Karavali Wikimedians/Events/Kannada-wikisource-internship-June2024

Internship Program Report (June 2024)

Introduction

The Kannada Wikisource community, in collaboration with CIS-A2K and Karavali Wikimedians, successfully conducted an Internship Program in June 2024 for students from St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangalore. This initiative engaged young contributors in digitization and proofreading efforts to enhance Kannada literary content on Wikimedia platforms.

The program was conducted entirely online, empowering young women with digital literacy and content management skills. It bridged traditional Kannada literature with the digital world by fostering inclusivity and cultivating a new generation of contributors passionate about preserving Kannada's literary heritage.

Program Structure

Guided by Prof. Vishwanatha Badikana and mentored by Anoop (User:~aanzx), the program provided personalized support and feedback, ensuring an enriching learning experience. Weekly virtual meetings allowed progress reviews and collaborative problem-solving.

The program involved five students from St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangalore:

1. Athashree Poojary - s:kn:user:Athashree Poojary03
2. Anjali Arjunagi - s:kn:user:Anjali guru arjunagi
3. Bhoomika KR - s:kn:user:Bhoomika . K. R
4. Jyoti Hadapad - s:kn:user:Jyoti Hadapad03
5. Umashree - s:kn:user:Umashree mallappa alkoppa

Training covered OCR correction, metadata management, and advanced proofreading.

Activities and Contributions

Interns contributed significantly to Kannada Wikisource: Their contributions, reviewed for quality and consistency, addressed challenges like deciphering faded text and source verification.

Athashree Poojary

• ಕನ್ನಡದ ಬಾವುಟ - Kannadada Bavuta (Completed): A story focused on Kannada identity and pride.
• ಚೆಲುವು - Cheluvu (Completed): Explores beauty and its deeper philosophical implications.

Anjali Arjunagi

• ಸೃಷ್ಟಿವ್ಯಾಪಾರಗಳ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಣೆ - Srushtivyaparagala Nirikshane (Completed): A reflection on creation and existence in a cosmic context.

Bhoomika KR

• ಸಂದೇಶದ ಕಥೆಗಳು - Sandeshada Kathegalu (Completed): A collection of stories dealing with human emotions and moral reflections.

Jyoti Hadapad

• ಚಂದ್ರಮತಿ - Chandramati (Completed): Chronicles the emotional growth and struggles of its protagonist.

Umashree

• ಕುರುಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಗ್ರಂಥ - Kurukshetra Grantha (worked): Philosophical and strategic insights into the Mahabharata's Kurukshetra war.
• ಇಂದ್ರವಜ್ರ - Indravajra (Completed): A fantasy adventure, exploring heroism and existential truths.

Ashay & Vishwanatha Badikana

• ಸುವರ್ಣಸುಂದರಿ - Suvarnasundari (Completed): A romantic tale focused on love and self-realization.

Online Activities

Structured online activities included:

1. Orientation Session: Overview of Kannada Wikisource and program objectives.
2. Training on OCR Tools: Practical sessions addressing OCR errors.
3. Proofreading Basics: Guidelines for text formatting and standards.
4. Advanced Proofreading: Techniques for complex texts and discrepancies.
5. Metadata Management: Cataloging and classification training.
6. Final Review: Feedback on completed tasks and recommendations.

Each session lasted 1.25–1.5 hours with interactive Q&A segments.

Program Objectives

Key objectives included:

1. Digitizing and proofreading Kannada texts.
2. Developing digital literacy and technical skills.
3. Empowering young women in content management.
4. Enhancing Kannada Wikisource inclusivity.
5. Building a sustainable contributor pipeline.
6. Promoting global access to Kannada literary works.

The objectives align with Wikimedia's mission of free knowledge accessibility.

Impact and Achievements

The program achieved:

1. Enhanced Kannada Wikisource content quality and quantity.
2. Empowered young women and promoted diversity.
3. Strengthened the Kannada Wikisource community.
4. Contributed to the preservation of Kannada literary heritage.

Interns successfully completed and published works pending for months, underscoring the program's structured mentorship and training effectiveness.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to CIS-A2K, Karavali Wikimedians, Prof. Vishwanatha Badikana giving an opportunity to enhanced Kannada Wikisource content quality and quantity

Reference

For more details, see

Conclusion

The June 2024 Internship Program laid a foundation for Kannada Wikisource's growth by empowering young contributors and enriching content. It demonstrated the potential for scaling similar initiatives in preserving Kannada literature.