.

Wikimedia Australia committee will be responsible for approving any additional funding requested, above the allocated amounts in the budget above.

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