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Wikipedia Manual supported by TEJO

During the IJK in Bosnia, TEJO approved the "Manlibro pri Vikipedio" (Wikipedia Manual) project within the framework of the "Freŝa Vento" fund.

The boards of the Flanders Esperanto Youth (FLEJA) and the Polish Esperanto Youth (PEJ) believe strongly in the potential of the free encyclopedia Wikipedia for the strengthening of the Esperanto world itself and for the promotion of Esperanto. However, writing an "encyclopedia" sounds to many young people like a task for great scientists and specialists. It is important to convince young Esperantists that it is worthwhile for them to collaborate; that their contributions have great value.

In our experience, although almost all the necessary information does indeed appear somewhere in Wikipedia itself, for a novice it is not obvious that they can start writing, whether in or about Esperanto. In other words: there lacks a manual that explains why Wikipedia is there and how it can be used. We will create just such a manual and distribute it free of charge among the various national associations of TEJO, thanks to TEJO and a generous Hungarian benefactor. The brochure will be printed at the Flanders Esperanto League in Antwerp.

The project has two main goals:

  1. By means of a manual, to explain why and instruct how to write in Wikipedia. This doesn't just apply to the Esperanto Wikipedia; we also want to encourage national branches of TEJO to appeal to their members and accompany them in writing about Esperanto culture in the national language Wikipedias; for example, by creating a portal about Esperanto in various languages.
  2. Training activists. We hope to also make the work of the national associations easier with our manual. With a practical manual it is possible to easily organize practice sessions about Wikipedia.

When members of the various national associations become enthusiastic about Wikipedia, they will contact young people in other countries about articles they have written, courses will take place; a new dynamism will develop in the international community. A dynamism that will make newcomers active and that will attract people who are interested about Esperanto.

At the moment the manual is being written; it will be available at the start of 2007. Those interested can contact Yves Nevelsteen at: yves.nevelsteen at esperanto.be