Wikimedia Community User Group Rwanda

On Wednesday, we officially opened the sixth Wiki Club at the Institut de Formation Apostolique de Kimihurura.

This launch marks an important milestone in our Wiki Club initiative, a dedicated learning and capacity-building program created to equip high school and university students with essential digital, research, writing, and open knowledge skills. These competencies support both academic success and long-term career growth.

The program began in 2024 with pilot clubs in secondary schools like GS Gishari and GS Ruhunda in Rwamagana District. It has since grown to include additional schools, such as GS Nyinawimana and Kageyo TSS in Gicumbi District. Led by students and supported by trained teacher mentors and Wikimedia volunteers, these clubs serve as vibrant centers for learning within schools and local communities.
Key elements and activities of the clubs include:
• Practical Wikipedia editing sessions, where students learn to create, verify, and enhance articles, particularly on underrepresented subjects such as Rwandan culture, history, and contemporary topics.
• Contributions to Wikimedia Commons, with participants uploading photos, videos, and other media that capture local heritage, landmarks, and events.
• Workshops focused on building skills in digital literacy, critical thinking, reliable sourcing, proper citation, copyright understanding, and ethical online behavior.
• Engaging events and competitions, including the Wiki Vibrance Contest, which promotes teamwork in article development and project-based learning.
• A strong focus on Kinyarwanda content creation to expand underrepresented material and safeguard cultural stories.

The initiative champions inclusivity, enabling students from varied backgrounds to shift from being mere consumers to active contributors of global knowledge. It helps close digital gaps, boosts academic achievement through stronger research and analytical abilities, and readies young people for the modern workforce by encouraging collaboration and open-source participation.
By empowering young Rwandans to record and share their own stories and perspectives on platforms like Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons, the Wiki Clubs elevate local voices on the global stage while fostering a lasting culture of knowledge sharing in Rwanda. The program is steadily expanding, with continued mentor training and plans to integrate more schools.
Special thanks to our Wiki Club coordinators RUgamba Green Robert, Nishimirwe Lilian, and Rebeccah Jeannette—for their dedication and partnerships in bringing this to life.

Still in the celebrations of Wikidata ,
BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TOP WIKIDATA CONTRIBUTORS IN RWANDA! 🏆
From March 2020 – October 2025, you’ve poured your knowledge, time, and passion into building ’s digital presence on Wikidata. Because of YOU, our country’s history, culture, places, people, and institutions are now better represented and more accessible to the world.

A huge round of applause to our champions:
🥇 IGANZE – Female Winner�🥈 UWIMPUHWE Va�🥉 TheJackNation – Male Winner�4️⃣Annick Green�5️⃣ Musindi

And a massive THANK YOU to every single Rwandan editor who has ever clicked “save” on a Wikidata item. Whether you added one fact or thousands, you are the reason Rwanda’s story is alive and growing on the global stage.
Every edit matters.�Every editor is a hero.�Together, we are building our digital future—one data point at a time. 💪🇷🇼
Murakoze cyane! Asante sana! Thank you! 🙏❤️
#

Call for Jury Members – Wiki Loves Monuments 2025! 🏛️📸

As national winners roll in, we’re assembling the international jury for this year’s WLM competition! We’re looking for 7–9 volunteers who bring balance, expertise, and passion for heritage and photography.

🔹 Mix of photography, heritage & Wikimedia experts
🔹 Geographically diverse (no two from the same country)
🔹 Available to review ~200–500 photos in December
🔹 Comfortable judging in English
If you or someone you know would make a great juror, contact [email protected] & [email protected] with a short intro and contact details by November 20.

📅 National organisers, remember to submit your winning photos by December 1!

Yesterday at Mount Kigali University!,We hosted an edit-athon, crafting powerful quotes from Rwanda’s notable women onto wikiquote—honoring notable women like Honorable minister Nelly Mukazayire &more.

We also launched the organized and supported by Wiki Loves Women
a thrilling month-long challenge to amplify notable women’s voices worldwide on

Join the quest: edit, share, and let their wisdom echo! 💪✨
Kudos to our lead organizer Igirimpuhwe

The Afrocreative WikiProject+Film 2025 in Rwanda is soaring to new heights! On Saturday, September 6, we launched this vibrant initiative with our community trainers Robert Rugamba ,Yves Muganwa,Uwanyirigira Eugenie , MountKigali university and Rwanda Polytechnic students, focusing on amplifying African film narratives on in collaboration with the Rwanda Film Federation.

On Wednesday 10th, an edit-a-thon at the US Embassy Kigali carried the torch forward. With inspiring words from the Deputy Public Affairs Officer, our representatives Clementine and Rebeca, and Apollo the General Secretary of Rwanda film Federation.

The session leveraged PetScan for translation, empowering local filmmakers and promoting gender equity.
This project’s goals—celebrating African cinema, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering inclusivity—perfectly align with our mission to democratize knowledge.

A heartfelt thank you to the US Embassy in Rwanda for hosting us, The Afro Narrative for sponsorship and technical support and the Rwanda Film Federation for their partnership in this journey!

On August 22, 2025, We successfully hosted a WikiMedicine workshop in Kigali, facilitated by Dr. James Heilman, to train members in translating and creating health-related content for Kinyarwanda Wikipedia using tools from the Wiki Project Med Foundation (WPMEDF).

The initiative aimed to enhance access to reliable health information in , Rwanda’s primary language spoken by nearly the entire population, aligning with our mission to promote open knowledge and digital literacy. The workshop equipped participants with skills to translate and edit health content, ensuring accuracy and reliability through specialized tools, while increasing the availability of high-quality resources for the public. It also empowered medical professionals to access and contribute to health content in Kinyarwanda, supporting their practice and fostering collaborative knowledge-sharing in Rwanda’s health sector.

Wikimedia Foundation
Wikipedia
Rwanda Biomedical Centre
Rwanda Health

📢 Exciting Opportunity in Kigali! 📢

Join our Wikimedia Medicine Workshop on Aug 22, 2025, from 10 AM - 12 PM at Ir’za Workspace, Kacyiru! 🌍 with Dr James Heilman

Learn to create & translate health content in Kinyarwanda for Wikipedia, empower communities, and connect with global Wikimedia enthusiasts. 🩺 Perfect for health pros, writers, & anyone passionate about sharing reliable health info!
💻

For more details: [email protected] |

Thrilled to share that Rwanda is shining at Wikimania in Kenya! For the 1st time,4 Rwandans are attending, a huge leap from just 1 person in the previous editions!
Thank you Jack Niyigena, Philemon,Liliane Nishimirwe & Rebecca Jeanette for not only representing but also participating in this annual conference

2nd Place Winner – 2025 🇷🇼
This powerful image by Camilopiz (CC0) takes us back to the roots a traditional Rwandan bed.

It’s not just a photo it’s a memory.
A tribute to simplicity, resilience, and heritage.

intekoyumuco

31 years of transformation.
Kwibohora means choosing purpose over pain, unity over division, and hope over fear.

From the battlefield to the ballot, Rwandans have shaped a powerful story of healing and growth.

Turi mu rugendo, kandi ntituzasubira inyuma.