Affiliations Committee/Candidates/December 2018

If you would like to be considered for an appointment to the Affiliations Committee during our current recruitment cycle, please post your application on this page. All applications must be submitted by 31 December 2018.

Your application must include the following information:

1. Your full name and Wikimedia username
2. A statement describing your relevant experience, skills, and motivation for joining the committee.
3. Answers to the following three questions:

1. How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on effective projects and initiatives?
2. What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement in the next three years?
3. What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you a uniquely qualified candidate?

All Wikimedians are invited to share endorsements and comments about candidates. If you provide a negative comment, please cite appropriate evidence for your concerns; it is not appropriate to simply state a negative opinion without factual evidence. We would like to maintain a friendly space for candidates to state their interest without fear of public ridicule.

I am Reda Kerbouche, founding member and manager of Wikimedians of Tamazight User Group and head of communication of Wikimedia Algeria since 2014. I am an active member of the community with various contributions to Wikimedia projects since 2010. I have organized several Wikimedia project in the last few years (I am proud of the Arabic Wikipedia MOOC). I support all languages communities, mostly indigenous languages. I have organized with my group several Wikimedia contests (Wiki Loves X). I presented several projects at several conferences around the world about Wikimedia.

I speak in French, Arabic, Russian, Tacawit, and English. I work for developing African and indigenous languages. I was in the scholarship committee of WikiIndaba and WikiArabia. I am also a member of Wiki Indaba Steering Committee.

I know how the Wikimedia community work and how to influence the new communities to start working. With my new user group, now we are about to start a new project sister of Wikipedia in a new language.

1. How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on effective projects and initiatives?

   I think the key to building high-impact projects is frequent meetings between affiliates who share common interests. Also the affiliates have quite active Wikimedians as members from all around the world that's make it very helpful for them to take effective decisions on recommendations.

2. What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement in the next three years?

   At this moment we have over than 100 user groups. I believe that we will see in the next three years, new chapters who have grown up from these user groups. as a result, it will extend the geography and ideologies of the Wikimedia movement, in the education, cultural and in the everyday life of the communities.

3. What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you a uniquely qualified candidate?

   I feel I will bring experience in community building, as well as working within a diverse group. And as I said above I'm working on indigenous languages and in my sector, there are not many active users, if I will have the opportunity to be a part of the committee, my goal will be to help these communities to organize themselves and work in the Wikimedia movement.

   I have international experience and I know a lot of specificity of several countries (I was born in Asia, I grew up in Africa and I live in Europe). I am sure I will be an asset to AffCom if my application is given a consideration.

1. Strong support Strong support -- I strongly support the application of Reda as we have worked closely in different contexts and projects. He has proven to be a true leader and an inspirational person that can make people sit together and work actively on several projects. The results that he had achieved are the best proof of his character. Besides that, Reda has an extensive experience in managing, participating and organizing many Wikimedia related events, and has been member of different committees and jurys related to them. His international profile and ability to speak several languages and combine different cultural background comes also to play in my opinion, as a role in the Affiliation Committee requires this kind of profile. I believe that the Wikimedian community in general and the Affiliation Community in particular will win a lot by accepting Reda in this position. Anass Sedrati (talk) 10:21, 20 November 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
2. Strong support Strong support -- Based on my experience working and dealing with Reda, he has always shown diligence in working on different kinds of projects. I do think that he is going to bring added value to the work of AffCom thus my strong support. Good luck! --Abdeaitali (talk) 11:16, 20 November 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
3. Strong support Strong support - Based on Reda excellent qualifications, and on Anass evaluation, whom I trust. But please, in case you are chosen, don't be just another sheep in the flock.- Darwin ^Ahoy! 15:04, 1 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
4. Strong support Strong support -- Reda, He is a member who has many years of experience and has done a lot of projects in wikimedia, and is the founder of several user groups. He is very active with the community and has very good contact with international communities, especially in the African community. He attended several conferences (Wikimania, Wikiarabia, WikiIndaba, Wiki Convention froncophone, Wiki conference Berlin and Wiki conference Russia). He is very skilled in communication. He is doing interviews in the international press about wikimedia projects. Technically it is available and dedicated in software design and offline and online project. He has piloted several projects (all the Wiki Loves X, the MOOCs) he has developed communication strategies. And he masters several languages. He defends minorities. Finally he is very open and he knows how to listen to others.--Great11 (talk) 14:26, 2 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
5. Strong support Strong support --Mehman 97 08:25, 11 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
6. Strong support Strong support --Jaba1977 (talk) 16:04, 11 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
7. Strong support Strong support Always supported kind and hard working persons!-Surprizi (talk) 16:54, 11 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
8. Strong support Strong support -- Before the creation of Wikimedia Algeria UG Reda has given us considerable support and strengthened the activity between the community of Algerian Wikimedans. He has participated in many regional conferences around the world. He is known to the international community and has good relations with all. as a member of the affcom, we trust his abilities to give more to the committee, we wish good luck to Reda--Mohammed Bachounda (talk) 10:03, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
9. Strong support Strong support -- The amount of diverse contribution by Reda to the Wikimedia Community makes him a deserving candidate. --Rogueassasin123 (talk) 02:52, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
10. Strong support Strong support -- he is the ideal person for the recruitment and motivation of projects and recognized for his vocation and commitment to make wikipedia a more open and accessible knowledge space and especially attractive through its multidisciplinary skills, energy and creativity.--Farajiibrahim (talk) 07:48, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
11. Strong support Strong support -- Reda is highly motivated to provide support to his peers and communities. His insights and strategies on WISCOM gives me confidence in his ability to make immense contributions to the Affcom.--Flixtey (talk) 22:05, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]

