2019:Wikimedia 2030/Make people care: using SDGs to talk about Free Knowledge
 | This is an Accepted submission for the Strategy space at Wikimania 2019. |
Time/Place
editThis session will take place at 1500 on Day 1 (Friday), in the Menchú room - B487 of Södra Huset
Description
editWikimedia 2030 is all about reaching out. We have big ideas – about the kind of internet we want, the knowledge we want people to have access to, the impact we believe people can make, if they are able to share their knowledge. To realize these ideas we need partners though, lots of them. Frequently, we are actually already working on realizing similar ideas as other communities, institutions, NGOs, but we don’t necessarily use the same language when we talk about them. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a common reasoning, a common language to talk about the change we want to make happen – and they can function as a reminder to talk about those big ideas as tangible stories of how Free Knowledge is making a difference: the local history preserved, the research made possible, the m ap created and the impact it has on one life or many.
This workshop invites anyone working towards more impactful communication, growing the Free Knowledge community, and/or gaining new partners and funding opportunities to develop a clear narrative of how our (volunteer) work relates to specific Sustainable Development Goals. In smaller groups, we will discuss how specific areas of our work for Free Knowledge (education, tech, advocacy, etc.) relate to different SDGs and how that fits within the larger narrative.
We also want to start collecting stories of the impact we as a movement are already having in our local communities. During the workshop, and followed up by an open invitation to create video stories with us at a community village stall during this Wikimania, we want to collect case studies to build up a Meta-Wiki page as a communication resource for everyone from edit-a-thon planner to journalist to explain Free Knowledge and the impact it has.
Relationship to the theme
editThis session will address the conference theme — Wikimedia, Free Knowledge and the Sustainable Development Goals — in the following manner:
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of Free Knowledge
In the process of creating and arranging global development goals, the United Nations Assembly differentiated major fields, which are grouped into areas: Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing and Opportunity. The Human Needs are represented in selected goals such as nutrition, shelter & safety. A broader set of goals is describing the elements, supporting Wellbeing. The Opportunity sector includes Personal Rights, Personal Freedom & Choice, Inclusiveness and Access to Advanced Education.
The 17 goals are targeting economic, social and environmental issues. For the discussion and use of particular goals in the context of Free Knowledge, goal no. 4 Quality Education seems more relatable than for example the environmental goals. Open data and free knowledge strongly supports goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth which hints to 11 Sustainable Cities & Communities and 10 Reduced Inequalities. The last two goals on the list are no.16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and 17 Partnerships. Seven to nine SDGs can straightforwardly be related to the context of Free Knowledge and the concept of sharing information.
The collective of 17 goals appear as an unplanned mix of colors & numbers. They generally rank up along the 5 Ps: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership. UN's Agenda 2030 lists 169 associated targets, which are integrated and indivisible, but also invites to take over the baton and create plans and actions to communicate and process the SDGs. The SDGs are motivation and invitation; they have been handed over to make use of them. They shall ignite thinking and discussion around the own surrounding. They are there as inspiration as much as verification to be on the right track and in line with the honorable UN values.
To track the most obvious SDGs within the context will be an easier task, even though it might be worth putting less fitting goals such as 14 Life Below Water into the group and discuss possible connection. The SDGs shall lead as handrail and recollection when working with Storytelling and Lobbying.
Session outcomes
editAt the end of the session, the following will have been achieved:
Workshop participants will have developed a better understanding of where our goals fit within the SDG discourse and how SDG-related storytelling could benefit community growth, facilitate advocacy, and enable us to find new partners and funders. In addition, we will build upon the workshop results to start an open resource page on SDGs and Free Knowledge and case studies showing local impact.
Session leader(s)
editMaiken Hagemeister, Lisa Dittmer, Jan Apel, Tjane Hartenstein (Team Communications at Wikimedia Deutschland)
Session type
editEach Space at Wikimania 2019 will have specific format requests. The program design prioritises submissions which are future-oriented and directly engage the audience. The format of this submission is a:
Facilitator-led workshop open to all.
Requirements
editThe session will work best with these conditions:
- Room: Workshop setting with possibility to move around, build sub-groups.
- Audience: Likely maximum of 30-40 people, no prior experience or skills necessary, ideal for community leaders as well as anyone interested in communication and community growth.
- Recording: tbc