{"id":6569,"date":"2026-07-31T09:02:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T07:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weblearning.co.za\/blog\/?p=6569"},"modified":"2026-08-02T10:24:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T08:24:12","slug":"wir-a-reality-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weblearning.co.za\/blog\/wir-a-reality-check\/","title":{"rendered":"WIR – a reality check"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I am writing this post from Berlin and the sense of unreality has receded. I really enjoyed every moment of the Wikimania Conference<\/a> at the Cite Sciences et Industries<\/a>. I can’t believe there was a point where I thought that the conference would not happen and I was about to turn down the chance to realise a life long dream and visit Berlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But back to reality and I need to bring up why I said that Wikipedia can be brutal. A group of “Wikipedians in Residence” have not been paid. At Wikimania I encountered our “bad actor”. Someone who is messing with people’s trust without any thought as to the consequences. Now I could focus on that one person, but that would be making her a scapegoat, punching down. In my experience things are usually much more complicated. Yes, B and her manager A (I have redacted their names) from African Wikipedia Alliance<\/a> represent the most visible part of this brutal Wikipedia. I want to focus the organisation and its leadership though. And its here I am holding leaders accountable and making my thoughts visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Code for Africa (CfA)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Code for Africa<\/a> positions itself as Africa’s “largest indigenous network of civic technology and open data \/ data journalism labs”. According to the introduction we received when I signed up as WIR, they have 110 full-time staff in 26 African countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I saw that CfA and the African Wikipedian Alliance (note that they do not have a website) were advertising for a WIR and I applied and was appointed from the 1 May to the 31 September (note these dates). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timeline of Events <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Code for Africa and the African Wikimedia Alliance seem to place adverts for a Wikipedian in Residence on a regular basis. On the 9 April<\/strong> 2026, I initiated a correspondence with three people (who all have a Code for Africa email addresses).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“I saw a notice about the African Wikipedian Alliance (AWA). My username on Wikipedia is Derek J Moore, and I would be very interested in finding out more.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The call and passes me onto a person called B who requested that I apply for “event organiser rights”. I don’t have these rights, but I apply, and on the 13 April<\/strong> I confirm to her that I do have event organiser rights. On the 22 April<\/strong>, I receive the following welcome letter from B<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Congratulations Derek!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re excited to let you know that you\u2019ve been selected as a 2026 AWA Inclusion<\/a> fellow. This five-month fellowship runs from 01 May to 30 September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a next step, you will be issued your fellowship contract, which stipulates your fellowship deliverables, remuneration, and other terms and conditions. Please review the contract carefully once you receive it, and if satisfied, sign and return it as instructed. In addition, please complete the Fellowship onboarding form<\/a> by 11:59 PM UTC on 24th April. This will help us prepare for your onboarding, which will take place in May. The specific onboarding start date will be communicated to you soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the onboarding phase, you will be expected to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n