Greetings!!
I am Swetapadma Satpathy working as a programme Manager in RD department, Govt. of AP. I am staying in Hyderbad since 1.6 yrs. Though I knew about Wikipedia, but since last 6 months I started writing articles for Wikipedia thanks to the motivation of Subhashish Panigrahi, one of the Odia Wikipedian working in Wikipedia foundation. In Hyderabad city large population of Odias reside and work in various sector. We have several Odia friends who write very good articles in Odia language too. This led us to plan for a Wikipedia workshop for the Odias staying in Hyderabad. With the help and guidance of Subhashish, we planned to organize the Odia Wikipedia workshop in Hyderabad. The date was finalized, so was the venue. But it came as a matter of concern, when I came to know that roads would be blocked due to Ganesh idol immersion followed up by Telangana Bandh. But Shree Ganesh, being considered as the destroyer of evils and all obstacles , how could He create problem for our workshop ? To our utter surprise11 people turned up for the workshop. (yeah!! It was no less number as per the wikipedian Subhashis) . The workshop though scheduled at 4.00 PM started at 4.30 PM as several participants got late due to road blocks and continued up to 7.00 PM Another Odia Wikipedian Amaresh also supported for the event. We started the workshop around 4.30 pm. We both introduced ourselves and asked our participants to introduce themselves. We started the programme by explaining the basic question” WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKSHOP?” Then a ppt was presented and print out of the ppt was also distributed to the participants for future reference.( http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Outreach_Document_or.pdf) the History and current status of Odia Wikipedia and how it evolved. During the course of presentations participants were encouraged to ask various questions e. g. If there is any Admin from Wikipedia group for approving the article etc. To create more enthusiasm among the participants, we asked them to come forward and create their user account. We wanted the programme to be more participatory rather a preaching session. Then we started demonstrating them editing Odia wikipedia. 6 of the participants created their accounts and started editing various articles from their home town to eminent personalities such as P. Gopichand. This session continued for 2.30 hrs. After the end of the session it was demonstrated how they can ask questions in Chatasabha (http://or.wikipedia.org/s/3h), a newbie support desk on Odia Wikipedia after they go back home. All of them were invited to join facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/OdiaWiki) and share their ideas and take help. For this emails and contacts were exchanged among the participants. And of course, at the end we shared hot* samosas* with hot tea cuppas available in *Lamakaan* This was the first Wikipedia workshop we have conducted and it was just so fulfilling. We hope to conduct a bigger event in near future with more number of volunteers joining the Odia Wikipedia group. Wishing you peace and love, Swetapadma Satpathy Hyderabad Reference OdiaWikipedia presentation: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Outreach_Document_or.pdf Chatasabha,HelpdeskonOdiaWikipedia: http://or.wikipedia.org/s/3h Odia Wikipedia on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OdiaWiki
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