Hi All (cross-posting to make sure I reach as much of India as possible),
As you're aware, we had invited applications for Campus Ambassadors for the upcoming Pune Pilot of the India Campus Program.
The response has been fantastic: we've received ~500 applications/enquiries from across India, ~70 of which were from Pune. This has been really heartening - indicating the desire of many to support the Wikimedia movement. It's also been overwhelming because we need to process all the applications, respond to applicants, etc.!
I think, most critically, it also presents an amazing opportunity for us to introduce new people to Wikimedia projects (especially Wikipedia) - and invite them to join the community. I've interviewed quite a few and there is a recurring theme I hear from many of them. It goes something like, "I've been using Wikipedia for years and years, and I love it. I want to contribute back to it - but I wasn't sure how. Then I saw the banner and decided this was a great way to help." The overwhelming common trait I have noticed in the applicants is that they are bright, well-intentioned and eager to contribute.
Here are some thoughts I had, and I'd love to hear your suggestions/comments on these.
We should respond to every single applicant, and even to those who didn't actually apply but sent emails enquiries (such as "When is the program coming to my city?", etc.) No one should be left behind.
We will prioritise (in terms of sequence of events) the Pune Campus Ambassadors. We need to have a reasonable number available for a training session that we need to conduct before the start of the program. Of the 70 who applied from Pune, we should hopefully get 20-30 Campus Ambassadors.
The important suggestion I had for everyone else (in Pune and beyond) is that we do not "reject" anyone. While some might not become Campus Ambassadors because we don't plan to run the program in their towns/cities right now, or some in Pune might not currently have the desired experience (in teaching and people management), there is no reason that they can't participate in some other roles. Therefore, I don't think we should send any "reject letters" to anyone. No one should be left behind. Instead, we should send them options on how they can participate/learn more about participating. For example:-
i) they could form student clubs in their respective educational establishments
ii) they could form Wikipedia clubs in their workplaces/social groups (as a number of applicants are working professionals, and no longer on campus)
iii) they could become individual editors
For us to try and help realise their potential, here are some thoughts I had:-
i) Invite all the applicants/enquirers to attend the next community meet-ups. This was a suggestion shared by the Pune community. This would give them a chance to interact with the community and understand more about the movement/projects.
ii) Additionally, those who have not been selected as Campus Ambassadors can be reassured by telling them that they can join an "incubation" program. This was a suggestion shared by the Pune community. This would involve them attending meet-ups, learning how to edit, starting to edit - and being supported and hand-held along the way by existing community members. This would help them if they eventually wish to reapply as Campus Ambassadors. Even if they choose not to, they could easily become individual newbie editors.
iii) Invite all applicants/enquirers in a town/city to attend a full-fledged Wiki Academy. This was a suggestion shared by the Mumbai community. This is currently envisaged as a full day session where they are given insights into the movement & projects, taught how to edit, and actually edit articles.
iv) In towns/cities where a full-fledged Wiki Academy is not viable (e.g. if there aren't enough numbers of either participants or volunteers/volunteer time to run a Wiki Academy), then an alternative suggestion is to have a smaller group (3-5) of the applicants /enquirers linked up with a community member who can conduct smaller, shorter groups to explain how to edit and hand-hold them as they edit.
I'd really like to hear your views/comments/suggestions on the ideas listed here.
Also, do let me know which of you would like to volunteer either to help conduct Wiki Academies (point (iii) above) or to manage smaller groups of potential newbies (point (iv) above). Also, it'd be great if we could invite them to your next meet-ups at your respective towns/cities (point (i) above).
Another aspect I'd like to get suggestions from you on is how to manage the process of inviting them to these events. We could, for example, share the contacts of these applicants with the respective communities could reach out and invite them. Alternatively, if you wish this to be done for you, that also can be arranged (though it will put some strain on already stretched resources.)
I look forward to hearing from you. (Please note that we have received applicants from every corner of the country - so please don't assume that the applicants are only from Pune or only from large cities or only interested in English Wikipedia. (They are literally from everywhere, and no one should be left behind!)
