Punjabi Wikisource Proofreadathon Series/Phase 1

The Punjabi Wikisource Proofreadathon – Phase 1 was conducted from 24 November 2024 to 24 February 2025. The initiative was conceptualized and organized by Gill Jassu, with active support from fellow Punjabi Wikimedians. The idea for the campaign was first presented during an offline gathering to celebrate Wikisource’s birthday on 24 November 2024. Recognizing the importance of collaborative proofreading in enriching and improving the quality of texts on Punjabi Wikisource, the community embraced the proposal, and the campaign was launched the very same day.

Summary

The campaign began on 24 November 2024, supported by weekly and monthly outreach efforts to encourage participation. Regular communication was maintained through community channels, and mini edit-a-thons were organized to keep contributors engaged. Newcomers were provided personalized guidance and mentoring, helping them get started with proofreading practices effectively. Progress throughout the campaign was tracked using the WS Contest Tool (https://wscontest.toolforge.org/c/252), ensuring transparency, healthy competition, and sustained motivation among participants.

Metrics & Impact

• 33 books were actively proofread.

• 21 participants contributed to the initiative.

• 1402 pages proofread and 235 pages validated.

• 4 new contributors successfully onboarded (≈19% of participants).

These outcomes demonstrate a significant step forward in enhancing Punjabi Wikisource’s content quality and reflect a healthy balance of both community growth and literary preservation.

Highlights

• Strong community engagement: the campaign grew from 4–5 initial editors to 17–18 active contributors by the end of Phase 1.

• Participants were encouraged to proofread 1–2 pages each, offering hands-on learning opportunities and boosting retention.

• Active discussions and peer support improved the confidence and skills of newcomers.

• A diverse set of literary and historical Punjabi texts were covered, enriching the project’s scope.

Participants

1. Gurtej Chauhan
2. Kaur.gurmel
3. Sonia Attwal
4. Keshuseeker
5. Rajji Patran
6. Tamanpreet Kaur
7. Dugal Harpreet
8. Charan Gill
9. Kuldeep
10. Gill Jassu

Next Steps

Phase 2 of the Punjabi Wikisource Proofreadathon will be launched in the next 1–2 months, with a primary focus on validating the works proofread during Phase 1. This phase will also emphasize mentorship, skill-building, and community retention.