Sarvodaya Fusion Partner Forum 2015

This small article is dedicated to Sarvodaya Fusion. I am writing this to pay our gratitude for our mentors, facilitators. It is SARVODAYA Fusion Family. Being Nenasala centre managers or operators who have been working for more than 8 years under the guidance of a great team, we consider that it is our duty. As results of which you have arranged a partner forum in last 30th Monday as a gesture of the team sprit among us and the honor we have towards Sarvoday Fusion. It is not exaggeration to say that we have improved and empowered our knowledge, abilities, capacities and etc. to a certain level that can be satisfied during last competitive and decisive decade. Our beloved teachers you taught us not only professional experiences but also the art of living. So undying memory of experiences will haunt in our mind forever. I want to emphasize that again. 

Thank you very much Fusion family. On behalf of my Nisala Nenasala team I wish my beloved teachers May you have well and a bright future.

Mr.Isura Silva – General Manager

Ms.Maithree Malwaththegoda – Deputy General Manager

Ms. Sriyani Elasinghe - Manager Partnership

Mr. Madushan Wijerathna – Assistant Manager Sales and Promotion

Mr. Irosh Ranga - Accountant

Ms. Deshika Vidanapathirana – Business Development Executive

Mr. Danesh Maduranga – Coordinator Application Development and Technical

Mr. Vanniyasingam Rakulan - Business Development Officer

Ms. Shalini Attale - Programme Executive

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.

Santhusha Jayathilaka

Manager

Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala

Nenasala Capacity Building Workshop of NWP

This blog is dedicated to the manager and operators who are deeply involving or hard working as professional way at Nenasala centers of Kurunegala district. Let’s go through this.

 Last 22^nd of August Thursday, NWP Nennasala regional coordinator and Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala held a work shop for Nenasala managers and operators.

 The resource persons were the Nanasala regional coordinators from several provincials. They are Mr. Samantha Jayasingha from north western Mr. Anuranga Pradeep Kumara from north central and Mr. Dulanja Wanniarahchi from Uva province. They are clever at different kinds of IT tasks.Although Training has been scheduled to start at 10.00 am. Lacks of Nenasala managers and operators have participated by this time.But our advisor chief incumbent of Assadduma Sri Abinawarama temple venerable Elitigama Somananda thero has organized all the necessities  relevant to the training session. The refreshments and lunch were also offered.

While training was taking place another several Nenasala managers participated and finally a considerable number of participants had been there.

Mr. Samantha Jayasingha’s training session was very innovative point to us.Because everyone had a curiosity of making e-money through the internet.

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This session was the top rated one. He emphasize the advantages of making websites to selected and identified area or business where our Nenasala situated in ( As an example Kuliyapitiya area is special for the flower planting and some areas special in fruits. Etc.) If we able to make a data base as above mentioned   we can find them the new market through the internet.

Again there was a Skype session with Mr. Chandrasena Maliyadda the team leader of the regional coordinator and former  secretary of  National  communication Authorities  board join us and ask  what  kind of issues that we have.

Some uplifting   Nenasala  centres asked several questions and he told that he will refer the question to  the relevant  officers to ICTA.

Finally Mr. Anuranga Pradeep Kumara held a website template designing  sesstion using Photoshop and that was interactive  for the participant.

At the end there was a session to discuss. Meanwhile   venerable Somawansa thero suggested main three point as follows.

·         Making identity card for Nenasala managers and operators.

·         Designing common file cover for hold kurunegala Nenasala Students.

·         Taking the TVEC registration and NVQ  certification to the Nenasala Centres.

 

Mr. Thaminda Balasooriya pointed out  that he would be able to hold  another   training focusing the way of taking TVEC registration and NVQ Level.  Finally I myself made the vote of thank and again we want to pay our heartiest gratitude to venerable  Somawansa thero and main resource persons of this work shop.

So I think this training was a very innovative and essential for us.  Not only me and all the other participants also accepted that because we have be able to get knowledge and upgraded  for the certain extent. 

SanthushaJjayathilaka

Manager

Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala  

English Reading Competition Of Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala

English is a language. Languages consist of several important facts such as speaking, listing, writing and reading. In Sri Lanka most of the students who learn English and the teachers who teaches English has kept more attention to English writing section.  Especially government school English whole system based on written English curriculum.

As Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala we want to change this curriculum in to English speaking way. Our syllabus based on oral education which students get to speak. Actually we have an English speaking segment in our English teaching process as syllabus.

These days are school vacation period and we have planned to hold a reading competition at village level. There is a well-established distance education learning carters network belong to Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala at divisional secretariat wise in Kurunegala and Puttlum districts. At the very beginning of this year 2013 we have declared that this year as a “READING YEAR”.

According to that above theme we were doing different kind of things to focus our students reading. This reading competition is one of the tasks as a result of that.

According to the school grades, students were gave selected paragraph which separate page in our Nisala Nenasala DELC monthly magazine and students were practicing their own paragraph in first week of August and volunteer resources person were able to select better student for 2^nd round 136 students out of 900 students. This 1^st lap of reading was held at each DELC center wise at their village. But for the 2^nd round of the competition students need to come to our main center at Udubaddawa. Last 21^st Wednesday we were able to hold that 2^nd lap and finally we had to select 21 students as the best or winners of this reading competition out of 136 students. We have been able to check the reading ability of each student as following.  

I. Opening Introduction                                             

II. Reading of passage

                        A) Diction                              

                        B) Clarity                   

                        C) Pronunciation        

                        D) Sense & expression           

             III.Windup

And that task was not easy. After selecting 21 students as the best, we wanted to admire and appreciate them. So we planned to hold a price giving ceremony in 28^th Wednesday at the same place in Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala. We were able to held one of successful event in this regard. Each of the students was offered a certificate and an English Reading book as gifts, 1^st place students were offered a trophy.

We gave prizes to the students and asked the students review. Apparently we could get best students comment. Because when asking “Dear students, Son, Daughter how you feel now after taking this award; most of the students or each of them said that “We are really happy.” And I can still remember one boy who is in grade 7 or 8 commented this reading competition changed our technical brain for certain extent.

When we are at the award ceremony Sarvodaya fusion manager Mr. Isura Silva joined through the Skype and he was able to explain the way of he learn English. He has already blogged about this before some time ago.

This is the batch photo of the winners of reading competition 2013 at Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala. May you all have a bright future. 

Santhusha Jayathilaka

Manager

Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala

GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE TO VILLAGE: Android Village Hubs Pilot Project was Initiated a...

GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE TO VILLAGE: Android Village Hubs Pilot Project was Initiated a...:               Sarvodaya fusion and Etisatal Company of Srilanka with the objective of empowering village level students (grassroots) commen...

Android Village Hubs Pilot Project was Initiated at Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala

              Sarvodaya fusion and Etisatal Company of Srilanka with the objective of empowering village level students (grassroots) commenced very innovative education task recently in Kurenegala district of Udubaddawa A.G.A. divisional secretariat.  This is pilot project of Srilanka and Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala was selected as the education centre which this task is to be initiated.

         Udubaddaw Nisala Nenasala is one of telecentres(Nenasala wisdom outlets)  under the 1000 Nenasala centre network of Srilanka.  This project was initiated by presidential secretarial office and information communication agency of Srilanka under the guidance and leadership of His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksha, the president of democratic socialist republic of Srilanka.

          Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala has been serving to entire public such as students, civilians, and private and state sector officers, incumbents of the area and businessmen of north western province.  Our main service is empowering them in information and communication technology and English language literacy.  We have been able to focus our main servicing to achieve above goal which relevant to government main target.

             Generally Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala has established 53 distance education learning centers at village level in G.S. divisions of Kurunegala and Puttlum districts.  English language is taught in this kind of centers by teachers of Udubaddawa Nenasala and they have been used to go to the DEL centres once a week with printed monthly English magazine publish by Udubaddawa Nenasala under the approval of National Centre National Library and Documentation Services Board OF Srilanka through ISSN numbers.  This is the previous academic incidents, story and background of us in the past.

        Under the patronage of Sarvodaya fusion and Etisalat Company of Srilanka Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala has been able to initiate and introduce innovative English teaching process to our students.  Above mentioned main facilitators of this project Sarvodaya fusion one of the leading and more than 50years old NGO in Srilanka and one of the leading telecommunication company in worldwide Etisalat Company offered Five android Huwavi tablet computers to us.  Android technology is the rapid and latest technology for day today using at the present and there are many free APPS relevant to English language learning and teaching process.  So we thoroughly think that this innovative initiative will be the first step of one of great , revolutionary teaching process of Srilanka in grass root level.

       Mr. Udara Dharmasena who is the coordinator for mobile 4D of Sarvodaya fusion was the main resource person for training android tablets to our Nenasala English teachers and Kalpanee Gunawardhana was the volunteer resource person for training our teachers the way of using to the APPS in Google market relevant to our English curriculum. “BUSSU” is the app we are to use to teach English for our students relevant to the English teaching curriculum at class wise. Already several training sessions were held in our centre situated in Sri Indrarama temple at Udubaddawa.

        The inauguration and introducing ceremony also held in last 11^th Thursday of July 2013 at the same place in Udubaddawa.

        So this is the beginning of one of stories to be innovative and revolutionary in the education field of Srilanka. Then we take this chance to thank especially for the Mr. Isura Silva manager of Sarvodaya Fusion, Mr.Udara Dharmasena, Ms. Kalpanee Gunawardhana, Executive officers of Etisalat Company who involve with this project introducing this kind of programme and keeping trust on ourselves and Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala.  We make every possible effort to success this project and its objectives keeping our more attention.  Especially Mr. Nilupul Danhanjaya exective of Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala has already got the main responsibility and coordination part with the teachers and he has planned to set up a help desk for teachers and the students and get the parents feedback of this regard.

Santhusha Jayathilaka

Manager

Uduabbadawa Nisala Nenasala

Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala was awarded by Provincial Best Nenasala Pranama Swarna Sammana 2013 Award by Information Communication Technology Agency of Srilanka

With the objective of empowering the Srilankan people through information and communication technology initiative was activated before 8 years ago under the guidance and leadership of His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksha, the president of democratic socialist republic of Srilanka Nenasala Wisdom Outlets (Telecentres) which direct the theme of “Global knowledge to village” owners, managers and operators admiring awards ceremony which nominated as “Nenasala Pranama Swarna Sammana 2013” took place in festive manner on last 26^th of July Friday at Mount Lawiniya Hotel.

In this occasion Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasla was selected as the best provincial Nenasala in North western province.  There are 70 Nenasala centrs have been established in all over the Kurunegala and Puttlum districts A.G.A. divisional secretariat-wise. Again we emphasized that Out of these established up to now the north western province “Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala of Sri Indrarama Temple” was presented the Nenasala Pranama Swarna Sammana in appreciation of the dedication and incomparable service rendered in up lifting educational, social and economic status of the area.  Minister of Telecommunication and Information Technology Honorable Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was the chief gust of this ceremony and we were awarded this  tremendous award by his valuable hand.

Representing the Information technology agency of Srilanka the chairman Pro.P.W. Epasingha, chief executive officer Mr. Reshan Devapura and Head of Communications & Media Mr. Athula Pushpakumara were present on this occation for admiring ourselves.

It is not exaggeration that our Nenasala has been admired and awarded as the number one in north western province.

We want to pay our gratitude for those who admired, guided, facilitated, advised and with us for this glorious achievement. We salute them in this regard and we want to emphasize that today we have been able to won and achieved this target because of your genuine support.

Ø  The chief Incumbent of Sri Indrarama Temple, Justice of peace most venerable Kalugalpitiyee Sujatha Thero and the all regional chief incumbents of the Udubaddawa A.G.A. Division.

Ø  Information Communication technology agency of Srilanka

o   Nenasala Project Consultant Mr.J.K. Perera

o   Nenasala Project Manager Mr.Gaveshkar Subramanium

o   Nenasala Project Officer Mr.Janaka Perera

o   Nenasala Project Officer Ms.Gayani Perera

Ø  Sarvodaya Fusion of Srilanka

o   Managing Director of Sarvodaya Fusion Dr.Harsha Liyanage

o   Manager of Sarvodaya Fusion Mr.Isura Silva

o   Deputy Manager of Sarvodaya Fusion Ms. Maithree Malwaththegoda

o   Business Development officer Mr.Madushan Wejerathna

o   Coordinator for mobile 4D Mr.Udara Dharmasena

o   Common service coordinator Mr.Danesh Maduranga

Ø  Sanasa Development Bank of Srilanka

o   Chairman of Sanasa development bank Dr.P.A. Kirivandeniya

o   Branch Manager of Kuliyapitiya SDBL Mr. Prasad Hemantha

o   All the other officers of Kuliyapitiya SDBL branch

Ø  Gamos Technology Solutions and Gihan Book Shop of Srilanka

o   Managing Director Mr.W.G.T.S.Fernando

Ø  My dear colleagues & dedicated Staff of Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala

o   Deputy Manager Mr.Suranga Niroshan

o   Exective officer Mr.Nilupul Dananjaya

o   Common service coordinator Mr.Asela Fernando

o   Teacher In charge Mr.Thusitha Kumara

o   Teacher In charge Mr.Saminda Weerasingha

o   All the English Teachers of Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala

Ø  My Loving Family Members

o   Loving Mother Malkanthi Jayathilaka

o   Loving  Wife Gayani Panawala

o   Loving  Son Thisum Athsara

Ø  Udubaddawa Divisional Sectertariat Office

o   A.G.A. Mr.D.A. Nayananada

o   Planing director Mr.Priyangith Abesekera

o   All the staff of Udubaddawa Divisional Sectertariat Office

Ø  Udubaddawa Pradeshiya Sabawa(Local body)

o   The chairman Mr.Raj Sisira Kumara

Ø  Deegalla Nenasla Owner

o   Youth officer Mr. Lal Premasiri

Ø  All the students and parents who were in the past and are with us present.

Thank you very much all …!

Santhusha Jayathilaka

Manager

Udubaddawa Nisala Nenasala