Blog

How can young people help preserve a nation’s history in the digital age? Through Enzi Hizo, a thematic Wikimedia edit-a-thon organized by Open Space Tanzania under the Tanzania University Students Wikimedians (TUSW) 2025/2026 Project, university students explored how research, collaboration, and responsible editing can make Tanzania’s historical knowledge more accessible to the world. Rather than simply creating new articles, participants strengthened their skills in source verification, citation, and neutral writing while improving historical content on Wikimedia platforms. This blog reflects on the event from a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) perspective, highlighting the experiences, lessons, and insights gained throughout the activity. It also examines the importance of preserving local history through open knowledge platforms and how thematic editing events can empower students to become active contributors to reliable digital knowledge while ensuring that Tanzania’s historical narratives remain available for future generations.

What does it take to transform university students from consumers of information into contributors to one of the world’s largest open knowledge platforms? The Lugha Yetu event, organized by Open Space Tanzania through the Tanzania University Students Wikimedians (TUSW) 2025/2026 Project, explored this question by introducing young people to Wikimedia while encouraging them to document Tanzania’s knowledge in Swahili. More than an introductory edit-a-thon, the event demonstrated how practical learning, peer mentorship, and local relevance can inspire meaningful participation in the digital knowledge ecosystem. This blog reflects on the event through a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) lens, highlighting the experiences, lessons learned, and early outcomes that informed subsequent project activities. It also explores why strengthening Swahili content on Wikimedia is important for preserving cultural heritage, expanding access to reliable information, and empowering a new generation of volunteers to become active contributors to free and open knowledge.