Last 26th of April was a very innovative day for
students of Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala. It
was a Saturday and everybody inspired with fresh feelings of new year. Normally our Nenasala is crowded with students of DICA. DICA means diploma in computer application
the general IT diploma course introduced by Sarvodaya Fusion with the
assistance of resource pool of university of Moratuwa, tertiary and vocational
education commission (TVEC) and information communication agency of Srilanka (ICTA).
By this time more than 60 students who have sat for the
G.C.E. O/L exam in last December 2013 are following the above mentioned
computer course as their 1st professional education
qualification. We are in north western
province of Srilanka and it is far away from the western province and Colombo
capital city of Srilanka and these rural students need to empower with
different kind of ICT education tasks which available are to be followed and
become employee IT or BPM industry. Because
in Srilanka there is a gigantic demand and opportunities for these developing industry. But in Srilanka there is a huge gap between
the western province students ICT knowledge and the other province students IT
knowledge. That is because of the inequality
distribution of resources in our country.
Information communication agency of Srilanka and Sarvodaya Fusion of
Srilanka are trying to abolish this discrepancy and after result of their attempt
and one of solutions Nenasala Network of or telecentre were born in Srilanka
before 10 years ago.
Sarvodaya Fusion which is a
not-for-profit social enterprise, with the mission of ‘e-Empowerment of
communities’ all around Sri Lanka. ICT for Development (ICT4D) is our passion.
Working with telecentres, mobile phones & smart devices (Android phones and
tablets), and build cross cutting programs in the sectors of education,
agriculture, micro-finance, youth & women empowerment is working with Microsoft
of Srilanka and also as Nenasala of Udubaddawa we are working with Sarvodaya
Fusion since 2008. Actually we were
empowering, guiding, facilitating and encouraging by the Sarvodaya Fusion. So this blog is dedicated to them because
this time they have given us the chance to connect with the Microsoft of
Srilanka and here is the story.
Actually “Code” is a language now. It is a global language. You can know this clicking this URL. http://code.org/. Sarvodaya fusion and Microsoft of Srilanka together
held an innovative workshop called “we speak code” at Udubaddawa Nisala
Nenasala centre focusing 60 DICA students.
There were two sessions. Because we
need to have one machine for the one student.
This task was the very difficult one.
We had to make a time table because of the lack of resource. Ms Wimarshana is Fusion team member who
coordinated this task and Ms Dinushika Abeygunawardane and Mr Dushantha Ranwala
both two resource persons from Microsoft of Srilanka and they all are young and
talented lecturers. They are also very example
and practical for the students who have participated for this workshop. Because they could see the progress of taking
proper IT education. If they got a good
IT education they could be able to take opportunities just like students ambassadors. As teachers of Nenasala we have find out in grass
root level or village level students they don’t have the clear vision of their own. Because they have not clear awareness of
proper IT education. I think these kinds
of workshops should be done and organized in every part of Srilanka and those kinds
of programmes help to empower the village area students. As I said earlier rescore persons of Microsoft
of Srilanka Ms Dinushika Abeygunawardane and Mr Dushantha Ranwala done their best
to teach the coding with http://code.org/
site. But they had to face many
difficulties while doing their lecture because there were only 15 computers for
30 students so we had to seat two students in one computer. We think that showed the team work
unity. So Nenasala computer lab was full
crowded and broad day light was too hot.
After the workshop we felt that we all were at private bus. Normally Srilankan private buses journey is same. But students who participated to this
workshop they find it easy all the situations and they were in curiosity to
learn more and more about the coding. I think
that is the turning point of their learning process of ICT. So as Nenasala we think that this programme is
one of great workshops done by Sarvodaya fusion with the help of Microsoft of Srilanka. After the workshop each and every one of
students were offered the hand band by Microsoft and that was a highly appreciated
the students because they all are young blood.
And also they were treated with snack by Sarvodaya fusion. That treatment refreshes all of us.
Now it is time to reminded and thank all the
facilitators of this programme. Special thank
should be done for Sarvodaya fusion manager Mr Isura Silva who selected our
Nenasala centre for this task. Ms Maithree Malaththegoda deputy manager of
Sarvodaya fusion and who directed this programme over to us. Next we should thank to Ms.Wimarshana
Ranasingha of Sarvodaya fusion without her proper coordination we won’t be able
to success this event better. Our colleagues
and officers Mr.Udara Dharmasena and Mr
Madushan Wejerathna of Sarvodaya fusion who came to Udubaddawa and taking
pictures and having feedback of this successful task. We should appreciated the and Ms Dinushika
Abeygunawardane and Mr Dushantha Ranwala of Microsoft of Srilanka who did their
duty best way and the dedication of them towards this workshop. I should thank
my staff members Mr Suranga Niroshan deputy manager of our Nenasala and Mr
Asela Sadaruwan common service coordinator of our Nenasala. Actually this is a collective effort. Again thank
you very much all and absolutely this will be in the gesture of not only us but
our DICA students’ hearts forever.
Santhusha Jayathilaka
Manager
Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala
