Building capacity for young women to become active creators of knowledge
Excerpt: In the historic city of Pirot, Serbia, a unique program is giving women from the southeast region the tools and confidence to fight digital exclusion, overcome online fear, and share their stories with the world.
Photos: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Women_Wiki_camp_in_Serbia_2026
By Milena Milenković,
Diversity program manager, Wikimedia Serbia
If you search the internet for the rich cultural heritage, historic landmarks, or extraordinary historical women of Southeast Serbia, you will often find an empty digital space. The internet is largely shaped by the big capital cities of the world, but smaller communities such as Pirot, Serbia, remain largely invisible on the global digital map.
Wikimedia Serbia launched a project, “Digital voices of Southeast Serbia – Women Wiki camp,” tailored for the region. This initiative aimed to build capacity among young women and girls in this vibrant yet digitally underserved region so that they could be active creators of knowledge and not mere passive consumers. From May 28–31, 2026, the FemWiki Academy was held in Pirot. Local participants learned how to edit Wikipedia articles, with a special focus on digital safety.
Prior to the launch of the academy, Wikimedia Serbia conducted a thorough baseline survey with women in the region to understand their relationship with the digital environment. The results were eye-opening and alarming.
The results showed that the vast majority of surveyed women (91 percent) were very willing to actively engage with digital platforms and provide their local history, but the vast majority admitted that they were held back by what we identified as “digital fear.” The fear was multi-faceted: participants revealed a deep anxiety about being criticized online, a fear of making technical mistakes, and a lack of supportive mentoring networks. In small communities, the weight of local public opinion often silences women before they even type their first word.
Addressing this problem is essential. When women are missing from Wikipedia, the world’s largest open-source encyclopedia, the internet loses the perspective of half the population. The goal of the Women Wiki camp was not only to teach technical skills but also to break down this digital fear by creating a certified safe space where making a mistake is considered a normal part of learning.
To reach this goal, we organized the project into clear phases. We began with community outreach and a baseline survey. Next, we developed specialized educational materials on Wikipedia guidelines, open-source licensing, and digital safety for women.
The highlight of the project was the intensive four-day live camp held in Pirot on May 28 – 31. The most rewarding part of this experience is the “Live Edit-a-thon” session. It is amazing to see the moment when the weight of digital anxiety lifts. With laptops, reliable internet, and help from experienced mentors, participants evolve from unsure beginners into confident editors. It is a powerful transformation to watch a participant face her fear, click the “Publish” button for the first time, and realize that her work is now available for millions to read.
The immediate results of the Women’s Wiki camp are clear. The immediate results of the Women’s Wiki camp are clear. More than 30 new and expanded articles about notable women, cultural heritage, and the specific history of Southeast Serbia will be available on Wikipedia, including these pieces on the National Organization for Women and the War on Women. Yet, the true long-term impact runs much deeper than just numbers. The main goal is to create a sustainable local network of female mentors. These participants are not only writing articles; they are becoming digital ambassadors for their communities. Looking ahead, Wikimedia Serbia plans to maintain this momentum by organizing regular online follow-up edit-a-thons. We will also support these newly trained editors in organizing smaller, local Wikipedia workshops in their own schools and municipalities.
So, what have we, as an organization and the local community, learned from this highly impactful experience? First and foremost, the digital divide between men and women does not stem from a lack of interest, skill, or awareness among women, but rather from the absence of a conducive environment for these activities.
By dedicating several days to establishing trust, offering mentorship, and addressing issues of concern to women within the digital space, an enormous surge of creativity and knowledge is unlocked. The people of Southeastern Serbia have realized the global value of their heritage, while the women of Pirot have shown that they are more than capable of wielding the digital pen.
