GLAM/Newsletter/September 2025/Contents/Aruba report
|
Wikipedia on Aruba Initiative: Building Knowledge and Visibility
Wikipedia on Aruba is a pilot project that began in January 2025. The initiative aims to enrich information about Aruba and Dutch-Caribbean culture and heritage on Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata.
Over the past few months, the Wikipedia on Aruba team has been working on developing frameworks and processes to deliver training and support for the local community, encouraging them to actively contribute to the Wikimedia platforms. As a first step, a survey was conducted to assess the needs of participants and collaborators. This provided valuable insights into potential challenges and barriers to participation. Using this data, the team organized Ban Wiki (edit-a-thon events) in collaboration with the National Library of Aruba, supported by facilitators, local guest speakers, NGO's and professionals with expertise in topics such as flora and fauna, monuments, and Aruban history. Most participants who joined these events had little or no prior experience with Wikimedia platforms. Therefore, the training sessions primarily focused on introducing the platforms and providing the basic skills needed to start editing.
Both in-person and online training opportunities were offered to accommodate different needs. The in-person events attracted a diverse audience, ranging from younger participants to elderly community members, each bringing their own interests in using Wikimedia platforms.
The Ban Wiki events also created space for dialogue, allowing participants to share their perspectives on the themes and topics presented. Looking ahead, the project aims to equip participants with the necessary tools to become active contributors to open knowledge sharing. Future editions will emphasize practical training across the three platforms: Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata.
Wikiloves monuments Aruba 2025
This year’s Wiki Loves Monuments campaign will once again highlight Aruba’s local monuments and encourage volunteers to help enrich the island’s heritage through photography.
The event has played a significant role in showcasing Aruba’s monuments to a global audience. In 2025, Wikipedia on Aruba will join forces with the Monuments Fund Aruba to organize the contest locally, starting in October.
Wiki Loves Monuments 2025 in Aruba
Project Activities
The Wikipedia on Aruba team has continuously worked on strengthening the project’s online presence while also contributing valuable visual materials, such as interviews with contributors. To date, the team has uploaded more than 1,000 images to Wikimedia Commons, which are available under the category Wikipedia on Aruba activities. In addition, the team has translated practical instructions from the Kennisplatform NL into the local language, Papiamento, making them accessible both in written form and as instructional videos on YouTube/ Wikipedia on Aruba
