ESEAP Conference 2024/Report/Rruunnaa

Greetings and well wishes. This is my first time participating in the ESEAP Conference as a contributor to projects within Wikimedia. The conference, held from May 10th to May 12th, was very enjoyable and provided me with a lot of new insights into the Wikimedia movement. Below, I will elaborate on the description of this conference. Happy reading!

Sponsorship[edit]

I am one of the recipients of a full scholarship to attend the Wikimedia ESEAP Conference 2024 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. This scholarship has saved me expenses, and I am able to enjoy all the privileges provided, including accommodation and meals. Thank you so much Wikimedia Foundation for providing me with the scholarship.

Roles[edit]

During this conference, my roles are :

Full Scholarship Participant
Interpreter (Ms to dtp)
Member of Kelab Wiki Kent

Things Learned at the Conference[edit]

10 May 2024-ESEAP Conference Day 1[edit]

During the Opening Ceremony, I went to the Silent Room to get ready as I was the one interpreting from Malay to Central-Bundu Liwan (dtp). I watched all the events on Zoom on my tablet. After that, I interpreted for the 45-minute session titled ESEAP Hub (1)-Introduction. Following the session, I enjoyed the morning tea that was prepared.

At 11:00 a.m., I went to the Sayat-Sayat Room and listened to the ongoing session, The Wikimedia Foundation’s Annual Plan Conversation with ESEAP. The talks were about the annual plan, which guides the objectives and workflows for Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) staff and outlines the community plan. The annual plan focuses on maintaining core technological functions, supporting community needs, addressing AI challenges, and ensuring transparent and effective financial planning. The community's input and participation are crucial for the success of these initiatives.

After that, I went to the Silent Room again to interpret the ongoing talks titled Editing Wikipedia to Understand Our Past: Enriching Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s Local History on Wikipedia and Utilization of Wikimedia in Lessons. The talks were interesting, and I enjoyed them even though I was interpreting by myself in the Silent Room.

Around 4:00 p.m., I moved to the Timpohon Room. Here, I listened to a session on "Community Spotlight: Malaysia" which featured my club at IPGM Kent. There were three talks:

Bridging IPGM Campus Kent’s Collaboration Network With the Community through Wikimedia" presented by Dr. Hamidah binti Samsudin, Director of IPGM Campus Kent, focused on strengthening the collaboration network of IPGM Campus Kent with the community using Wikimedia platforms.
Kent Wiki Club IPGM Campus Kent: Globalizing Kadazandusun Language and Culture via Wikimedia ESEAP, presented by Dr. Linah Bagu, Head of the Kadazandusun Language Department at IPGMK Kent.
Wikimedia's Role in Collaborating with IPGM Campus Kent to Promote and Preserve the Kadazandusun Language, presented by Jurina Jonimin and Jilorisa John, translated by Mr. James W. Geoffrey Molijoh.

This session focused on initiatives like the Kent Wiki Club, which aims to globalize Kadazandusun heritage using Wikimedia ESEAP platforms. This partnership emphasizes cultural preservation while uniting various networks to foster and share free knowledge, thereby strengthening the overall collaboration network.

11 May 2024 - ESEAP Conference Day 2[edit]

On the second day of the ESEAP Conference, I had the opportunity to attend the ESEAP Hub Meetup in the Sayat-Sayat Room. I stayed there for the next talk, which was on the challenges in building multilingual technology platforms. Jessica Rose from Mozilla discussed the complexities of developing multilingual technology, highlighting that the web is dominated by a few popular languages while thousands of others are underrepresented. Mozilla’s Common Voice project aims to expand language inclusivity by allowing community-driven language requests, localization, and voice data collection, though challenges remain regarding language standardization and orthographic variations.

Later, I attended the Korean Wikidata & Mix'n'Match session. Following that, there was a workshop on improving the categorization of uploads to Commons, with a particular emphasis on ESEAP-related uploads. As a newbie, this workshop provided me with new insights on how to use WikiCommons. There was also a session about optimizing the role of social media as a learning and collaboration platform. I realized that social media, including websites and applications, can benefit users by enabling them to create and share content. In education, social media serves as a tool for facilitating learning and collaboration activities. Ghina Farahtika, the speaker, shared their efforts through Komunitas Wikisource Indonesia by sharing tutorials, events, quizzes, and competitions, leveraging social media to inspire and educate young people.

