Published on 25 June 2019

The winners of the WikiChallenge 2019 are...

The African Schools WikiChallenge allows the pupils of our digital schools to improve their writing skills and learn how to use digital tools while learning to publish content online. It is a way to create more content about African daily life and culture, something which is often missing from online encyclopaedias. The competition allows us to further improve the education of disadvantaged children at our Digital Schools.
The 2nd edition of our competition took place between 7 January and 20 March 2019 in 7 French-speaking African countries.

 

participants
In Cameroon, students work on their future article.

 

Using digital to share culture with the world

The students can gather knowledge on their community, their daily lives, their environment and their culture with the support of their teachers. They write encyclopaedia articles on their environment using digital devices, which will then be published online on Vikidia, an online encyclopaedia for 8-13 year olds.

 

The international grand prizes

The three articles selected for the international grand prizes are:

  • In Cameroon, the article "Culture de la viande du chien chez les Yevol" (the culture of dog meat among the Yevol), written by the Sainte Rosa Verenini Catholic school was chosen.
  • In Mali, the committee chose the article "Kimparana", by the École Fondamentale Dioundioun in Kimparana.
  • In Senegal, the Cheikh Mbaba Sow school was awarded for its article "Charrettes à Mbour” (Mbour carts).

The three winners will receive €5,000 worth of school supplies.

 

The national prizes

The eight articles selected for the national grand prizes are:

  • In Cameroon, the article "La fête du Ngondo chez les Sawa” (the Sawa people’s Ngondo festival) by the Joss 2 public school
  • In Guinea Conakry, the article "Niandian" written by the Fidel Castro primary school of Kissidougou
  • In Madagascar, the article "Tambohogasy" by the Sainte Anne Ankomakely school was chosen
  • In Mali, the selected article is called "Karité" (Shea) and was written and published by the Almamy Timbo School of Bougoni
  • In Niger, the committee declared a tie between two articles. One prize was awarded for an article on Women Potters in Boubou-Hama written by Stin School in Niamey, while a second prize was awarded for the article "Lutte traditionnelle au Niger" (traditional wrestling in Niger), by the Poudrière 3 School in Niamey.
  • In Senegal, the Moustapha Baidy Ba school in Fatick was awarded for the article "Mariage en milieu sérère" (Marriage among the Serere people).
  • In Tunisia, the Oued Essider Gabes school was awarded for its article "Chenini".

All of the winning schools will receive €2,000 of school supplies (bags, notebooks, dictionaries, etc.) to provide pupils with the best conditions possible.

 

wiki

 

The African Schools WikiChallenge is organised in collaboration with the association Wiki In Africa.

 

vikidia

Vikidia is Wikipedia’s little sister. It is a free encyclopaedia which explains basic concepts to young

readers. Whilst the language is suitable for 8-15 year old children, contributors can be any age.