Computer literacy has grown to become a necessity in this world rather than an added advantage. Yet sadly, many people in developing and third world countries do not have access to gaining this knowledge, leading to fewer job opportunities for such disadvantaged people within the relevant scope of each country.

Recognizing the importance of computer education for all – especially the disadvantaged rural community, the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) has initiated a number of free of charge computer training programmes to benefit children, youth and adults, which are conducted by certified and experienced instructors.

In August, three batches of students graduated from computer training programmes conducted by the Foundation of Goodness in three different locations namely Udumulla Village Heartbeat Centre, AVIVA Village Computer Centre and MCC Centre of Excellence’ Computer Training Centre.

Computer graduation ceremony at
Udumulla Village Heartbeat Centre

At the Udumulla Village Heartbeat Centre a total of 36 students passed the 6-month computer course. It was conducted for school going children in the two age groups of grades 6-8 and 9-11. The FoG’s founder/trustee Kushil Gunasekera presented the certificates to the youngsters who passed the course.

AVIVA computer graduation ceremony

Meanwhile, 72 children passed the computer training class held at the AVIVA Village Computer Centre. This was the first children’s batch and they received their certificates at a graduation ceremony held at the AVIVA Community Hall. Ms. A. Gayani Nadeeka was the chief instructress of this four-month long course.

This project was fully sponsored by AVIVA within their village, which was put up post tsunami, with many facilities for the benefit of the rural community, being the first model of its kind in the village.

FoG’s founder/trustee Kushil Gunasekera
addresses successful students at
MCC COE computer graduation ceremony

At the MCC Centre of Excellence 34 students of varying age groups passed the computer classes conducted here, which specialized in Web Designing, Graphic Designing and Computer Science. These were four month courses and Mr. Amila Dilruk taught web design, Mr.  K. Raveendra led the diploma in computer science while Mr. P.B. Saman Kumara taught graphic design.

Chief Guest Mr. Ranjan de Costa presents certificates to the computer graduates at
MCC COE Computer Training Centre

Cheif guest at the MCC COE graduation ceremony was Mr. Ranjan de Costa who is also a supporter of the work the Foundation of Goodness has been doing. Mr. de Costa through his kind generosity equipped the MCC Centre of Excellence with the latest hi-tech computers and other related tech equipment to enable the rural community to have facilities on par with any other computer training centre available in the working capital Colombo and other big cities across the island.

Mr. Ranjan de Costa was so touched and spontaneously made a cash gift as an incentive to the students who received best results in the three categories of computer courses.

With focus on arming the rural community in Seenigama and its region with computer knowledge the Foundation of Goodness was grateful when in August the SMEC Foundation through its local arm, donated five new computers to the Udumulla Village Heartbeat Centre for educational use. 
 
The SMEC Foundation was established by the Australia based SMEC Group of Companies to provide small-scale grant assistance to community groups in Australia and overseas and has helped countries such as Kiribati, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and Lesotho.

SMEC Foundation’s donation of five new
computers to the Foundation of Goodness

Commenting on FoG’s vision to make the rural community computer literate its founder/trustee Kushil Gunasekera said “it is great to witness how creative and talented the village children are when exposed to computer learning, by the rapid progress made. This enables the children and youth not only to learn computers but to enhance their knowledge of English, which is so important in the context of globalization.”  

Success is not the key to happiness.
Happiness is the key to success.
If you love what you are doing,
you will be successful.
- Albert Schweitzer

2008.09.03