Kind Regards,
Hisham Mundol
Wikimedia Foundation India Programs
skype: hisham.wikimedia
gtalk: hmundol(a)wikimedia.org
twitter: @mundol
Hi Folks
I am writing to all of you to correct a potential error. As you might be aware, the Wikimedia Foundation has set itself an important objective of supporting the community in India to expand participation. As part of this, India Programs has been set up - and I work for it.
I have put together a plan for India (please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_-_India_Programs) - and I had communicated this on the India mailing list. This has generated interest as well as debate and discussion. However, I understand that some of you might not be on that mailing list. I therefore thought I'd correct this by reaching out directly to you and requesting you to have a look at the page and share your comments (on the Talk Page or on this mailing list or directly to me; my contact details are in my signature.) It outines the thinking behind India Programs, key initiatives, milestones, team structure, visit reports, IRC logs, recommendations on office location and some other details. I hope you find it interesting, and I'd love to hear your views / comments / suggestions.
Also, we I have a monthly IRC on India Programs with whoever is interested - on the first Thursday of every month. I'll send out an invite to your mailing list from now on. Do see if you can join in.
I am also going to try and attend as many community meet-ups in as many locations as possible - so I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible, as soon as possible. If you would be kind enough to let me know when the next meeting is planned for and on what schedule (e.g. 2nd Saturday, etc.) then I'll work out how to attend asap.
(Do excuse me if you have received this message through other mailing lists, or it's a bit of a duplication if you are already on the India mailing list.)
Thank You.
Warm Regards,
Hisham Mundol
Wikimedia Foundation India Programs
skype: hisham.wikimedia
gtalk: hmundol(a)wikimedia.org
twitter: @mundol
Thanks a lot Ashutosh bhai for the condensed report. Effective points noted.
1. problems with input in Odia script on Computer
Yes, this is the biggest problem, most of Odia Wiki users will be from
Odisha and XP users. In XP it's either broken or boxes. Visibility is an
alarming issue when we take a web content written in Unicode fonts.
PS. None of the newspapers, literary folks use Unicode font based input,
neither they are concerned about the need for them. We need to make them
aware.
1. Native Wiki/Microsoft/Google input tools/ platforms (microsoft ILIT
seems impressing the audience)
The built-in Translation/Inscript tool inside Wiki is wonderful, so no need
of a third party tool like MS ILIT/Google Transliteration. Once one get hold
of this tool he can really type faster. The support for this can be found
here and can be downloaded from here.
1. what can go as wiki article (5 pillars or wiki)
Sure, this will be a good info to be added in the FAQ.
1. can i put my personal page as wiki (do and donts, 5 pillars
again) > *this
can go into FAQ, Subhashis*
This is a good point too. I think the previous one and this could be added
together.
1. i have large volume of article in Odia, Non Unicode version, what is
the most effective way to put it in wiki(Unicode conversion)> *this can
go into FAQ, Subhashis*
First of all, as of now we need articles of various different topics in
Wikipedia, but large volume articles will be read by users only after we
reach to more people, else simply typing so long articles will be for self
satisfaction. Yes, we definitely need them, but lets concentrate on creating
articles with sufficient details needed to common users. But, if someone is
interested then, he/she can go ahead and type them.
1. Some of the translation , terms used in the Interface of Th Odia Wiki
are not appropriate, May be a team of people have to formed to take it
further.
This is matter of time to change the interface messsages, not an overnight
job. First of all to translate these messages it took a long time, please
discuss them in Village pump, let everyone give their view and based on the
majority these are to be changed, else, after few days people will again ask
for some other change. And changing Logo, Interface messages so often, esp
for a growing Wikipedia aint good.
Please ask more people to participate and give their view, Wikipedia is
based on consensus. Please, give your view and let others give theirs.
Finally the majority will be considered and changes will be made.
Change is vital and the only thing permanent!
Thanks again Ashutosh bhai and one quick request, please don't send pictures
to mailing list, either send them to personal mail or upload in Commons, as
it is a common mailing list, automatically it blocks all pictures.
Subha
Hi, here is the report of the 3rd Odia Wikipedia Workshop, Cuttack, 2011,
April 03.
