GLAM/Newsletter/July 2025/Contents/Aruba report

This Month in GLAM – Volume XV, Issue VII, July 2025

Aruba report

Wikipedia on Aruba – From Island to Archive: Aruba’s Journey on Wikimedia

Ban Wiki! meet-ups

In recent months, Wikipedia on Aruba has taken active steps to raise awareness and promote participation in its Wikimedia project, aiming to increase representation of Aruba in global knowledge platforms. To reach and involve the community, the team has focused on outreach strategies that highlight how Wikimedia projects can benefit Aruba’s cultural and natural visibility. A dedicated Metapage has been launched to announce activities and updates. Additionally, a community survey was conducted to better understand local needs and interests. Under the campaign name "Ban Wiki!" meaning “Let’s go Wiki!” in Papiamento Wikipedia on Aruba has hosted several monthly edit-a-thon events in person as online, creating opportunities for participants to learn how Wikimedia platforms work and how to contribute.

Content donation De Graaff

A major highlight was the first content donation to Wikimedia Commons: a rich collection of photographs taken in Aruba by Rinus de Graaff, now in the public domain. These images provide valuable visual documentation of Aruba’s natural heritage and economic development since 1950. We have conducted an interview with Mr de Graaf which can be seen on our YouTube page/ Wikipedia on Aruba

Aruba Birdlife Conservation

The initiative has also continued to grow partnerships with local NGOs, including Aruba Birdlife Conservation, which has shared reference materials and local bird names for integration into Wikidata. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to documenting and preserving Aruba’s unique biodiversity and knowledge systems through open-access platforms. Together with the community and partners, Wikipedia on Aruba continues its mission to make Aruba’s stories, language, and heritage visible to the world.