Grants:Knowledge Sharing/Connect
Let’s Connect – Peer Learning Program
[edit ]What is the Let’s Connect – Peer learning program?
[edit ]Let’s Connect is an open, fun, and inclusive peer learning program designed for all Wikimedians to share knowledge, connect, and develop the necessary skills to enhance their Wikimedia contributions. The program promotes skill-building, networking, and knowledge exchange through online Learning Clinics, workshops at regional conferences, and learning resources. It formerly maintained a skills directory on Meta, allowing registered participants of Let’s Connect to connect with one another based on skills, language, country, and region. Starting in 2025, we are adopting Capacity Exchange tool (CapX) as the platform for this, as it is more user-friendly and multilingual.[1]
Since its start in April 2022, the initiative has grown significantly, reaching 730 participants across 44 countries and 70 language Wikipedias. It has engaged 64% of Wikimedia affiliates. The team has facilitated 71 Clinics on 30 topics, ranging from organizational, programmatic, and on-wiki skills. See the recent evaluation report.
As a collaboration between the Wikimedia Foundation and communities, Let’s Connect is driven by embedded community liaisons who ensure outreach and inclusivity, with operational, resource, and evaluation support from Foundation staff.
Where did this initiative come from?
In early 2022, Let’s Connect was designed as a response to Movement Strategy recommendations to develop peer connections and capacity-building opportunities within the movement. It was also a response to changes in the grantmaking strategy consultation, which emphasized the importance of support beyond funding.[2] Let’s Connect first began in early 2022, and after a successful 6-month pilot (see the pilot phase report), the program launched and scaled into the multilingual, community-led initiative it is today.
Who is Let’s Connect for?
[edit ]It is directed at Wikimedians in all regions.
Read some examples of how Let’s Connect has supported other Wikimedians and watch this video.
What does Let’s Connect offer?
[edit ]Activities organised by the Let’s Connect working group
[edit ]- 2 monthly Learning Clinics 🧠. These are online interactive workshops that are usually 2 hours. In these sessions, there are always community members who act as sharers to share their skills and knowledge. Check out all past Learning Clinics on the calendar page and access videos, audio recordings, and presentations on our resources page.
- 1 monthly Connectathon - an hour-long online space to connect in a fun and relaxed way around Wiki and non-Wiki topics. 🎈
- Live workshops in regional/global conferences 🎙️
What topics or skills are included in the Learning Clinics?
[edit ]The Learning Clinics cover a range of topics. Some are more relevant for newcomer Wikimedians seeking to learn basic organising or on-wiki skills. Others will be more focused on Wikimedian organisers - staff or volunteers - who are primarily concerned with managing projects, running events, training, and overseeing volunteers, among other tasks. These can include organisers who are part of affiliates, non-recognised groups, or individuals working independently.
Some of the popular topics have included proposal writing for funding, project management, event organizing, volunteer retention, training for newcomers, conflict management, and Wikidata for newcomers.
In 2025/26 we hope to bring many new topics relevant to newcomers and more experienced organisers. From August 2025, all Clinics will be marked with a tag to indicate whether they are relevant to your role and experience.
- Relevant for newcomers
- Relevant for experienced organisers
What can the Let’s Connect team offer communities that want to implement the Let’s Connect peer learning model:
[edit ]- Templates and orientation to implement peer learning in your community 🫶
- Partnership to co-organise initiatives based on the Let’s Connect working group’s capacity 👋
Let’s Connect culture
[edit ]- Open, safe, and fun learning environment. A space that encourages solidarity, mutual aid, and bi-directional learning.
- Interactive: enabling human exchanges and hands-on experience.
- Flexible: allowing for multiple topics, formats, and timing. A space that values different forms of learning and seeks to provide multiple options to connect. One size does not fit all.
- Inclusive: seeking to make visible capacities in communities that are sometimes not visible. A space that welcomes newcomers, values fresh ideas.
- Welcomes curiosity and learning from mistakes: a space that welcomes curiosity and where there are no stupid questions. A space that welcomes errors.
Plans for 2025/2026
[edit ]After nearly three years of operation, Let’s Connect is seeking to expand and decentralise, allowing it to exist in multiple spaces and languages.
To make this happen this year, we will be piloting new ways of working while continuing to operate Learning Clinics and Connectathons every month.
This involves collaborating with hub initiatives and Let’s Connect ambassadors to utilise and adapt Let’s Connect methods, thereby expanding community ownership. We will be creating toolkits and training to adapt Let’s Connect to different contexts. We will also work with partners to design strategies to access resources (human, financial, and time) to implement local versions of Let’s Connect.
Join now
[edit ]Let’s Connect is here to help you connect with others. Join Let’s Connect to:
- Be part of skill-sharing Clinics (online workshops).
- Access learning materials.
- Join fun meetings to get to know other Wikimedians
- Share your experiences with the global community.
Click here to start participating!