Hello everyone,

We are delighted to extend an invitation to participate in the Indic Oral Culture Project, an initiative dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of underrepresented forms of knowledge, specifically focused on oral culture, including folk songs and folk tales. Our mission is to foster a cross-wiki, cross-community effort to bring non-textual forms of knowledge onto various Wikimedia projects. 

Why use Wikimedia projects to document oral culture: 

• Folk songs are a cultural art form disappearing fast according to native speakers and linguists. 

• Several people now have access to cameras and freely available software to create and process audiovisuals.

• Broader accessibility and long-term preservation, fostering global engagement and knowledge exchange.

Who can participate:

• Beginners are welcome to join.

• Knowledgeable on Wikimedia volunteerism.

• Passionate about digitizing the underrepresented aspect of their language and culture.

What we offer:

• Online training program covering the use of mobile devices for recording oral culture videos and the workflow of Wikimedia projects.

• Utilization of Wikimedia projects to digitize and preserve oral culture. 

• Internet & travel support, and per diem for those who require it.

Please share with your community or individuals who might be interested in this project. Reach out to us via email at amritsufi2@gmail.com  or peerzadaiflaq@gmail.com

Regards,

Peerzada Iflaq

Communications & Community coordinator

Indic Oral Culture Project