The world of open source once felt like something far beyond my reach. I was simply a WordPress user and never imagined that I could contribute to its development. However, during my four-month professional Web Design course at Ahmed IT Institute, I had the opportunity to take part in a truly unique experience. The institute introduced us to the WordPress Credits (WPCredits) Program, and we were proud to be the first institution from Bangladesh to participate in this initiative. After months of training from November to February, and now as I conclude the program in March, I can clearly reflect on this incredible journey.
Taking the First Step
At the beginning, everything seemed overwhelming. We started by learning the basics of Slack, the Make WordPress blog, and the contribution tracking system during the onboarding phase. Our mentor was Nasim Mia from Bangladesh, who introduced us to the Polyglots Team (the WordPress translation team) and guided us through every step of the process. Gradually, this unfamiliar world of open source became more familiar and exciting.
Contributing to WordPress in Bengali
My primary responsibility was contributing to the Polyglots Team. I translated WordPress core, plugins, and themes from English into Bengali. At first, working with GlotPress seemed a little challenging, but with my mentor’s guidance, I quickly became comfortable using it. So far, I have translated several strings and also reviewed some translations. It is truly rewarding to know that the translations I contributed are now being used on live WordPress websites.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
The journey was not without challenges. One of the biggest difficulties was finding appropriate Bengali translations for technical terms such as “Post,” “Page,” and “Category.” At times, there were differences of opinion within the team, but through discussion and by referring to previous translations, we were able to reach suitable solutions.
Another challenge was managing my time. Balancing the program alongside my regular coursework at the institute required dedication and discipline. Thankfully, the institute always supported us and guided us in managing our time effectively.
Reflections and Gratitude
The most valuable aspect of this program was the opportunity to learn through real-world contributions rather than just reading textbooks. This hands-on experience has been truly rewarding.
One suggestion I would like to make is to provide more tutorials and documentation in Bengali for beginners. It would make the onboarding process much easier for those who find the English guidelines challenging at first.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the management of Ahmed IT Institute, especially Monir Sir and Zubayer Sir, for communicating with the WordPress Foundation and creating this opportunity for us. I am also sincerely thankful to Muhib Sir, the entire Polyglots Team, and the WordPress community for their continuous support and encouragement.
Conclusion: The Journey Continues
Although this program has come to an end, my journey of contributing to the WordPress community is far from over. I intend to remain an active contributor to the Bengali translation team and encourage others to get involved as well. My classmates have already started asking how they can participate, and I believe many more students from future batches of Ahmed IT Institute will join this program and help strengthen Bangladesh’s contributions to the global WordPress community.
Thank you once again to everyone who made this journey possible.
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