The 3rd Odia Wikipedia Academy has been organized on 17April 2011 at Image
Institute of Technology & Management, Cuttack. This was the second outreach
academy of Odia Wikipedia in Odisha and the first one organized in the
Silver City, Cuttack in order to create an awareness about odia wikipedia
and to motivate common mass from different educational and social background
to use the same. Odia Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia with
a substantial motive of making knowledge freely available to the masses in
Odia Language, was started way back in 2002. It was among the first four
Indian regional language wikipedia, other three being Asamese, Malayalam, &
Punjabi. But due to the dearth of proper awareness and activism there was a
snail pace movement for almost 8 years. Shiju Alex of Malyalam Wikipedia
introduced Odia Wiki projects to many fellow Odias which later motivated
them to recapitulate the Odia Wiki movement through the first Odia Wikipedia
Academy, conducted in Bengaluru on 6 March, 2011
Sambidhan Mohanty, Founder, Inmohven along with Ashutosh Kar, a Bangalore
based software engineer and an alumni of the prestigious National Institute
of Design formally inaugurated the event. A Video Tutorial which illustrates
and demonstrates the usage & the complete know-how of odia wikipedia was
launched on this occasion. A FAQ Booklet was distributed among the first
time participants of the Wikipedia Workshop. Cuttack based wikipedian
Srikant Kedia took active part in facilitating the event. The whole
Academy/Workshop was conducted in 2 main sections, in the first session Mr.
Kar & Mr. Mohanty introduced Odia Wikpedia to the audience, giving them a
brief overview about the history, development and current status of
Wikipedia Movement. The second session, conducted by Srikant Kedia, focused
on how to type in Odia using the transliteration/Inscript tool, which has
been incorporated recently in odia wikipedia; solving typing issues,
searching existing articles, creating articles and editing for improvement
of old article. He also demonstrated the technique of adding content to the
articles by using the commonly used syntaxes, the methodology for adding
pictures and other media files to odia wikipedia. This session was followed
by an interactive session in which the audience interacted with the
demonstrators and among themselves. Several discussions based on several
major issues were carried out as well. The participants included students
from the various management & engineering colleges, entrepreneurs,
journalists, writers & College students. At the end of the session
contributors came forward with several suggestions which included motivating
more number of students and freelancers to contribute to Odia
Wikipedia.There was a discussion on how to build a stronger community and
the ways to be implemented for improving the articles both in terms of a
standard quality and quantity. The participants also put forth their
suggestions on the ways to tackle vandalism and monitor the wiki user's
activities. Many such activism & events have been planned to be conducted in
the coming future with the involvement of people from all fields of life,
who are passionate about the development of Odia language on the web. Odia
Wikipedia can be accessed at or.wikipedia.org and the Facebook page for Odia
Wikipedia is facebook.com/OdiaWiki
As of now there are 714 articles in Odia Wikipedia, many of them are yet to
be refined & enhanced with more information and references through larger
participation.
--
Thanks & Regards,
Srikant Kedia (User:Odisha1)
Odia (Oriya) Wikipedia Community
Odia Wikipedia Support Mail ID - odiawiki(a)gmail.com
Facebook- facebook.com/OdiaWiki
Tweet @OdiaWiki
Hi all,
This is Subha from Odia Wikipedia.
Just wanted to update you all about the new video tutorial added to Odia
Wikipedia which will help new users to add new articles, search for existing
articles and make changes in them.
This is the 1st version of the video, in future i am aiming to add
background voiceover which will also help to learn the usage. As of now,
Odia Callouts are used to help.
Your suggestions are most welcome.
*
ସୁଭପାSubhashishPanigrahi
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଉଇକିପିଡ଼ିଆ
_______________________________________________
Wikipedia Odia (Oriya) mailing list
wikipedia-or(a)lists.wikimedia.org
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikipedia-orfacebook.com/OdiaWiki
Tweet @OdiaWiki
*
Glad to see your quick report Srikant, and great job by all of you.
Congratulations once again for all your efforts.
If possible please add few more discussions you have held yesterday, because
this report contains part of the last Bhubaneswar workshop which I believe
you would have come over and found some new ways!