Another talk I attended was WikiDunong: An Eduwiki Initiative in the Philippines, presented by my roommate for two nights, Angelica E. Mirras. I enjoyed her presentation as she was so bright, cheerful, and fluent. From her presentation, I learned that Wiki Dunong focuses on combating misinformation and empowering learners by teaching them how to use Wikipedia effectively. It provides open educational resources (OER) and encourages collaboration and volunteerism. In December 2023, the initiative conducted its first session with Camaligan National High School, involving 33 participants who contributed to Wikipedia and increased their interest and understanding of the platform. Future plans include expanding partnerships and investing in volunteer capacity-building.

Next, I had the privilege to attend the lightning talk entitled Beyond Borders, Beyond Images: The Impact of the Commons Photography User Group's Activities and Partnerships on Global Knowledge Sharing. The speakers, Suyash Dwivedi and Irvin Sto. Tomas, are from the Commons Photographers User Group, founded in 2017. They engage photography enthusiasts in Wikimedia activities, conducting photo-walks, virtual meetups, and specialized workshops. They partner with initiatives like Wiki Loves Africa and Wiki Loves Folklore to enhance global knowledge sharing.

The last lightning talk of the day was Creating a Wiki Club in a University & Encouraging Students' Engagement in Wikimedia Projects. The talk was about how using Wikipedia in higher education enhances students' digital literacy, research, and writing skills. Despite its benefits, negative stigma and misconceptions about Wikipedia’s credibility remain challenges. Collaboration with Wikimedia Indonesia and regular meetups help address these issues by boosting student motivation and participation.

The day concluded with a live band, karaoke party, and dinner buffet at the hotel rooftop. It was very enjoyable. I supported every performance from various countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, and others. The participants were very enthusiastic. I felt a true ice-breaking moment as I got to know them better. We dispersed at 10 PM.

12 May 2024 - ESEAP Conference Day 3[edit]

On the third day of the conference, I joined the Gaya Street Sunday Market Photowalk with other participants. As a Sabahan in my own homeland, I served as a guide for participants from other countries. They were amazed by the bustling atmosphere of Gaya Street, filled with a wide variety of goods for sale that overwhelmed their senses. They stopped at every stall and booth to take pictures.

Afterward, we returned to the hotel and continued with the scheduled talks. I attended the presentation titled Imagining Community-led AI Governance in ESEAP delivered by Rachel Arinii Judhistari. The focus was on building trust in AI by advocating for the application of Wikimedia principles to AI governance. Aligning AI governance with community-driven values can foster trust in AI systems.

Following that, Bonaventura Aditya Perdana presented on Automoderator: Making Fighting Vandalism Easier for Administrators and Patrollers. The initiative aims to streamline the process of combating vandalism online, particularly for administrators and patrollers. Through an annual plan to enhance editor experience, the Automoderator app increases moderator efficiency across different languages and wikis, especially on mobile devices. Although still under development, it offers features similar to a bot but allows for customization by administrators, although its accuracy is yet to be confirmed.

I also had the opportunity to hear Hisyam Athaya discuss Pedagogical Challenges in Teaching Wikidata as a Tool: An Indonesian Experience. The presentation highlighted the challenges in teaching Wikidata, including technical terms, property and value matching, and implementation depth. Solutions proposed include using familiar analogies, providing practical exercises, and organizing datathon competitions to engage newcomers and deepen understanding. Collaboration opportunities with Wikimedia Germany were also mentioned for further support and connection.

Additionally, I attended a talk on Free the Freedom of Panorama in ESEAP. This session covered the varying regulations on what can and cannot be photographed, which differ by country.Our final session was ESEAP Hub (4) – The Plan, where we voted on locations for the 2025 and 2026 conferences. After this session, we dispersed, and I, along with members of the Wiki Club Kent, returned to the Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia, Kent Campus. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to attend this conference.

