Collaborative Resource Library for Slovene Christian Leaders
In our day and age, the issue of resourcing ministries isn't a lack of information, tools, or books; it's the lack of accessibility, the issue of translation to both culture and language, and most importantly, a lack of trusted relationships, human-to-human, where a person can help another to feel safe, seen, and loved, simply by seeing and acknowledging their need and offering a kind and helpful hand.
This database was created to make culturally relevant resources available and to invite connection and collaboration between an otherwise often divided or isolated ministry-to-ministry dynamic.
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Translation Notes
Word Choice:
The site was built in Slovene. Some of the following screenshots have Google Translate turned on. This means that some translations in English might feel clunky or awkward to a Native English speaker, but rest assured, in the original Slovene, these words pack the heat.
Grammar:
In Slovene, it is proper to capitalize only the first letter of the first word in a title and to leave the rest lowercase. This can take some adjusting to and may seem like a typo at first glance! For example:
If the title was: “Looking for Something More.”
…with Slovene grammar rules, it would be: “Looking for something more.”
Project Overview
Our team had been brainstorming ways to support youth workers. I’d had this idea for a while but wasn’t sure I could pull it off in Squarespace––a collaborative members-only resource database for Slovene youth leaders where they could share their Bible study methods, tools, videos, handouts, messages, and especially admin docs for managing programs. And then, the stars aligned, and at the time I was exploring this idea, Squarespace added members-only sections. I was thrilled. I developed and designed this site within our existing Squarespace website (which was a hassle and I would not do it this way again!) for youth leaders in Slovenia to share and access resources for ministry.
The original site is in Slovene. This is a screenshot of the homepage with Google Translate turned on.
On the site, you can custom filter by age, category, language, type, etc.
Tech Specs
It was created within our organization's existing site on Squarespace, which now has a members-only function. I used a purchased plug-in and ChatGPT to code the multi-filter tool (and translate it), which can sort and display search results based on the recommended age, language, category (such as Bible Study Resource, Evangelism, Understanding Youth Culture, Messages, Games, Program Ideas, Administrative Tools, etc.), etc.
Beautiful Browsing
This homepage allows new users to get a feel for the kinds of resources available, showcasing the variety in hopes to inspire
Powerful Filter
Dropdown filter for sorting, category (study, program, camp, admin, etc.), format (app, doc, video, message), “challenge” (organization specific lingo), age, languages, and creator.
For lack of a better term, search and filter results like you’re shopping on Amazon for the exact fit you’re looking for!
Tech Specs
I customized a plugin, altering the .css and .js files from squarewebsites.org to match this site's needs.
Resource pages
A sidebar provides tags that link to other relevant content in similar categories. Each page features the resource, preview images, relevant links to files and videos, and a description of how to use it.
Comment Section
The comment section allows for collaboration and connection between leaders for recommendations and the opportunity to express gratitude and alternative ideas for use.
