Wiki World Heritage User Group/World Heritage Volunteers

World Heritage Volunteers

The World Heritage Volunteers campaigns provide interesting opportunities for young people, to go beyond borders to explore some of the diverse and unique heritage across the world and enable them to open their world view towards a large picture. It enables them to gain a wide range of skills from hands-on learning to interactive communication skills.

The World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) Initiative was established in 2008 as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, in partnership with the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS), to enlist and involve youth organizations and the general public in the preservation and promotion of World Heritage.

It was an effort to engage youth organizations and the general public in the promotion and protection of World Heritage, in cooperation with the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS).

Ahmedabad - Through the lens of Heritage

The World Heritage Volunteer program conducted at Ahmedabad titled ‘Ahmedabad: through the lens of heritage’ aimed at developing a wider understanding of the notion of heritage, highlighting the diverse multicultural and multifunctional heritage of Ahmedabad, and understanding its history and how these aspects of heritage shaped the city back then. It also raised awareness about the diverse and creative forms of intangible heritage associated with the city.

The program was conducted by Khushtar Heritage Collective in collaboration with various international and national organisations. Wiki World Heritage was one such partner.

Wiki Media Workshop at the WHV program

The collaboration with Wiki World Heritage marked an exciting journey into the realm of digital documentation for enthusiastic participants. Equipped with cameras, laptops, and a genuine passion for heritage, these individuals played a vital role in enhancing and updating Ahmedabad’s representation on the global heritage map.

A key component of this collaboration was a comprehensive three-hour-long wiki training session, co-chaired by Vijay, a seasoned Indian Wikimedia user, and Yamen. The training aimed to equip participants with the necessary skills to effectively contribute to the digital documentation of heritage. Vijay’s focus during the session was on leveraging Wikimedia Commons, emphasizing its significance as a platform for hosting and sharing media files that can enhance articles on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.

About the Program

Volunteer activities focused on engaging the community and the hidden spaces in the old city of Ahmedabad, participating in heritage walks and musical nights, and getting hands-on learning about documentation technologies. Participants also learned the basics of sketching for the documentation of the old city of Ahmedabad, were involved in 3D scanning and photogrammetry, and learned about the use of BIM in heritage work.

Number of Participants: 15

Number of Countries: 4

Name of the countries of the participants: Taiwan, India, Iran and Vietnam

No of Activities executed: 12

Name of Activities:

1. Heritage walk
2. Cultural Performance Night
3. Basics of sketching
4. Manual Documentation technology
5. Heritage Photography
6. Learning the 3D Scanning and
7. Photogrammetry for heritage structures
8. Use of Lidar scanning and BIM in Heritage
9. Community Engagement: Session with: Mr. Anupam Sah and Mr Abhay Mangaldas
10. Diagnosis, Repair, and Restoration of Building with Ron Anthony
11. Wikimedia workshop
12. Session with APT
13. Exhibition