GLAM/Newsletter/June 2025/Contents/Wiki Knowledge Park report
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Celebrating Heritage and Faith: Wiki Loves Ramadan 2025
The Wiki Loves Ramadan 2025 campaign concluded successfully this year, marking another milestone in documenting the cultural, spiritual, and social dimensions of Ramadan on Wikimedia platforms. Led by Wiki Knowledge Park, the initiative brought together voices and stories from across the world, adding knowledge that reflects diverse lived experiences of Ramadan across regions, communities, and traditions.
Launched in early March and running through April 2025, the campaign invited participants to contribute articles, images, and data related to Ramadan on Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, Wikiquote, and other sister projects. The central theme emphasized documenting Ramadan beyond its religious aspects—focusing also on local traditions, art, literature, cuisine, architecture, and public events that shape the month in different cultures.
A Global Movement of Local Narratives
This year, 29 communities across 18 countries actively participated in the campaign, including contributors from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Ghana, Pakistan, and beyond. What made this year’s edition remarkable was the scale of engagement and the diversity of contributions. From small online edit-a-thons to large offline workshops, communities adapted the campaign to fit their local needs, cultural contexts, and volunteer capacities.
Over 280 participants joined the movement, including 212 editors and 68 organizers. The campaign led to the creation and improvement of more than 3,225 contributions across Wikimedia projects. On Wikipedia alone, over 2,800 articles were created or significantly expanded. Participants also contributed content to Wikimedia Commons (141 files), Wikiquote (166 entries), Wikidata, Wikivoyage, and even Wikimedia Incubator. Each contribution added depth and nuance to global understanding of Ramadan practices.
Empowering Communities through Knowledge Sharing
In addition to content contributions, Wiki Loves Ramadan 2025 served as a platform for capacity building and community empowerment. Organizers from newer and emerging communities received mentorship and technical support to run events, apply for rapid grants, and coordinate locally. Several outreach events focused on mobile editing, cultural documentation, and GLAM-Wiki strategies to engage libraries, archives, and local historians.
By encouraging content creation in multiple languages, especially underrepresented ones, the campaign helped reduce knowledge gaps on topics that rarely find space in mainstream narratives. This also aligned with Wikimedia’s Movement Strategy goals, particularly around “Knowledge Equity” and “Global South Engagement.”
Recognition and Celebration
To celebrate the efforts of participants, Wiki Knowledge Park organized a special “Celebrating the Global Winners” event in June 2025 in Dubai. Contributors from different countries were recognized for their outstanding work, creativity, and consistency. Digital certificates and international gift vouchers were awarded, and the event became a space for cultural exchange and reflection on the importance of Ramadan in shaping individual and collective identities.
Looking Ahead
The success of Wiki Loves Ramadan 2025 signals the growing interest in thematic, cultural campaigns that resonate with diverse communities. It also shows how faith-based heritage and cultural expression can be respectfully and thoughtfully documented through Wikimedia platforms.
Organizers are already planning for the next edition in 2026, aiming to expand the campaign’s reach into more African, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian communities. There are also ongoing discussions about integrating more GLAM partnerships to support archival access and open licensing of Ramadan-related materials.
- Australia report
- Belgium report
- Brazil report
- Czech Republic report
- France report
- Indonesia report
- Italy report
- Kosovo report
- Mexico report
- New Zealand report
- Nigeria report
- North Macedonia report
- Poland report
- Portugal report
- Serbia report
- Switzerland report
- UK report
- USA report
- Biodiversity Heritage Library report
- Memory of the World report
- Wiki Loves Ramadan 2025 report
- Calendar
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