Friday Nov 29, 2024
Friday Nov 29, 2024
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Her meeting with Member of Parliament and Founder of Youth Organisation ‘Tharunayata Hetak’, Namal Rajapaksa, was a highlight of the event, since the youth organisation’s mission to unite, develop and nurture Sri Lankan youth, could be closely associated with Microsoft’s YouthSpark program which runs along the same lines; offering better futures for youth with less opportunity, through digital inclusion.
At the panel discussion a number of issues were discussed and Clair Deevy spoke of the absolute need for the private sector to be involved in youth empowerment in order for future generations to become better skilled and employable. Her presentation showcased a number of programs under YouthSpark, which have already been made available to Sri Lankan youth.
Gap in opportunity
“The youth of today face a gap in opportunity in terms of those who have access to the skills and training they need in order to be successful, and those who do not. There are more than 75 million unemployed youth around the world, and it is our aim to work together with youth organisations and local governments to close this divide in order to secure the future of our youth, and in turn our global economy,” she said.
YouthSpark, a company-wide, global initiative by Microsoft has in its first year alone, created new opportunities for more than 103 million young people in over 100 countries around the world.
Similarly local youth organisation ‘Tharunyata Hetak’ works towards creating bonds between the youth of Sri Lanka with mutual understanding, national patriotism and development, highlighting significant qualities of goodwill, friendship and harmony, a mix that creates the perfect synergy for Microsoft and ‘Tharunyata Hetak’ to work together towards a more digitally inclusive future generation that would in turn help to build a knowledge based local economy.
Digital Literary Curriculum
Deevy fielded questions at the forum on the several programs offered through Microsoft YouthSpark, including their Digital Literary Curriculum, which helps users to develop a fundamental understanding of computers and allows the learning of essential skills for computing with confidence. The program allows users to be more productive at home and at work, to stay safe online, use technology to complement their lifestyles, and choose careers where these skills can be put to use. There are a number of programs offered to children above six years of age to teenagers and young adults to hone their skills in learning or to succeed in the job market. “We are proud to have been invited to participate in this prestigious Youth Forum attended by 500 local participants and over 200 international youth representing 54 nations. Not only do we greatly appreciate the opportunity but strongly believe that the way the world is moving today, IT has a big role to play and as a software company with a great formula to offer in terms of opportunity, we are excited about being part of the country’s vision of building a skilled future generation,” said Microsoft Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Manager Imran Vilcassim.
Apart from the panel discussion Microsoft Sri Lanka had a YouthSpark stall at the Forum and ran two highly interactive side events managed by student ambassadors representing universities from different parts of Sri Lanka.