So, please add few more unique points you have discussed and based on which
I will send you an Odia write up which you can send to all known
journalists.
Thanks
Subha Pa
ସଭିଙ୍କୁ ଓଳିଗି,
"କେମିତି ବ୍ୟବହାର କରିବେ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଉଇକିପିଡ଼ିଆ", ଏ କଥା ସମସ୍ତେ ପଚାରନ୍ତି କାହାକୁ ଓଡ଼ିଆ
ଉଇକିପିଡ଼ିଆରେ ଲେଖାଟିଏ ବଦଳାଇବାକୁ/ଲେଖିବାକୁ କହିଲେ, ତେବେ ଦଶ ମିନିଟର ଏହି ଭିଡ଼ିଓ
ଶିକ୍ଷଣରେ ମୁଁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରିଛି ଯେତେ ସମ୍ଭବ କମ ଆଉ ନିହାତି ଦରକାରି ତଥ୍ୟସବୁ ରଖିବାକୁ
ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରିଛି । ତେବେ ଏହି ଅଳ୍ପ ରିଜୋଲୁସନର ଭିଡ଼ିଓରେ ଟିକେ ଅସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ଦିଶିପାରେ, ଉଇକି
କମନସରେ ଅପଲୋଡ଼ କଲାପରେ ତାହା ଠିକରୂପରେ ଦେଖିହେବ । ମୁଁ ପଛପଟରେ ବଖଣା (Voice over) ବି
ରଖୁଛି ଯାହା ଆଉଟିକେ ସୁବିଧା କରିଦେବ ବୁଝିବାପାଇଁ । ମତାମତ ଦେବେ
*(I have uploaded the alpha version of "How to Edit Odia Wikipedia. It is an
alpha release, still I need to add the voice over and correct few mistakes
and release the final one before the Cuttack Wikipedia Odia Academy [
http://bit.ly/wpmctc1 ] so they can release and show it to the audience that
day. For Cuttack Academy organizers- Srikant, Sambidhan Bhai, Ashutosh Bhai
and Jagadish, please make sure they know about the
help<http://or.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AC%B8%E0%AC%BE%E0%AC%B9%E0%AC%BE%E0%AC%AF%…>so
that if they have any problem they can ask there. And also pls ask
them
to send queries to odiawiki(a)gmail.com)*
*
*
*ଏଇଠି ରହିଲା ଶିକ୍ଷଣ ଭିଡ଼ିଓ/ Here is the video, please give your suggestions*
*
*
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogPeL_30O5M
*
*
ସୁଭପା
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଉଇକିପିଡ଼ିଆ
_______________________________________________
Wikipedia Odia (Oriya) mailing list
wikipedia-or(a)lists.wikimedia.org
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikipedia-orfacebook.com/OdiaWiki
Tweet @OdiaWiki
*
ସଭିଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ଜୁହାର,
ଦୟାକରି ଏହି ଫରଦରେ
ଯାଇ<http://or.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AC%89%E0%AC%87%E0%AC%95%E0%AC%BF%E0%AC%AA%…>ପରିଛା/ଆଡମିନ
ପାଇଁ ଥିବା ଆବେଦନରେ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ମତ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ ।
Please caste your vote in this page
<http://or.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AC%89%E0%AC%87%E0%AC%95%E0%AC%BF%E0%AC%AA%…>for
Adminship. Wikipedia needs moderation and cleanup as we grow more no of
users and more content are added, moreover to control vandalism and
unnecessary content addition consistent moderation is needed.
