Education/News/April 2026/Empowering Knowledge: Wikimedia MKD Education Update

“Empowering Knowledge: Wikimedia MKD Education Update”

Summary: Wikimedia MKD continues to strengthen its education program through a diverse range of activities aimed at empowering young people, fostering digital literacy, and enriching free knowledge in the Macedonian language. Through workshops, trainings, edit-a-thons, and community initiatives, students and participants across the country are actively engaged in learning and contributing to Wikipedia.

This period was marked by a dynamic combination of field-based learning, thematic campaigns, and the expansion of the Wiki Club network. From exploring local biodiversity and cultural heritage, to promoting inclusion and representation through international initiatives, as well as supporting new editors in developing their skills, Wikimedia MKD remains committed to creating impactful educational experiences.

The following sections highlight some of the key activities and achievements, showcasing the dedication of participants and the continuous growth of the Wikimedia community in Macedonia.

“Plants Around Us: Demir Hisar” workshop

On 25 March 2026, a workshop titled “Plants Around Us: Demir Hisar” was organized for members of the Wiki Club Demir Hisar. The event aimed to foster students’ interest in botany, encourage exploration of plant life in their local environment, and actively engage them in creating free encyclopedic content.

The workshop was designed as a dynamic activity combining field-based learning with practical application. In the first part, students visited the Slepche Monastery, where they explored the rich plant life in the surrounding area while also learning about the site’s cultural and spiritual significance. The nuns introduced the history of the monastery and shared information about its importance, offering students a deeper understanding of its heritage. They also guided the participants through the monastery garden, orchard, and greenhouse, where students took part in a hands-on learning session and became familiar with different types of herbs, flowers, and vegetables, as well as basic principles of plant cultivation and care.

In the second part of the workshop, participants focused on practical work on Wikipedia. With guidance from representatives of Wikimedia MKD and the Wiki Club coordinator, the students created and edited articles about plants found in Macedonia, following encyclopedic standards. This activity helped them develop their digital literacy, as well as their skills in researching, selecting, and presenting information.

A total of 5 students took part in the workshop, producing 15 new articles in Macedonian. Through their work, they made a valuable contribution to expanding botanical content, particularly related to local natural heritage.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

The monastery garden
The monastery garden
The monastery garden
The students writing articles
The students writing articles
The students with the coordinator of Wiki club Demir Hisar and Wikimedia MKD's executive director Snezana Strkovksa

International Roma Day

Every year, through Wikipedia-related activities, Wikimedia MKD joins in marking International Romani Day, with the aim of encouraging inclusion, visibility, and equal representation of the Romani community in the digital space.

So, on April 7, 2026, in cooperation with USS UKIM, the training session “Become a Wikipedia Editor: Training for Writing Articles in the Macedonian Language” was successfully carried out, intended for all those interested in creating and editing content on Wikipedia in Macedonian. During the training, the ten participants had the opportunity to become familiar with the proper structure and method of writing articles, as well as the standards and rules that should be followed when editing them. Special emphasis was placed on adapting content into the Macedonian language. The participants gained practical skills and knowledge through which they can actively contribute to enriching Wikipedia with high-quality and relevant content. As part of the training, 19 new articles were created, dedicated to topics related to "International Roma Day" further marking this important day and enriching encyclopedic content in the Macedonian language.

Additionally, as every year, Wikimedia MKD actively joined the international call to mark "International Roma day by organizing an edit-a-thon. These initiatives represent an important platform for encouraging collective participation, knowledge exchange, and increasing the visibility of topics related to the Romani community on Wikipedia. Through such events, both new and existing editors are encouraged to contribute high-quality, neutral, and well-sourced content.

This year, 17 participants of different age groups and varying levels of experience took part, working together on creating and editing articles. Their engagement resulted in 29 new articles on Wikipedia in Macedonian, significantly enriching content related to Romani history, culture, and contemporary creativity.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

Bosa Filipovic giving a speech
The students listening a lecture
Editing on Wikipedia
The students listening a lecture
Editing on Wikipedia

Editing contest “Botanists with author abbreviations”

The editing contest “Botanists with author abbreviations” is taking place from 20 April to 10 May 2026 on the Macedonian-language Wikipedia. The main goal of the contest is to support the creation of new articles and the improvement of existing ones about botanists who have standardized author abbreviations, which are used in the scientific naming of plants.

