An aging 80-year-old retiree might not fit the typical stereotype of a tech-savvy Wikipedia editor, but for Jirina Kadnerova, contributing to the online encyclopedia has become a fulfilling retirement pastime.
Kadnerova, a former librarian and bibliographer, spends her days gathering information in the village of Sobehrdy, located south of Prague, using her cell phone camera to document a local Protestant church for her next Wikipedia article. Unlike the average Czech Wikipedia contributor, who is typically a tech-savvy male aged 15-35, Kadnerova brings a unique perspective to the platform.
After participating in a course designed to train elderly individuals in editing Wikipedia articles, Kadnerova began her journey as a contributor to the open-source encyclopedia. Despite years of using Wikipedia for research during her time as a librarian, Kadnerova never imagined she would find enjoyment in adding to the platform.
Following her retirement as the head of a scientific library, Kadnerova remained active by taking university courses, working as a bibliographer at the Czech Academy of Sciences, and occasionally serving as a tourist guide. Encouraged by her grandson, who recognized her writing skills and expertise, Kadnerova ventured into contributing to Wikipedia, with a focus on documenting historical sites in her region.
Over the years, Kadnerova has authored approximately 100 articles highlighting historic landmarks and edited over 1,500 existing entries, often adding information about libraries in the Prague area. Her efforts have been part of a growing trend among Czech seniors, who make up a significant portion of Wikipedia contributors in the country.
As the number of elderly Wikipedia editors continues to rise, advocates like university student Jan Mysak believe that this demographic offers a unique perspective due to their life experience and dedicated time. Through free courses offered to seniors by the Wikimedia Foundation, which manages Wikipedia, around 700 individuals have been trained to contribute content to the platform.
With over half a million entries, Czech Wikipedia boasts a diverse range of topics contributed by a mix of regular and occasional editors. Kadnerova, who finds joy in exploring new topics through her writing, has recently recruited a retired colleague to join her in the endeavor.
For Kadnerova, the satisfaction of receiving positive feedback and contributing to a collective body of knowledge far outweighs any doubts about her impact. She finds fulfillment in knowing that her work enriches the online encyclopedia and fosters a sense of connection to the wider community.
Through her dedication to Wikipedia editing, Kadnerova embodies the idea that retirement can be an opportunity for lifelong learning and meaningful contributions to society.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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