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The 6th edition of the WikiChallenge African Schools competition was officially launched in December 2023, with record participation from eight French-speaking African countries and, for the very first time, an Anglophone country, Sierra Leone. The competition teaches students, who wouldn't otherwise have access to digital tools and resources, an invaluable tech skillset, opening up opportunities to advance in a world driven increasingly by technology. It does so by promoting the creation of educational content and encouraging students to actively contribute to Vikidia, Wikipedia's little sister, which also adds their voices, narratives and experiences to the global knowledge.
This year, 337 schools registered, and students participated in the competition, enthusiastically contributing local knowledge about their cultures and traditions . During this edition, an impressive total of 151 articles were produced on Vikidia, with 715 images and 38 videos uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. These contributions significantly enrich the online library of accessible knowledge for all and contribute to the democratization of education across Africa.
WikiChallenge African Schools has two tiers of prizes: national and international. At the national level, each winning school receives a €2,000 prize. National award ceremonies will be held at the beginning of the 2024 school year in each participating country.
The international winning schools receive a €5,000 prize.
Prizes are not monetary, but are awarded in equipment and school supplies, including backpacks, notebooks, computers, and other educational items that benefit the students directly. The monetary value of the prize can also be awarded in improvement of the studying environment for the children: building ablution facilities for better hygiene, and other renovations to buildings such as painting the school have been awarded in the past. These interventions have a long lasting impact and can benefit future students as well as the current prize winners.
International Prizes:
The three articles selected for the grand international prizes are:
IVORY COAST: Depeumankeukleu, EEP Kouepleu from the Kouepleu neighborhood in Zouan-Hounien
SENEGAL: Village of turtles, Ndiakhirate Ndiobène School from Rufisque
SIERRA LEONE: The Krio's Print Dress in Sierra Leone, Dele Preparatory School
National Prizes:
The nine articles selected for national prizes are:
CAMEROON: Lak Mbeza, Public School of Mokolo
IVORY COAST: Manzamouan, EEP Mafere from the Mafere neighborhood in Aboisso
GUINEA CONAKRY: Baramassa, EP Manda Saran from Lelouma
MADAGASCAR: Toamasina, SOS VE Mangarano
MALI: Songhai Braid, Sossokoïra A School from Gao
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC): Bayeke Kingdom, CS Jamaa Yetu
SENEGAL: Kankourang, Ataba Tabar School from Ziguinchor
SIERRA LEONE: Krio marriage in Sierra Leone, Kelmond Preparatory School
TUNISIA: Tifinagh Alphabet, El Fehmine School from Djerba
To read all the participating articles of the 2024 edition: https://bit.ly/ArticlesWC2024
About WikiChallenge African Schools:
Developed by Wiki In Africa in association with the Orange Foundation, WikiChallenge African Schools is an educational competition aimed at encouraging students aged 9 to 13 enrolled in the Orange Foundation's Digital Schools network to contribute to Vikidia by creating online educational content. The competition was first launched in 2017 in four French-speaking African countries.
To access the competition site, visit: https://bit.ly/WikiChallenge24
For more context: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiChallenge_Ecoles_d%27Afrique
About Wiki In Africa:
Wiki In Africa is a recognized non-profit organization based in South Africa and working across the African continent and beyond. Its mission is to decolonize knowledge and the internet by facilitating global access for all to open knowledge that reflects and represents the diverse cultures, peoples, biodiversities, and histories of the African continent as well as other previously marginalized and excluded communities, with the same depth and breadth as other knowledge.
It fights against content and contribution gaps that perpetuate the digital divide afflicting Africa by creating engaging and entertaining opportunities to advance skills acquisition, leadership development, and community building. In 2023, its main programs include Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Women, WikiFocus Africa Environment, WikiFundi, WikiChallenge Schools of Africa, and WikiAfrica Hour.
www.wikiinafrica.org