1. ...

I am the co-founder of the Wikisource Community User Group and active Wikidatan. I am also a member of Amical Wikimedia, Wikimedia Deutschland, and Wikimedia Belgium. I am currently volunteering at the Free Knowledge Advocacy Group EU in Belgium because I am interested in giving our movement a voice in politics. I have presented at several conferences, and I have attended two Wikimanias and two WMCON. I was in the scholarship committee for the first Wikidata Conference. I am also involved with Creative Commons and Open Knowledge Belgium.

My motivation to join the AffCom is to achieve expertise about the challenges that our movement faces around the world, so that I can serve the movement better. I'm also interested in knowing the inner workings of the AffCom and help conceptualize tools (technological or social) that streamline its processes.

1. How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on effective projects and initiatives?

   The organized part of the movement is based on personal relationships and trust, when that is present, then it is possible to assemble a group of volunteers that bring energy and dedication. Sometimes it is necessary to rely on paid staff or full-time volunteers because some projects are too time-consuming for the organizers. Additionally there should be an interest to start and join partnership projects, which is something that can be declared.

2. What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement in the next three years?

   If our movement aspires to be democratically steered, then the affiliates will have to get involved in internal political activities, which can be seen as time-consuming, but are necessary to keep the movement evolving and adapting to new circumstances. Affiliates can be the driving force of change in the structure of the movement, which should be editable just like any wiki policy.

3. What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you a uniquely qualified candidate?

   Besides of the outlined experience, and my passion for the movement, I frequently come up with new ideas, which are not necessarily practical, however they always bring insight and inspiration. I am also quite experienced at identifying and crafting consensus.

1. Support Support--19Tarrestnom65 (talk) 12:39, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
2. Support Support-- Darwin ^Ahoy! 21:06, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]

1. ...

I am a passionate wikipedian and wikimedian and I have a clear commitment to the movement. I am a sysop in Wikiquote. I am a founding member of Muj(lh)eres latinoamericanas en Wikimedia, Wikimedia Uruguay, Wikitherapy and Inter WikiWomen Collaboration. I am a very committed member of Wikimedia Spain and, currently, a Board Member of Wikimedia Argentina for the second term. I’ve been engaged with the Community Health and Harrasment Working Group, I am a member of the Wikimedia diversity Group and I am involved in the Iberocoop regional cooperation network. Online, I am a founding member of Wikiproyecto Mujeres, Mujeres en la Arquitectura, Proyecto mujeres árabes y latinoamericanas and Mujeres africanas in Wikipedia in Wikipedia in Spanish. I am the founder of Wikiquote en el hospital.

1- How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on effective projects and initiatives?

I believe that affiliates work best together when they know each other. Affiliates need to have many meetings, to share experiences and to establish realistic priorities when developing a collaborative work plan. In a collaborative environment, each user’s past experience, work style, cultural values, expectations, and self-interest will surface and impact the ability of the group to effectively work together. Communication is the key to work through challenging situations.

2- What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement in the next three years?

The role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement has a significant impact in the movement so it is very important to have healthy interplay among them and we need to understand it. Making a decision at the top of the organization it is useless if the affiliates don’t share it. There are many more chances of meeting the objectives and expectations when affiliates share the decision-making, so the role of affiliates should increase and should be much more important in the Wikimedia movement. We need direct communication channels and we need to encourage the movement to own the issues more collectively.

3- What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you a uniquely qualified candidate?

