Meta and Sarvodaya-Fusion’s IT Yahamaga program expands

• Launches new phase of ‘We Think Digital’ digital literacy training in Sri Lanka

Meta has partnered with Sarvodaya-Fusion’s IT Yahamaga program to launch a new phase of digital skills training program to equip Sri Lankans with the necessary tools to become more aware and responsible digital citizens.  

Continuing the partnership since 2018, Meta and Sarvodaya-Fusion, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) in Sri Lanka, launched ‘We Think Digital’ in Sri Lanka in 2020, providing the resources to foster responsible digital citizens through program editions targeting schools, universities and families.

Meta and Sarvodaya-Fusion’s collaboration since 2018 enabled them to educate over 35,000 children and youth. This has helped Sri Lankans develop their skills on how to navigate the growing digital space responsibly. 

The pandemic has created a new normal in the country and access and usage of the internet has increased exponentially. This amplified access and usage brings with it wider scope of opportunities. However, with this comes a need for greater responsibility from its users.

This collaboration during the new phase in 2021/2022, aims to provide the necessary awareness and guidance to school students, university students, psycho-social counsellors, youth club members, women and girls. The focus will be on strengthening resilience through capacity building; promoting critical thinking and fostering digital citizenship, to create a harmonious and a less harmful digital world.

In his keynote speech, Minister of Youth and Sports and State Minister of Digital Technology and Entrepreneur Development Namal Rajapaksa said that more Sri Lankans were now seeing the advantages of digitalisation. He added, “Meta and Sarvodaya-Fusion, along with their partnership with ICTA, has played a big role in this perception change and I believe we need more initiatives like this to come forward, analyse data and develop new mechanisms in order for us to successfully implement and fulfill our vision for the nation.”

At the virtual launch, Sarvodaya Fusion General Manager Maithree Malwattegoda mentioned that technology could be used to bring equality and inclusivity in learning to the society. She discussed the need to strengthen resilience through capacity building and fostering digital citizenship with the aim of creating a more responsible digital world that has a positive impact on youth and their future.

The event was also attended by

Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya President Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne and LIRNEasia Chairman and Sarvodaya-Fusion Senior Advisor and Board Member Prof. Rohan Samarajiva. There was a session where young people who had gone through the training shared their positive experience. 

Other speakers and panelists included Meta Public Policy Manager Sri Lanka and Maldives Senura Abeywardena, ICTA Director, Capacity Building Sameera Jayawardena, Ministry of Education ICT branch Deputy Director of Education Vasana Edirisuriya, Hashtag Generation’s Nethmini Medawela, LIRNEasia Research Manager Gayani Hurulle, Technology Advisor Nishshanka De Silva and student activist Sanara De Silva. The event was also attended by special invitees from the partner organisations and industry as well as school principals, teachers, school students and university students.

Meta Policy Programs Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives Yasas Vishuddhi Abeywickrama said: “Meta is committed to develop digital citizenship in Sri Lanka and also is keen to support digital adoption among Sri Lankans. We will continue to work collaboratively with Government and civil society stakeholders to reach more Sri Lankans.”