Computer skills for 100 Sri Lankan students

By Hemal Silva

Mahavilachchiya village is located 40 Km’s away from the city of Anuradhapura surrounded on three sides by the Vilpattu national park. Bus is the only public transport service available for the people of Mahavilachchiya. A very few individuals have their own modes transport like vans, threewheelers and motor bikes. Mahavilachchiya will become the first rural village to benefit from mesh technology. Mesh technology will at last give the whole community access to the internet from their homes.

Horizon Lanka Foundation has been actively working at a grassroots level, laying the groundwork for making this village a model E-Village. They began closing the information gap for this community by introducing the computer and giving basic computer lessons. over the years, one computer grew to a few more and more students took interest in this new technology. Horizon Lanka has already helped to furnish over 30 homes with used desktop computers and it still searching for 10 more donors to help families who have saved their half of the cost. By helping local families purchase computers through one of its most successful projects, more of the community began to familiarize itself with the concept of ICT, especially the children. The content of the computer training provided by Horizon lanka began to become more expert and the children have been quick to grasp web-designing and graphic designing and now design and produce all Horizon Lanka Foundation related web sites. internet access for these rural villages will help to reduce isolation, provide education and economic opportunities and ultimately improve the quality of life.

• PDF version of the document (PDF)