Providing training in computer skills to rural youth in Sri Lanka
From “ICT in Education” of UNESCO Bangkok. Visit http://www2.unescobkk.org/education/ict/v2_2/detail.asp?id=379593
In rural Sri Lanka, a school is focusing on training students in computer skills – giving youth in a remote area an opportunity to expand their horizons.
Students of Horizon Mahavilachchiya Central College (Horizon Lanka Academy) in Anuradhapura study a variety of subjects, with an emphasis on computer skills and English. In addition, they participate in projects which actuate their learning. One venture is for graduating students to create online lessons. This not only disperses teaching to other Sri Lankan students, but provides these youth with an income. Students also created and maintain the school’s (and foundation’s) website.
The school was started by the Horizon Lanka Foundation, which was established in 1998 as a result of the determined efforts of a group of children from the rural village of Mahavilachchiya. Their thirst for knowledge and educational advancement led them to the door of Mr. Nandasiri Wanninayaka (now CEO of the HL Foundation), their former English teacher in the public school. What began as an after-school club, providing children further education in English and computers, became a real educational facility. The school aims to give students marketable skills and enable them to take advantage of the Internet and other ICT tools to potentially gain digitally-based employment without leaving their villages.
As well as providing an all-round education to the village children, Horizon Lanka Academy has set up a computer lab with 24-hour Internet access which is open to the public. Horizon Lanka Foundation has also begun a project which is bringing PCs to the homes of the villagers of Mahavilachchiya. So far more than 30 homes have been furnished with a computer. Another project of the foundation is “MicroScholarships” which aims to help deserving students to cover the costs of their education. Under this scheme, donors offer financial assistance that provides a child with a small amount of money every month to enable them to attend school.
Mahavilachchiya has become the first rural village in Sri Lanka to embrace the Information Age, and the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka has awarded Mahavilachchiya the status of a model e-Village. It is hoped that the work of the Horizon Lanka Foundation and their use of technology will be a model to bring ICT to other villages in rural Sri Lanka.
Further information:
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Horizon Lanka Foundation
Related articles:
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Serve poor students in remotest areas, President tells teachers
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/06/16/fea01.asp
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Computer literacy – overcoming the challenges
http://www.educationforum.lk/2007/06/computer-literacy-overcoming-the-challenges
Implementing agency address, fax, email Horizon Lanka Foundation;
http://www.horizonlanka.org/
Contact person fax, email T. B. Nandasiri Wanninayaka; wanni (at) horizonlanka.org
Donor Agency
Project Sponsor: GlobalGiving
URL http://www.globalgiving.com/pr/1700/proj1657a.html
Country/region covered
Asia and the Pacific
India
Strategies
ICTs in non-formal education
ICTs in primary and secondary education
Themes/focus
Bridging digital divide
ICT access and connectivity
ICT and youth
Computer training
Target beneficiaries
Students
General public/community people
Villagers
Contributed by
Ellie Meleisea