I can speak Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portugues and I understand some Hebrew. I have traveled a lot around the world and I have lived in several countries. I have strong experience in building new communities inside the movement. As a professional, part of my job as a counselor is to mediate between people in conflict. I am very good with interpersonal relationship building and I feel very comfortable working with collaborative groups. I am committed to learn and grow facing every new challenge and any new role which I would like to do. I believe that we should represent the movement's diversity and include more sensitive and diverse people. As a woman and as a Latin American, I believe that I can contribute not only with my experience and expertise but with my vision of the world.

1. Support Support Andrea is a passionate Wikimedian who has been active on several Wikiprojects for many years now. She is also an admin on Spanish Wikiquotes. Her work surrounding women and people with disabilities is quite notable. Given her passion, experience and hardwork, she makes the best candidate for AffCom. I wholeheartedly support Andrea's nomination to the AffCom. --Netha Hussain (talk) 14:07, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
2. Support Support Andrea has been a wikipedista for quite some time and has demonstrated her capacity for the position.--Fedaro (talk) 14:37, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
3. Support Support B25es (talk) 15:10, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
4. Strong support Strong support I met Andrea Patricia Kleiman in Mexico and over time, I have been continually excited watching her grow in the movement. She comes complete with high analytical and people skills. -- Blossom (talk) 16:15, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
5. Support Support --Roberto Fiadone (talk) 15:42, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
6. Support Support Una mujer muy proactiva y comprometida con su trabajo. --Flomarciani (talk) 16:46, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
7. Support Support She does an excellent job on Wikimedia, looking to reduce the existing gender gap. In addition, a female and Latin American representation is great. --Gastón Cuello (talk) 17:09, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
8. Strong support Strong support I support Andrea's nomination. She is a user with many years of experience in wikipedia and creator of multiple articles, many of them of great importance, in addition to her many collaborations to improve articles not her own. Her experience throughout the world makes her a user to take into account to work on projects at a global level. In my experience, when creating my first article, she was the first person who approached me with suggestions for improvement and from there she is the first user I think of having any questions and I learn a lot from her tips. And you can see on his talk page she acts with others the same way. Therefore, and several other factors, I think that in Wikipedia we would win a lot with Jaluj in this position. --Gustavoippolito (talk) 17:13, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
9. Strong support Strong support Andrea es una usuaria comprometida con el proyecto, todo mi apoyo. Laura Fiorucci (talk) 19:10, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
10. Strong support Strong support Aporta un trabajo muy importante, es constante y rigurosa.Tiputini (talk) 19:38, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
11. Strong support Strong support The presence of Andrea within Wikimedia is essential and as stated in previous comments, it adds value to reducing the gender gap, and also strengthens the achievement of projects in the Global South. Taichi - (あ!) 19:48, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
12. Support Support I think she will do a great job. Alpinu (talk) 21:29, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
13. Support Support I'm not supporting Andrea only because she's a woman or Latin American, but because besides that, she's trustworthy, compromised with and very active in Wikimedia projects, charismatic, and overall a friendly and nice person too. I believe she will be competent and able of independent thinking, something that is very much needed in AffCom. I very much disagree with the current system of AffCom candidatures, where whoever already is at AffCom gets to decides who joins or leaves the team, despite the will of the community, and ignoring any recommendations and warnings that are put forward by the community. That way the system tends to self perpetuate, and there hardly is any renovation at all. Last time Andrea proposed herself as a candidate she was not accepted, despite the overwhelming support by the Wikimedia community. I hope she will be accepted this time.- Darwin ^Ahoy! 22:23, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
14. Support Support --Adolfobrigido (talk) 23:17, 17 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
15. Support Support --Gelpgim22 (talk) 02:33, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
16. Support Support--Safi-iren (talk) 11:01, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
17. Support Support--19Tarrestnom65 (talk) 12:38, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
18. Support Support We need her. Wikimedia needs her.--Héctor Guido Calvo (talk) 17:50, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
19. Strong support Strong support Can't think of somebody more apt to the work, a strong person, as much passionate as she's reliable. Of course I support her. Sannita - not just another it.wiki sysop 21:12, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
20. Support Support I know about her work on and off wiki, and I trust she's a very strong candidate. Her presence in AffCom will add to a better view on gender gap issues and I believe she might work well with a diverse team in every level. --Edjoerv (talk) 21:42, 18 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]

1. ...

