The Wiki Loves Women Focus coaching program is a practical, action-oriented, mentored online training program facilitated by mentors. It aims to provide skills and knowledge specifically designed to support community leaders in creating programs and initiatives for gender equity within the Wikimedia and Open movements. The Focus coaching program will provide insights, guidance, skill transfers, and mentoring to help each member of the working group plan a gender equity program within their community and gather the resources and skills needed to implement this program.
The Wiki Loves Women Focus Group was initially formed in 2021 and comprised 12 women representing 8 African countries (Botswana, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Cameroon, and Rwanda), as well as France. In 2022, the group welcomed two new members from South Africa and Tunisia, expanding its composition. As part of the 2023 program, the WLW working group continued to grow with the addition of 4 new members, making it more diverse and inclusive. The primary goal of the working group members is to raise awareness by organizing the participation of local communities in the #SheSaid initiative. #SheSaid began as an online campaign in 2020 to enhance the visibility of women leaders by creating new entries or improving existing entries on Wikiquote. This ensures that the voices of women are heard.
In 2024, 12 new members joined the group to attend 30 women from 12 African countries (Botswana, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa, Zimbabwae, Kenya, Cameroun, Rwanda, Tunisia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Egypt) and France.
In 2025, 5 new members joined the group to attend 35 women from 14 African countries (Botswana, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa, Zimbabwae, Kenya, Cameroun, Rwanda, Tunisia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Madagascar, Senegal) and France.
Meet the Focus Group Members
Focus Group
Clementine Nyirahabihirwe
Focus Group: Rwanda
Clementine Nyirahabihirwe is a Rwandan woman of 36 years old, who holds a Bachelor’s degree from the National University of Rwanda, in the faculty of Economics and Management, Economic department. She is a member of the Wikimedia User Group Rwanda, and I am one of the 4 founders of User group Rwanda, she acts as general secretary in the executive team.
Carolyn Seaman
Focus Group: Nigeria
A lawyer with over 20 years’ experience advancing girls' and women’s rights. And a Social Entrepreneur, Tech Evangelist, Filmmaker, Girl Expert, Founder and Creative Director of Girls Voices Initiative, a non-profit that educates and empowers girls and women to identify their voices to advocate for their rights.
Oteng Tiro Sandra Kolobetso
Focus Group: Botswana
Oteng Tiro Sandra Kolobetso is a volunteer in Wikipedia from Botswana. She is a graduate in BSC (HONS) in Business Information technology and has worked with the University of Botswana for 2 years as an Information Technology Officer intern. She contributes towards competitions and events that aim to increase content and contributions about a country in Wikipedia.
R Jeanette Nyinawumuntu
Focus Group: Rwanda
Co-founder of the Wikimedia Community User Group Rwanda and responsible for community engagement and establishing partnerships.
Tochi Precious Friday
Focus Group: Nigeria
Living in Abuja, Nigeria, Tochi is proudly an African Wikipedian, and initiates projects to further the Wikimedia movement (especially Igbo contribution) across Africa. Tochi founded a language centre called Smarter Language Hub where she helps to promote bilingual education and cross-cultural communication. She's a multi-linguist, lover of Arts and Culture.
Faith Mwanyolo
Focus Group: Kenya
Faith Mwanyolo is a computer science student at Riara University located in Nairobi, Kenya. She began to take an interest in Wiki projects in 2018 and since has organized a WikiGap event at her university, attended the Wikimania Conference in Cape Town, among other things.
Mariam Keita
Focus Group: Guinea
I joined the Wikimedia movement in 2020.
Walaa Abdel Manaem
Pearl Maatla Melamu
Focus Group: Botswana
A Wikimedian and a library intern at Arthur Portland College in Botswana.
Sichelesile Similo Ndlovu
Focus Group: Zimbabwe
Sichelesile lives in Matopo, Zimbabwe, and is a proudly new African Wikipedian. She has been a librarian at a boarding school for the past 11 years and holds a degree in Library and Information Science. She joined the Wiki Loves Women Focus Group to initiate projects to further the WikiAfrica movement across Africa.
Florence Devouard
Co-Project Manager
A Wikipedian since 2002, a former Chair of Wikimedia Foundation, Florence Devouard was born in France where she currently lives. Initially trained as an Agricultural Engineer, she transitioned to non-profit leadership, intercultural project management, community building, and skills transfer roles
Goodness Ignatius
Focus Group: Nigeria
A dedicated member of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group. As a librarian, she has a passion for sharing knowledge and promoting learning, which has led her becoming an active contributor to various Wikimedia projects, including Meta-Wiki, Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikicommons, and Wikiquote.
Zayneb Takouti
Focus Group: Tunisia
I bring a wealth of expertise in partnership management, event coordination, and strategic planning.
Maram Ali Ahmed
Focus Group: Sudan
A Sudanese wikimedian, and a researcher in Material Science and Physics lecturer. One of the co-founders and program officer of the Sudanese user group that is concerned about increasing and improving the Sudanese content.
Adjovi Essenam FUMEY
Focus Group: Senegal
A Librarian at a library in Dakar
Eliane Dominique Yao Sigan
Focus Group: Ivory Coast
President of the Board of Directors of Wikifranca, the network of French-speaking Users Groups and Chapters of the Wikimedia movement.
