Movement Charter Ambassadors Program/FromPunjab Feedback

Movement Charter

FAQ

Content

Community Consultation

Drafting Committee

Ratification vote

General Information

• Feedback channels: Online meetings
• Number of participants: 8-12

Feedback

Introduction

• Starting from the Introduction of the Movement Charter, the intricacies of language and how words can hold different meanings depending on the context hugely impacts the understanding and translation of the charter. There are some words that, when translated into our regional language, present a level of complexity that goes beyond mere linguistic differences. For example: Resilience, Autonomy etc. Some terms do not have direct equivalents in our language, leading to the use of uncommon or technical terms that are not part of our everyday vocabulary. To navigate these linguistic nuances effectively, I recommend providing context and explanations for these terms within the text itself or through footnotes. This will ensure that all readers can grasp the intended meaning without getting lost in translation. The language in the charter should be clear, inclusive, and accessible to all. There are some words like empower which has meaning in Punjabi is ‘to provide power’ which does not suit in charter to give the meaning to line. Translation in our own language is a very difficult part when we go with some particular words which do not reflect the exact meaning and its effect on the quality of content of translation which is very risky. I translated the Charter to the best of my abilities so that readers can understand it well but complexity of words can create problems in understanding the Charter.

• While reviewing the charter, it has come to our attention that there are overlapping words that have the same meaning in Punjabi but convey different meanings in English. This inconsistency can lead to confusion and misinterpretation among readers. To enhance the clarity and effectiveness of the charter, I suggest revisiting these sections to standardize the language and ensure that each word accurately reflects the intended meaning in English. By eliminating redundancies and refining the wording, we can create a more cohesive and impactful document that resonates with all audiences. I encourage collaboration and open communication as we work together to improve this aspect of the charter. Your attention to detail and commitment to linguistic precision are essential in achieving our goal of clear and concise communication.

Volunteers

• While the draft covers a wide range of topics, Community believes that some sections could benefit from further clarification, particularly regarding the practical implementation of certain principles. The definition of "voluntary" in regional contexts is essential.
• Additionally, most of the content references lack live English references, which are necessary for regional content administration to ensure broader Wikipedia coverage.
• Need more detail and clarity on who decides the rights and responsibilities of Volunteers.
• However, due to its ambiguity, it can be challenging for volunteers to grasp all the details.
• No rights for volunteers in the Charter, only responsibilities are stated. Do the volunteers have no right?
• By defining the Volunteers in the Charter signifies their great importance in the Movement, which reflects great impact on them.

Wikimedia Movement Bodies

• Again the overlapping of terms for example- Bodies and Organization, both have almost the same meaning in Punjabi language but it depicts different meanings in the English version. It creates difficulty in translation and also creates confusion in understanding.
• Most of the time in the Charter, present tense is used but also there are few lines that are in future tense which also creates confusion.
• What is the criteria used in selection and election of Global Council members? And also distribution of seats should be clearly stated.
• Why large numbers of committees are established, it raises more complexities and conflicts between them. Again there is mention in the Charter that a technical committee is established by the Global Council, the question is, Is there a need for a technical committee, why not include them in the members of the Global Council.
• Committees are established from the volunteers, question arises: is they given sufficient time, energy and efforts for smooth processing of work? Why don't paid staff do all these chores?
• Try to make the Charter simple and smooth so processing is done smoothly.
• If we talk about the Global Council, it is the highest governing body, we will go with the Global council as it addresses and resolves many issues and addresses these complexities. The range of members of the Global Council Assembly includes diversity and expertise but the question is can a team of large numbers of members collaborate with each other smoothly and will be able to achieve the expected outcomes?
• The Global Council (GC) is the representative strategic body of the Wikimedia Movement, empowering community participation in decision-making to guide a coherent and visionary approach to advance free knowledge. However, the structures of GCA and GCB may be more complex and could pose challenges in reaching consensus decisions in a short period. Our community opinion is that for GCB, active representatives nominated by affiliates are required in the short term (1 year), with a maximum of 50 representatives.
• Who addresses the smaller regional communities?
• A fiscal sponsor is an organisation that manages a grant on behalf of a grantee and must be regional to the contest, adhering to the laws of the specific country. Otherwise, if the fiscal sponsor is from another country, it may not be beneficial, and the grantee could face legal hurdles.
• There is a lot of energy required to select, elect and appoint the members of committees. What is the basic criteria of this? Explain the experience and qualification required ?

Amendment

Ratification

• The charter will come into effect after a vote. Question arises that if sufficient voting is not done then energy, money and time is wasted, what does it indicate? What will be the next steps for this?

Glossary

• There is a suggestion to expand the glossary for more clarity and understanding of key terms and concepts used within the document.

Supplementary documents

Miscellaneous feedback

• Majority of the community said: The Movement Charter is a fantastic initiative as it provides a systematic framework that clearly defines everything.
• The biggest challenge is the official adoption of the Charter. The charter is a legally binding document with intricate details. Thus, background information that is relevant to understanding this legal document should be given. The community finds it challenging to comprehend the complicated terminology.
• Reading a text heavy document is challenging. It would be helpful to include a few real-world examples or visual demonstrations (presented in an understandable graphic style) so that those who are not comfortable in English can still use the examples to follow the fundamental instructions.
• It is recommended that the Charter's language be kept straightforward so that everyone involved is able to understand its meaning. Additionally, several formal terms that are complex in nature and are typically not used in discussions were encountered during the translation process.
• The Movement Charter is not known to everyone. Its complexity is another reason why not everyone is drawn to reading it. Gathering community feedback is a challenging task. Furthermore, it will be difficult for newcomers to comprehend the charter in its entirety and how it is being implemented.
• It's high time for us to spread awareness about the Movement Charter because not everyone is interested. To engage the entire community and get their input, we must use a variety of strategies.
• The amount of time allotted to non-english communities for reading, understanding, translating, explaining and reflecting is unfair in comparison to the English speaking communities. As equity is a primary principle, it should reflect in every engagement & decision.
• Not particularly happy with the time constraints being imposed, since we need more time to understand, translate and localize the Charter.
• Affiliates and Hubs: Joint Ventures- They make it possible to exchange assets, knowledge, and best practices, all of which can increase the efficiency of separate hubs and affiliates. By combining their resources and expertise, they can address shared issues more successfully and have a bigger influence on the regional competition, particularly in SAARC, for the Wikimedia mission. This fosters creativity and collaboration within the Wikimedia movement as well. Through collaborative projects and efforts, they can experiment with various strategies, investigate novel concepts, and provide creative answers to pressing problems. Within the community, this spirit of cooperation promotes a culture of ongoing learning and development.