ଦୟାକରି ମନେ ରଖନ୍ତୁ, ଉଇକିପିଡ଼ିଆ ଗୋଟିଏ ସାହିତ୍ୟ ଫରଦ ନୁହେଁ, ତେଣୁ ଗପ, କବିତା,
ପ୍ରବନ୍ଧ ନୁହେଁ, ଓଡ଼ିଶା, ଭାରତ ବା ବିଶ୍ଵର ଜାଣିବା କଥାସବୁ ଏଥିରେ ରହିବା ଦରକାର | ଆପଣ
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଉଇକିପିଡ଼ିଆ ପାଇଁ ନିହାତି ଦରକାରି ଲେଖାର
ତାଲିକା<http://or.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AC%89%E0%AC%87%E0%AC%95%E0%AC%BF%E0%AC%AA%…>ରୁ
ଲେଖାଟିଏ ବାଛି ତା ଉପରେ ଲେଖି ପାରନ୍ତି ବା ତାକୁ ସୁଧାରିପାରନ୍ତି ।
While adding a new article please remember Wikipedia is not a literary
website where poem, story or essays or news can be posted. Wikipedia is an
encyclopedia and every article you add should be encyclopedic. You can
always go through this page which has a list of article which should be
there in Odia Wikipedia. Few of them are already there but in poor state,
you can either improve them or start writing about new articles. But, please
make sure you collect more information and post articles which are liberal,
doesn't contain any controversial or wrong information and genuine and are
Wikipedic in nature and you feel they should be there in an Encyclopedia.
Content should be descriptive and add several headings like *ଇତିହାସ
(**History),
**ଦ୍ରଷ୍ଟବ୍ୟ (**Reference), ବାହାର ଲିଙ୍କ* (External Link), etc. When you
intend any major change please use the *"ଆଲୋଚନା"* (Dicussion) before
changing any older article.
*''ଆସ ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ ଲେଖିବା''*
*
ସୁଭପା
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଉଇକିପିଡ଼ିଆ
_______________________________________________
Wikipedia Odia (Oriya) mailing list
wikipedia-or(a)lists.wikimedia.org
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikipedia-orfacebook.com/OdiaWiki
Tweet @OdiaWiki
*
*The Hindu : "Attempts on to revive Odia Wikipedia"*
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article1629497.ece
*Some people who edit the Odia Wikipedia say that getting a Wikipedia in the
language is an important tool to keep the language alive. At present, an
attempt is on to revive Odia Wikipedia (or.wikipedia.org), one of the
earliest Indian language Wikipedias to be created.*
*
*
*Interestingly, the guidance to stoke the Odia Wikipedia is led by
Bangalorean Shiju Alex, who edits the Malayalam Wikipedia, while another
Bangalorean, Subhashish Panigrahi, translates and creates templates for the
language.*
*
*
*While Mr. Panigrahi has spoken about the Odia Wikipedia to 6,000 students
across six schools in Bhubaneswar, Mr. Alex, who is passionate about growing
Indian language Wikipedia and writes for the Malayalam Wikipedia, noticed
the low content in Odia Wikipedia. He scouted for Odia editors in Bangalore
and finding no response initially, he took the initiative to Orissa. On
April 3, he helped organise the second Odia Wikipedia Academy in
Bhubaneswar, to bring an awareness of the Odia Wikipedia among people.*
*
*
*The Odia Wikipedia was one of the first few Indian language Wikipedias to
be created. Although started in 2002, along with Wikipedias in Assamese,
Punjabi, Nepali, Oriya and Malayalam, prior even to the Hindi Wikipedia in
2003 July, the Odia Wikipedia never grew. It has, to date, only 700
articles.*
*
*
*“We have to save Odiya. We have to take the movement online and Odiya
Wikipedia is a vital part of it,” says Sambidhan Mohanty, a Cuttack-based
businessman from a family of Odiya writers who studied in Bangalore.*
*
*
*Mr. Mohanty says he appreciates Shiju and Subhashish as they got Odia
speakers involved in Odia. “We came together because of them,” he says.*
*
*
*Mr. Mohanty says the main aim is to get people attracted to Odia Wikipedia,
to get more people to speak the language and write in it. Next is to get the
State Government's attention so that Odiya Wikipedia can be made part of
school curricula.*
*
*
*A big challenge he sees is the number of Odia dialects. Although the
language has a script, it has six dialects, including Sambalpuri (or
Kosali), Kalahandia and Berhampuri. So even within a small group of editors,
there is a difference of opinion of how a word should be written (for
example, “dharm” or “dharma”).*
*
*
*Mr. Alex says the reasons for the low interest in Odia Wikipedia might be
many including the number of people who speak the language, the number of
people with access to a computer, availability of required fonts and
browsers.*
*
*
*A major challenge was the inability, till now, to type in Odiya within
Wikipedia, and the large dependence upon an external tool to add content.