The contest is open to high school registered Wikipedia users aged 15–18. Participants are expected to focus on writing new articles that are missing from the Macedonian Wikipedia, as well as improving already existing ones. All contributions must be written in accordance with Wikipedia’s policies and guidelines, meaning they should follow an encyclopedic style, remain neutral, and include reliable, verifiable sources. Articles that do not meet these standards may not be considered for evaluation.

Participants are required to keep track of their contributions and list the articles they have worked on, either during the contest or after it ends. All submitted work will be evaluated by a jury composed of three experienced Wikipedia editors, who will assess the quality, completeness, sourcing, and overall presentation of the articles. The contest places a strong emphasis on quality over quantity.

The prizes for this contest are planned to be vouchers for books/materials, technical goods, or sports equipment, according to the winner’s choice. Three prizes will be awarded for the best articles each week, as well as three prizes for the best editors at the end of the three-week period. A participant may receive multiple awards, for example a prize for the best article of the week, as well as a prize for the best overall contribution.

Training workshop for students from "Josip Broz Tito" High school in Skopje

On 17 April 2026, a Wikipedia editing training session was successfully organized for students from Gymnasium “Josip Broz Tito”. The event was held at the premises of Wikimedia MKD, located within the Youth Cultural Center (MKC) in Skopje. A total of 9 students took part in the training, showing strong interest in gaining new digital skills and contributing to free knowledge.

The training began with an introduction to Wikipedia and the Wikimedia movement, followed by an overview of the key principles of editing. Participants were guided through the process of creating user accounts, navigating the editing interface, and structuring articles according to Wikipedia standards. Special attention was given to proper citation practices and avoiding common beginner mistakes.

During the practical part of the session, the students actively engaged in creating and editing articles on various topics. With the continuous support of Wikimedia MKD's team, they created 16 new articles, contributing valuable content to Wikipedia.

The training was conducted in a positive, interactive, and productive atmosphere, fostering teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity among the participants. This activity not only strengthened the students writing skills but also encouraged them to become active contributors to the free knowledge. It represents an important step in empowering young people to participate in the global Wikimedia community and to share knowledge freely with the world.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

Editing on Wikipedia
Editing on Wikipedia
Editing on Wikipedia

Wiki club Kavadarci – the newest wiki club of Wikimedia MKD

On April 22, 2026, the Wiki Club in Kavadarci officially began its activities. This new club represents a significant step in expanding the network of Wiki Clubs across the country and opens new opportunities for the local community to engage in creating free encyclopedic content.

The Wiki Club in Kavadarci is envisioned as an inclusive space that will serve both students and adults, enabling intergenerational collaboration and learning. From the very beginning, the level of interest was considerable—14 participants took part in the opening session, including 7 students and 7 adults. This balance contributed to a dynamic and productive atmosphere, where experience and curiosity complemented each other.

The event was divided into two parts. In the first part, attendees had the opportunity to follow presentations by Snežana Štrkovska, Executive Director of Wikimedia MKD, and Bosa Filipović, Education Program Manager. They introduced participants to the mission and vision of the Wikimedia movement, the fundamental principles of Wikipedia, as well as the basics of editing and creating articles. The sessions were interactive and tailored to the participants’ varying levels of knowledge, allowing everyone to feel included and motivated.

In the second part, participants applied their newly acquired knowledge in practice by creating and editing Wikipedia articles. Through joint effort and enthusiasm, a total of 14 new articles were created. This activity not only contributed to enriching encyclopedic content but also encouraged participants to remain active in the future.

The opening of the Wiki Club in Kavadarci is yet another testament to the commitment of Wikimedia MKD to community development and the promotion of free knowledge. The club is expected to continue with regular activities, workshops, and events, attracting an even greater number of participants and becoming an important center for learning and creative expression in the region.

You can see how it went through the photographic material uploaded on Commons, but also some of the photos are bellow:

Bosa Filipovic giving a lecture
The new members of Wiki club Kavadarci listening a lecture
The new members of Wiki club Kavadarci listening a lecture
The new members of Wiki club Kavadarci listening a lecture