GLAM/Newsletter/January 2025/Contents/Aruba report

This Month in GLAM – Volume XV, Issue I, January 2025

Aruba report

Wikipedia on Aruba project has officially begun!

Short introduction

My name is Ginelly Quandt and as the Wikipedian in Residence, I am thrilled to embark on this journey to build a vibrant Wikipedia community in Aruba.

After returning to Aruba from my studies in the Netherlands, I began volunteering with a local NGO dedicated to preserving and protecting the Culture and Heritage of Rancho, the oldest neighbourhood in Oranjestad. Over time, I transitioned into a project leadership role, organizing cultural events and educational programs aimed at community participation in conserving our local heritage.

Post-COVID-19, I chose to continue my studies at the University of Aruba, which I now balance alongside my role as Wikipedian in Residence, working closely with my colleague Ricardo Arends, who serves as the project coordinator. This collaboration allows us to bridge academia, cultural preservation, and Wikimedia’s mission to make knowledge freely accessible to everyone.

The Caribbean is a region full of untold stories and unique heritage that deserves to be shared with the world. While Aruba is widely recognized as a tourist destination, there is so much more to its cultural and living heritage that remains unexplored. Through this project, I look forward to collaborating with local institutions to preserve and showcase our history, language, and culture on a global platform

What is the project about?

The goal of this pilot project is to establish a Wikipedia community in Aruba and other Dutch islands. Our focus is to promote the Papiamento/u language through the Wikipedia platform and showcase our heritage and culture to a global audience. To achieve this, we will organize edit-a-thons, writing events, photo walks and more, providing the community with opportunities to learn about the Wikimedia platform. Additionally, we aim to collaborate with local institutions, supporting them in making their collections more accessible and visible to the public.

This project is an initiative of Wikimedia Nederland in cooperation with Bibliotheca Nacional Aruba, Archivo Nacional Aruba, Monumentenfonds Aruba and UNOCA, and is funded by the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie

Do you have questions or want to be kept informed of progress? If so, please contact Michelle van Lanschot, project coordinator Wikimedia Netherlands, at vanlanschot@wikimedia.nl or follow the project page on meta-wiki which is continuously updated with new information.