"Great success comes from small steps" and I have been taking small steps towards learning and gaining new experiences. As a wikimedian from a promising User Group, I have been contributing to various Wikimedia projects since 2014 and have been actively involved in planning and executing various promotional and collaborative activities related to Wiki. I’ve been involved in a number of offline and outreach activities and my major accomplishments related to Wikimedia work in India are- Program Coordinator for WikiConference India 2016, participated in the strategy track of WMCON-2017 and following the same, facilitated in organizing Affiliate led strategy salon in Patiala. I’ve been a resource person to the Train-the-Trainer program by CIS-A2K in 2017 and 2018 and have also assisted CIS-A2K in Wiki Advanced Training, where I shared my experiences, had sessions on different subjects, participated in brainstorming activities and got a chance to closely know and understand the wiki journeys of different participating wikimedians which helped us in designing our future projects. I have also been a part of the resource distribution team for Project Tiger and have been a jury member for Wiki Science Competition. The first experience of the cross-community association after WCI was with Hindi Wikimedians, where I joined the Wiki Awareness Campaign as a resource person and had a session on Wikimedia Movement: Diverse initiatives in India. I have also worked along with Wikimedians from different communities for projects like-WikigraphistsBootcampIndia, and Wiki Women for Women Wellbeing. I am also working for some future activities like Wiki Library Project and heritage project. A proposal regarding Wiki Women Meetup has been proposed to CIS-A2K where the issues faced by women editors and the probable solutions to retain and promote women editors will be discussed. As South Asian wikimedians, we have shared situations and concerns, interactions with other wikimedians at different events facilitated in noticing the common issues and to imply the probable solutions. As a member of the committee, I would be able to project these concerns to a larger community of people with diverse backgrounds, experience and wisdom which would help the Affiliates to deal with these issues in a better way and will also provide insight to the unexplored aspects of the challenges faced by communities which might act as a base to design future initiatives.

How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on effective projects and initiatives?

The knowledge comes not only from the people who agree, but a lot of the ones who disagree, It is not always necessary to be directly involved in a project, but being a bridge and letting affiliates know about other affiliates focussing on the similar theme to establish collaborations, sharing the issues and experiences of affiliates with each other to assist them in countering issues or avoiding them. In the pursuit of bettering the environment and knowing the team, frequent Meetups- online or offline should be organized. by focussing on the elements of diversity which are important in a jurisdiction and following the same, keep our initiatives user-centric and think of movement as service and experience. The team should be open and authentic in decision making, helping lift others up and working towards a shared goal of building influence. By never hindering each other from trying new things and giving everyone a fair chance to practice what they believe will work well for the community growth. I believe the most profound diversity is the diversity of thoughts and we should never fail to explore the same.

What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement in the next three years?

Wikimedians are learning a lot from each other and because of this exposure and enrichment of thoughts, the movement is growing and expanding the zones of consideration, which has lead to the formation of a number of user groups. The affiliates are facing their own set of challenges which are making them more empowered and also opening new horizons for all kinds of knowledge enthusiasts. In future, these affiliates will expand the theme, subject and scope of the movement and will be more inclusive, empathetic, focused and organized.

What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you a uniquely qualified candidate?

I have been involved in various online and outreach activities which made me understand the community context, planning, action, and mobilization. Interaction with wikimedians from different communities gave me insight into the different practices being followed by them. I also made some amazing friends who gave me a new perspective about the situation our communities face and also some probable approaches that may be tried to counter the same. This experience has inculcated in me the ability to work unitedly for the growth of the movement by respecting every individual, acknowledging the ideas, encouraging the contributions, empowering people and celebrating the differences.

1. Support Support - Satpal Dandiwal (talk) 04:47, 19 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
2. Support Support - Raju Jangid (talk) 04:48, 19 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
3. Support Support - ਲਵਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ (talk) 04:50, 19 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
4. Support Support -Sangaram Keshari Senapati (talk) 04:52, 19 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
5. Strong support Strong support - I am confident of her knowledge and skills, to serve in AffCom. She has not only led various initiatives but also helped other succeed in their endeavours, and is a team-player. KCVelaga (talk) 04:58, 19 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
6. Strong support Strong support Jagseer01 (talk) 05:05, 19 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
7. Strong support Strong support - Sushma Sharma (talk) 05:07, 19 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
8. Strong support Strong support Perfect user for Affiliations Committee, She has very good experence in wikimedia. And I think her skill will be very useful for Affiliations Committee.--Jayprakash >>> Talk 05:11, 19 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
9. Strong support Strong supportR.P.Joshi talk 05:20, 19 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]
10. Strong support Strong support Abha Pradhan ^{(talk) |Contribs)} 05:30, 19 December 2018 (UTC) [reply ]

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