2025-08-08 –, NAIROBI (Ballroom 2) 🌐 💬
Language: English
Wikimedia is a global brand, a global movement, very diverse and broad. It is deeply shaped and developed by its national, international and diverse structures. It runs on people power and volunteering. That is why meeting (ideally in person) is essential. However, it is easily one of the most wasteful and impactful elements in the movement. Often it is not based on the most ecological and economical decisions. We say that knowledge is power. To be sustainable and organisationally ready for 2030 and beyond, we may need to gain some general insights and knowledge about how to operate more sustainably. We need more living examples, we need to allow for failure and ambiguity in the process, and we need to be patient.
This session is based on recent experiences of trying to run an international youth conference in a sustainable way.
Do we need “Green events”? Are we ready to run them? Perhaps there is enough of a good impact that this is just a burden to solve. What does it even mean to run a green event?
First I went through observation.
I experienced a few Wikimedia events myself. I was able to compare them with many years of designing, delivering and evaluating (international) events in other settings, for other bodies, such as European Commission structures or international youth work structures.
One of my top highlights is the adoption of sustainable guidelines for the European Youth Event, a large-scale event in the European Parliament that brings together up to 10,000 young people and youth workers from all corners of Europe. The second would be to get a yes for bringing composting portable toilets to the European Parliament for the same event, because we needed more toilets on site.
Does it entirely change the event to be completely green? No. But it creates an inspiration, a place for discussion and it helps to inspire individuals and create behaviour change. The ripples on the water.
Have I failed? Oh yes, many times. I can amuse you with many stories of failure.
Have I given up? No. Yes and no. I became softer in my approach. I allow failure, learning curve and negotiation.
The feedback I get over the years is: "you made me feel more relaxed", "it doesn't have to look all grey and brown, it actually looks really cool", "I should celebrate small victories", "since I met you, I'm changing something in my behaviour/practice", "it's a relief, there's a way"...
Then I started talking to people in the movement.
I could feel a resonance, there are many of us who would like to care more, but maybe feel powerless to change anything. It can be very overwhelming.
Then I get permission to act.
We decided to stop complaining and preaching and try to set an example. Not necessarily the best practice example, but a case study. Share our experience and draw a roadmap to what could be done differently in the future.
In May we had the first international Wikimedia Youth Conference in Prague. We tried to assess the event and put in place as many measures as possible to make the event more sustainable.
How did it go? Let me tell you!
Here are also some observations, analyses and recommendations for the movement to consider, based on our experience.
I speak from the bottom of my heart, based on my passion for green events, being on a learning curve myself. I hope I can spark some joy and make sustainable choices a little more playful.
It is also based on my previous and ongoing experience as a green event designer, assessor and trainer.
- What other themes or topics does your session fit into? Please choose from the list of tags below.
-
Events, Grants, Capacity building, Affiliates, Conferences, Storytelling
- How does your session relate to the event theme: Wikimania@20: Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
-
I dare to say massively and fully. Greener events often mean more inclusive events. Environmental injustice is real and we should try to minimize our contribution to that. It is definitely about impact. Either choice we take we create impact, so with more sustainable choices we can have more positive social impact as movement. We can also impact behaviour of individuals and create ripples effect with our intentions - we should serve as an example and be the flagship.
It is fully about sustainability and a sustainable approach. Not only from an environmental point of view. I always look at the procedures and policies in place, because in order to have capacity to run Green events and implement sustainable measures in daily business of the movement, we need to be sustainable on organisational and individual level. The conditions have to be set right for individuals to make the best decisions ever. - What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
-
Average knowledge about Wikimedia projects or activities
- How do you plan to deliver this session? You will be asked to confirm this closer to the date in case of changes to the format.
-
Dialing in from a remote location
- Should your session be selected for the program, do you agree to release your session and supporting materials on-wiki and on the eventyay platform under CC BY-SA 4.0?
-
I agree
I was born in Prague and currently I live in a little town nearby. Europe in general has been my home for the past 20 years, I live in Lithuania and the UK and got a job gig in most of the European countries.
I'm a member and (part-time) Education programmes manager of Wikimedia Czech Republic since May 2019. Since January 2023 I am full-timer, currently as well managing Programmes for Community (editathons, events, campaigns, photographer community).
We run three main programs - Education (4 individual programmes), Community (editors & photographers) and Partnerships (where Wikidata and advocacy fall into).
Most of my work-life I have spent in the field of education; mainly the non-formal. I am familiar with and passionate about Youth Work, Learning Experience Design, LifeLong Learning, Erasmus+ programme, Facilitation & Art of Hosting, Graphic facilitation, Impact, Sustainability and Green Events production of events and activities. I occasionally publish articles, educational materials and do editors jobs - e.g. for Council of Europe.
My life got enriched by many things such as: Ultimate Frisbee, slackline, urban cycling or contact improvisation. I love skiing, cross-country skiing, ice-skating and many other sports.
Since 2020 I am a Trager Approach Practitioner. I hold a Greener Event Accessor Certification from Falthmount University in the UK.