Hello Luggers,
Along with Dr.Nagarjun i have been trying to figure out a way to get the young minds around us very interested in GNU/Free Software and involved with it from a very young age.
We personally had a chat yesterday....nd Dr. Nagarjun sugested i put up a mail on the LUG. And so here it is. All of this is just a preamble....of sortz. All ideas r welcome and volunteership towards setting up of this body and helping students in terms of offering them projects / Guiding them on projects based on GNU/Free software is called for.
--> Need to setup a small body who will SPEARHEAD the cause of "Offering Students projects / Guiding them on projects based on GNU/Free software".
--> Need to setup a web based system(on phpgroupware......or probably zope....which ever is more feasible) to create a method of intereaction for students so that irrespeective of the location of the studentz all over the country.........all of us can collaborate as a COMMUNITY.
--> Need for volunteers from our LUG who can manage small groups of students......depending on the skill sets they r familiar with.
--> Need to rope in COMMERCIAL companies who have the need to get software developed and r ready to work on the lines of GNU GPL. This according to me is one of the most interesting parts of the whole project......since we can make use of all the COMMERCIAL oppurtunities to get students projects......at the same time get to educate the organisation abt the benefits of Free Software.......nd have some fantastic GPL code put up on our own Sourceforge.....;)
--> Most imp of all, need to list down the projects that r atill in the pipeline and some that r pretty cewl but havent picked up yet due to whatever reasons. Like our own .....Linux Indianisation Project.
--> Calling 1 and ALL to...help out in their own way, in terms of offereing their services in setting up the Groupware site for interaction of students.
--> Setting up of a page on www.ilug-bom.org.in calling for students to take up the projects we have to offer.
--> This method of working as proposed by Dr. Nagarjun and me .......doesnt necessitate the presence of the students in Bombay. But still once in a/2 months we can have a meeting of students from all over the place to tackle all the issue.....wherein they will be guided by all the Luggers.
--> I want to take this on a national scale.........so letz start.........nd get moving. I think we have the capability to get it done. Wat perhaps may b lacking is the Time and the feeling of capilatising on the resources around us.
A humble request from me....... Lets not let this remain a PIPE dream......but get a plan of action and put our STUDENTS on the path to understanding GNU/Free Software better.
Trevor Warren
PN: All the points expressed on the issues r my personal opinon, with some inputs from Dr. Nagarjun. Don't FLame me.......if there r some drawbacks........which i am sure they will be. Lets take the courage to put up our hands and get the project goin.
===== ( >- GNU/LINUX, It's all about CHOICE -< ) /~\ __ http://www.qmailtheeasyway.com __ /~\ | ) / mailto: trevor@zenith-india.com \ (/ | |_|_ \ Project Manager, Linux/Unix. ZCL / _|_| ___________________________________/
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