A one-day edit-a-thon workshop organized by the Wikimedia Community User Group Madagascar and Global Voices Malagasy is planned for May 31, 2025 in four regions across Madagascar. The two groups invite those interested in contributing to free knowledge in Malagasy, as a way to highlight the language on more digital platforms, to sign-up to take part.

Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia created and edited by volunteers from around the world, is a very useful tool for accessing open knowledge about topics big and small. Wikipedia is not only available in widely spoken languages such as English and French, but also in less commonly used languages like Malagasy. Today, the Malagasy version of Wikipedia contains almost 100,000 articles. While the articles themselves are in Malagasy, the sources that they cite are frequently not in Malagasy.

Screenshot of the front page of Wikimedia in Malagasy

The Malagasy-language version of Global Voices, a nonprofit community-driven media organization, offers over 20,000 news articles about peoples and places all over the world that can serve as valuable sources for the Malagasy Wikipedia, if only they were to be incorporated.

Screenshot of Global Voices in Malagasy

Having references in the Malagasy language is essential for the development of Wikipedia in Malagasy, so, this collaboration presents a valuable opportunity for Wikipedia and Global Voices in Madagascar to work together in promoting the Malagasy language — which is precisely the goal of this workshop.

Thanks to the support from the Wikimedia Foundation’s Knowledge Equity Fund, we’re excited to announce that Wikimedia Community User Group Madagascar and Global Voices Malagasy are collaborating to organize this activity designed to bring together these two communities for a common goal: increasing open knowledge in Malagasy.

About the Organizers

Wikimedia Community User Group Madagascar is a group of young volunteers working to expand knowledge about Madagascar by creating new articles and improving existing content on Wikimedia platforms.

Global Voices is an international, multilingual community of writers, translators, and human rights activists. Together, we harness the power of the internet to share stories that build understanding across borders. Global Voices Lingua Malagasy is part of this global network, focused on translating Global Voices news articles into Malagasy, available under a free license. 

Workshop Objectives

This workshop will equip participants with the skills to:

• Create and edit content in Malagasy using Wikimedia platforms.
• Use articles from Global Voices Malagasy as reliable sources.
• Bring together the two communities to work together towards similar missions
• Create networks for mutual support while building connections with fellow participants.

Map of the four regions where the workshop will take place.

Event Details

• Date: May 31, 2025
• Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Lunch provided only for Antananarivo)
• Location: Held simultaneously in four regions of Madagascar: Analamanga (Antananarivo), Matsiatra Ambony, Boeny, and Diana

Participant Requirements

• Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking Malagasy
• Full-day availability on May 31 to attend the workshop
• Commitment to contribute at least three articles during the month of June
• Availability to attend the award ceremony on June 30, 2025

Participants who complete the full workshop will receive a certificate during the award ceremony.

Award Ceremony: June 30, 2025

Prizes 

• 1st prize : Dictionary (Big version)
• 2nd prize: Dictionary (Small)+ goodies
• 3rd prize: Dictionary (Small)

Cost

This workshop is completely free for selected participants.

How to Apply

Deadline: May 27, 2025, by 8:00 PM (Madagascar time)

Notification: Selected participants will receive a confirmation email by May 29, 2025