Wikimania, the annual global conference of the Wikimedia Foundation, who runs, among others, the popular free knowledge site Wikipedia, this year was held at Cape Town, South Africa. With 123 other volunteers from around the World, I was one of the full scholarship recipients this year to attend the conference. Being my first Wikimania, I was excited and at the same time a bit nervous.
There was a two day pre conference before the three day main event. But most of us arrived 2 days prior to the pre event. The venue as well as accommodation was at the centrally located Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel. The first thing I noticed after reaching my home was the excellent view of the iconic Table Mountains from my room. The next few days I took uncountable shots of the majestic structure, and yet craved to take more and more.
The view from my room
The day before the pre-conference, I, along with a group of around 17 other Wikimedians, went to hike the Table Mountains. The initial plan was for 4 of us, but more people started joining, and soon it was a big happy family. The hike was strenuous, especially for people like me, but on the way, I made new friends as we hiked together panting, searching for water (there was water for just four according to the initial plan), cracking jokes, and again going back to panting some more. But at the end of the day what mattered was reaching the top and the accomplishment of successfully doing that.
With fellow Wikimedians on top of the Table Mountain
At the gathering that evening I met many new Wikimedians for the first time, some of whom I only knew online before. It was the time to catch up with old friends too. I discussed a lot and came to know about the local community of Iran and Azerbaijan.
At the Learning Day. Photo – Anirudh Singh Bhati
The Learning Days and Hackathon for the next two pre-conference days were exciting. I also gave a lightning talk on the Quality Images of Wikimedia Commons.
Me giving the lightning talk. Photo – Anmol Wassan
Among the main programs I attended the ones on Wikimedia Commons, Wiki Loves Monuments, and Wikidata.
The best part of the conference was meeting new people and coming to know about their projects. Also, people whom we only knew online. I met Poco a Poco, an experienced Commons contributor and asked him to be one of our jury for the upcoming Wiki Loves Monuments in India.
The closing ceremony
The closing ceremony of Wikimania was something I will remember for a long time. Also, after the conference Douglas Scott from Wikimedia South Africa, one of the organisers, took us for a heritage walk around Cape Town. It was a lovely way to know the city from a local.
Cape Town heritage walk by Douglas Scott
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