VSN Skills Development Case Study

Volunteer Supporters Network (VSN) – Learning Report.

The Volunteer Supporters Network's mission is to enhance volunteer support in the Wikimedia movement. The impact we want to achieve is to improve the conditions for online and offline participation of volunteers, to increase diversity and to strengthen the spirit of global cooperation and innovation.

Focus of this report

This learning report examines the network as a capacity-building initiative within the Wikimedia movement and how it contributes to improving volunteer support systems across Wikimedia affiliate communities. The report analyses how the network addresses shared challenges faced by volunteer supporters, how volunteer supporters engage in collaborative learning through the network’s activities, and how this learning is translated into practical action that supports volunteer retention, leadership development, and sustainable community growth. It also includes case studies that highlight participant experiences and demonstrate how learning is applied in real community contexts.

Shared challenges

Some challenges were identified by members of the network across different Wikimedia communities. These challenges provide context for understanding the learning experiences within the network and help explain the areas where support and capacity building are most needed. These include;

Volunteer recruitment and retention
Managing burnout and workload pressure
Improving event organization and participation
Sustaining long-term community engagement

VSN learning pathway

The learning pathway illustrates how participants progress from engagement in VSN activities to learning, practical application, and long-term impact within their Wikimedia communities. It shows the network as both a space for knowledge exchange and a process through which collaborative activities generate skills, knowledge, and awareness that can be applied in community contexts to improve volunteer support systems.


VSN Activities	Learning Outcomes	Application in Communities	Impact
Skillshares Peer-to-peer sessions Community exchanges	Leadership skills Technical skills Wellbeing awareness	Training and knowledge sharing Event planning Tool usage (Wikidata, OpenRefine) Onboarding practices	Stronger volunteer support systems Reduced burnout Improved retention Sustainable community growth

Case Studies

	Case Study Focus The following case studies demonstrate how participants translated learning from activities into practical actions that improved volunteer support and systems, community engagement, and sustainable leadership within their Wikimedia communities. Each case study explores what participants learned through VSN activities, the skills or knowledge they gained, and how they applied those learnings within their Wikimedia or community work.

The following three participants were interviewed:

Tania Solá – Community Officer, Wikimedia México (VSN member)
Chelsea Chiovelli – Program Officer, Wikimedia Canada (VSN member)
René Bile– Wikimedia community liaison (Cameroon) (VSN liaison)

Tania Solá

Tania’s participation in VSN helped her recognize that Wikimedia communities globally share similar challenges around engagement, retention, and recruitment.

She gained both technical and community-building skills, including Wikidata, OpenRefine, and practical methods for onboarding new contributors and improving event participation.

Application:

Integrated VSN resources into workshops
Shared learning materials with her team
Adapted engagement strategies from other communities to the Mexican context

Impact:

Strengthened local training practices
Encouraged more inclusive and collaborative volunteer participation

“VSN helped me realize I am not alone—many communities face the same challenges and we can learn from each other.”
— Tania Solá

René Bile

Bile is a Wikimedia trainer, translator, and community supporter across multiple African communities. Before VSN, he faced challenges with volunteer recruitment, retention, and managing a heavy workload across multiple roles.

Through VSN Skillshares, he particularly benefited from sessions on stress management and volunteer coordination. He learned practical approaches to delegation, workload balancing, and structured event planning.

Application:

Introduced clearer timelines for activities
Delegated responsibilities to emerging organizers within Wiki Clubs and student groups

Impact:

Reduced workload
Improved coordination
Created opportunities for new community leaders to grow

I learned how to manage stress and delegate tasks so I can support volunteers without becoming overwhelmed.
— René Bile

Chelsea Chiovelli

Chelsea was relatively new to the Volunteer Supporters Network (VSN), and participation in the network played an important role in helping her connect with others in the Wikimedia movement, learn from peers, and become more integrated into community practices.

Through VSN discussions and peer-learning sessions, she developed a strong understanding of volunteer wellbeing and burnout prevention. She learned strategies for recognizing burnout risks, distributing responsibilities more evenly, and creating healthier expectations for volunteers.

Application:

Introduced more shared leadership approaches
Encouraged balanced participation in community activities

Impact:

Healthier volunteer dynamics
Reduced pressure on individuals
Improved sustainability of community work

As someone who was fairly new, VSN was a great space to connect with others, learn from peers, and become better integrated into the Wikimedia movement.
— Chelsea Chiovelli

Learning outcomes

Across all interviews, three core learning themes emerged:

1. Sustainable Volunteer Leadership

Participants learned how to distribute responsibilities, delegate tasks, and avoid concentrating workload and pressure

2. Practical Community Management Skills

Sessions provided tools and methods for event planning, onboarding, and using Wikimedia project and tools such as Wikidata and OpenRefine.

3. Volunteer Wellbeing and Retention

Discussions on burnout and motivation helped participants rethink how to support volunteers in healthier and more sustainable ways.

How learning was applied

Participants applied these learning in practical ways:

Sharing resources and training materials within their communities
Improving workshop and event facilitation methods
Introducing structured planning and clearer timelines
Adapting global ideas to local Wikimedia contexts

Conclusion

The findings from these case studies show that VSN activities generate practical learning outcomes that directly strengthen volunteer support systems across Wikimedia communities.

Participants applied new skills, improved community practices, and introduced more sustainable approaches to leadership and volunteer wellbeing.