GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE TO VILLAGE: We speak code workshop at Udubaddawa Nisala Neasala

Last 26^th 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 1^st 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.