Young editors learn more about each other’s culture through recent Armenian-Indian collaboration

“I’ve always been interested in the cultures of various countries and nations. Indian themed edit-a-ton gave me a chance to get acquainted with an interesting and amazing culture”

Anahit Sahakyan, Alaverdi Wikiclub.

From the 15 to the 30th of October, 2019 an Indian-themed edit-a-ton was organized for Armenian Wikiclubs’ young editors. Then, from November to December, students of SEABA International School (India) wrote about Armenia cuisine, culture, attire, movies and actors.

The edit-a-tons are part of Armenian-Indian collaboration started during Wikimania 2019, between Manavpreet Kaur and Tamara Grigoryan. Kaur is a representative of Punjabi wiki community and educational programs coordinator. Grigoryan is a representative of the Armenian wiki community and coordinator of Karvachar Wikiclub. Jagseer S Sidhu who is currently working at SEABA International School, Lehragaga also joined the initiative with students of his school club.

The main aim of the collaboration is to give an opportunity to Indian students to learn about Armenia and Armenian students to get more knowledge about India. During the edit-a-thons the students not only gained knowledge but also shared it with their communities.

Eight Armenian wikiclubs participated in the online edit-a-ton and the young editors created 73 articles about Indian national cuisine, national costumes, cities, films and actors. Fifteen students from the wikiclub at SEABA International School, Lehragaga joined the initiative to write about Armenian topics. The Indian students created 31 articles. The participants were offered lists of the above-mentioned topics to help start.

“The edit-a-ton was useful as we learned much new about Indian customs. I liked we were working all together, not only the editors of our wikiclub. I’d like to have such edit-a-tons more often and also about other countries to get more knowledge and also for foreign students to know about Armenia”

Lena Ghazaryan, Karvachar Wikiclub.

After the deadline of the edit-a-ton editors in some Armenian wikiclubs the editors continued writing about Indian topics.   

The Indian cuisine was of special interest for the young editors.

“Indian dishes are unusual for us. They all are mainly very spicy. The Indians put such ingredients in one dish which can even be strange for us. Some dishes have special time and occasions to be made”

Marieta Vardanyan, Karvachar Wikiclub.

Indian students just loved this change where they got to learn about a new culture, their food, attire, movies and artists. This was a pleasant change from their usual curriculum.

Besides the online edit-a-ton some wikiclubs also had offline events. In a meeting at Karvachar Wikiclub the elder editors told the younger ones about India, its liberation movement, notable cultural centers. A similar event about Armenia will be organized at SEABA school wikiclub as well.

Koghb wikiclub’s (Armenia) editors created a poster with Armenian and Indian maps and flags as part of the cultural exchange.

“I’d like to have more edit-a-tons with some other countries as well, as I am sure all countries have many interesting things to tell the world” 

Anahit Sahakyan, Alaverdi wikiclub.

Learn more by visiting the cooperation page on Meta and the project page on the Punjabi and Armenian Wikipedia.

Post written by Manavpreet Kaur (India) and Tamara Grigoryan (Armenia).