However, now a typing solution has been developed for Odia so that problem
has been resolved to some extent.*
*
*
*Mr. Alex says lack of a typing solution within Wikipedia was a problem that
assailed content creation across all Indian languages (using a non Latin
script) on Wikipedia. A big help has been the typing solution for Malayalam
within Wikipedia, which was developed in 2007. The solution has a base,
which can be extended to other Indian languages and was used for creating
typing solutions in Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi and Bengali WIkipedias
through 2010. Other languages are going on.*
*
*
*Srikant Kedia has introduced the Wikipedia to at least 35 people.*
*
*
*“Now, we need support from the Odia community to test the language. Now
that it has a mature community, I can move on,” says Mr. Alex, who has given
demos of edits in Odia Wikipedia in Bangalore and Bhubaneswar.*
Regards
Tinu Cherian
http://www.wikimedia.in/wiki/In_the_news#April_2011
*Dainika : "2nd Odia Wikipedia Academy organized"*
http://www.dainika.com/regional/2nd-odia-wikipedia-academy-organized
*Bhubaneswar: The 2nd Odia Wikipedia Academy has been organized on 3 April
2011 at Bharatuya Vidya Bhavan, Bhubaneswar. This was the fist official
outreach academy of Odia Wikipedia to bring an awareness and motivate common
mass from different educational and social background.*
*
*
*Odia Wikipedia was started way back in 2002 and was one of the four Indian
languages, Asamese, Odia, Pujabi, Malayalam.*
*
*
*But because of the lack of proper awareness and activism there was a snail
movement for almost 8 years.*
*
*
*Then after the 10th Anniversary of Wikipedia Ashutosh Kar and few Odia
fellows got interested to take initiative to reform the movement and take it
ahead which gave birth to the first Odia Wikipedia Academy, conducted in
Bengaluru on.*
*
*
*Odia Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia in Odia language to make knowledge
available freely for masses.*
*
*
*Dhanada Mishra of Human Resource Development Management Studies has
officially inaugurated this event. A FAQ Booket was released by and
distributed among the first time participants of the Wikipedia Workshop.
Malayalam Wikipedians Shiju Alex and Tinu Cherian were also took active part
in facilitating the event.*
*
*
*The workshop was conducted by Odia Wikiali (Odia version of an
Wikipedian/User) Subha Pa.*
*
*
*The whole Academy/Workshop was conducted in 2 main sections, Subha
introduced Odia Wikipedia to the audience, said about the history and the
development and current status. The second session was focused on how to
type in Odia using the transliteration/Inscript tool which was newly
incorporated, solving typing issues, searching existing articles, creating
articles and editing for enhancement of old article.*
*
*
*In this session he has demonstrated how to add content using the commonly
used syntaxes, adding pictures and other media files.*
*
*
*This was an interactive session where the audience interacted with the
demonstrator and each other and several discussions went on based on the
major issues.*
*
*
*Several participants from from the nearby management colleges, engineering
students, entrepreneurs, college students have also participated.*
*
*
*At the end of the session a lotion based core group of active users was
formed which will be promoting the Wikipedia movement and bringing more and
more contributors to enhance it, make it more user friendly and make it
reach to masses.*
*
*
*Contributors came with several suggestions such as motivating more and more
students and freelancers to contribute and also monitor the ongoing
activities and discussing them through the mailing list of Odia Wikipedia. [
http://bit.ly/ormail ].*
*
*
*More and more such activism are expected in the coming future with the
involvement of people who are eager for the development of Odia language on
web.*
*
*
*Odia Wikipedia can be accessed at or.wikipedia.org and the Facebook page
for Odia Wikipedia is facebook.com/OdiaWiki .*
*Some other local online reports :*
http://www.odishaeye.com/Odia-Wikipedia-Workshop-held-in-Bhubaneswar-2428.h…http://orissadiary.com/ShowEvents.asp?id=25754
Regards
Tinu Cherian
http://wikimedia.in/wiki/In_the_news#April_2011