Successes and Highlights[edit]

Organizational Efficiency[edit]

Throughout the conference, the organizing team was highly efficient in managing both workforce and time. They utilized technology to facilitate the participants’ experience. For example, they provided Zoom links for live interpreting for those who did not understand English, such as interpreting English into Indonesian. The organizing team was also attentive to the surroundings and made continuous efforts to provide the best experience for the conference participants.

Resource Allocation[edit]

It is undeniable that the resource allocation throughout the conference was effective. Manpower was fairly distributed among the three rooms provided, namely Timpohon, Sayat-Sayat, and Mahua. Participants were free to choose the room with the topic they wanted to follow, which indirectly distributed the participants and gave them the opportunity to make decisions according to their preferences.

Communication[edit]

Information regarding the schedule, topics, and conference instructions was conveyed clearly and accurately to prevent confusion. Additionally, the conference was interactive, providing opportunities for participants to ask questions, give feedback, and share their views. Live translation or interpretation was also provided to ensure that all participants, including those not fluent in English, could follow the sessions effectively. Furthermore, the organizers responded quickly and accurately to questions or issues raised by the participants.

Personal Learning and Growth[edit]

Skills Developed[edit]

Throughout my participation in the conference, it is undeniable that I developed a range of skills, particularly in communication. I became more confident in engaging with participants from other countries and exchanging experiences. Moreover, my ability to communicate in English has improved significantly. Additionally, as an interpreter, I have become proficient in using Zoom, including pressing specific buttons to prepare myself for translating into the Kadazandusun language.

Personal Reflection[edit]

Participating in this conference made me realize that there are still many Wikimedia projects I have yet to explore, such as Wikidata, Wikisource, and other projects developed by the conference participants. Their presentations clearly demonstrated how closely and passionately they are connected to the Wikimedia movement. This has inspired me to be as enthusiastic as they are. Additionally, the programs conducted were very helpful in making me more open to other matters. The ESEAP Conference 2024 has been a pivotal experience in my personal and professional development. The skills I have gained, particularly in communication and interpretation, will serve me well in my ongoing contributions to Wikimedia projects. More importantly, the connections and knowledge I have acquired will continue to inspire and guide me as I work towards building a more inclusive and informed global community.

Plans after the conference (from what was learned or contributed in the conference)[edit]

Dive deeper into Wikimedia projects, getting more involved and contributing regularly.
Connect more with the vibrant Wikimedia Community when there’s a chance.
Improve LinguaLibre to make it even better for the Kadazandusun language.
Spearhead new initiatives in collaboration with my club, the Kent Wiki Club, aimed at boosting community involvement in Wikimedia. These projects will not only advocate for the preservation and promotion of the Kadazandusun language and culture but also advocate for other ethnic languages through Wikimedia platforms.

Comments/Recommendations for Future Events[edit]

I suggest for next conference, the complete conference schedule should be printed and posted outside each conference room, allowing participants to easily see the sessions in progress without repeatedly checking their phones for the online schedule.
Additionally, technical aspects need to be more carefully examined. There were times when the interpreter's voice could not be heard. For instance, in a situation I encountered, I was interpreting from Malay to Kadazandusun, but the voice of the Malay interpreter could not be heard. This resulted in me having to listen to the interpretation from Indonesian and occasionally English.
I also would like to propose an enhancement for future events, which is extending the duration of the conference days. This adjustment is aimed at increasing the bonding time among participants, thereby enhancing the overall experience and outcomes of the conference.

Conclusion[edit]

In a conclusion, The ESEAP Conference 2024 has been an extraordinary event, showcasing the depth and breadth of the Wikimedia movement in the East and Southeast Asia-Pacific region. It has enhanced participants' skills, particularly in communication and interpretation, and broadened their perspectives on the potential of Wikimedia projects. The programs conducted were instrumental in encouraging openness to diverse ideas and approaches, furthering the collaborative spirit of the Wikimedia community. The ESEAP Conference 2024 has not only strengthened the bonds within the community but also reaffirmed the collective commitment to building a more inclusive and informed global society.

Thank You[edit]