Help us with the Renovation of our Computer Lab!

Hello Everyone,

I hope this message finds you all in good health and high spirits!. My name is Chamani, and I'm currently in my second year of Ph.D. in Engineering Science at Simon Fraser University in Canada. I am excited to share with you a collaborative initiative aimed at powering up rural schoolchildren with ever-evolving technology. Together with some of our dearest friends from Canada and Sri Lanka, we're taking the lead on a fundraiser to renovate the computer laboratory of a rural school in the Gampaha district!

Even though we are miles away from our beautiful motherland, Sri Lanka, the place where we first started our educational journey, it's like our hearts always carry the essence of those early days with us. Back then, most of us grew up in middle-class families in Sri Lanka. We have faced our fair share of challenges, especially when it came to having access to resources. Currently, it is disheartening to witness that our country is still experiencing the consequences of recent inflation, significantly impacting schoolchildren. As we’re navigating through paths in graduate studies or good jobs, we are driven by the strong desire to give back to the community that shaped us, especially during the challenging circumstances our country is currently facing.

This initiative is a collective effort with my incredible friends with beautiful hearts, a true reflection of the bond we share. It's about making a meaningful impact on the lives of these schoolchildren by providing them with the physical facilities and tools they need to navigate the digital world.

Let us tell the story of the school, Weerasuriyakanda Junior School!

Weerasuriyakanda Junior School is located in Weerasurikanda Grama Niladhari Division No. 358, Nittambuwa Police Division, Mirigama Education Division, Minuwangoda Education Zone, Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. Philanthropists in the area started the school in a temporary building, and the government took it over on March 19, 1945. Many of the children are from poor families in the area, but it came to our attention that these amazing young minds are rich with dreams about a future full of possibilities. The school has witnessed its glory recently in several aspects, not only in education but also in sports, cultural activities, aesthetic skills, multiple extracurricular activities, and so on. You may see their talents, victories, and accomplishments on their active social media platforms.

Click to view the School Facebook page

Click to view the School YouTube channel

Click to view the School Website

Figure: Front view of the Weerasuriyakanda Junior School.

Figure: Name board of the Weerasuriyakanda Junior School.

Figure: Entrance of the Weerasuriyakanda Junior School.

For more photos of this beautiful school: Please click here

Our sincere goal:

Our goal is simple yet profound: to create a motivating environment that nurtures curiosity, innovation, and digital literacy in young minds. By renovating the computer lab, we aim to provide the students at Weerasuriyakanda Junior School with a finished laboratory and the required tools they need to excel in an increasingly digital world.

Why “renovating”:

Weerasuriyakanda Junior School presently accommodates a small computer room comprising six computers, positioned on conventional school desks and chairs. The objective of this project is to strategically relocate the current computer room to a new, more spacious, and more comfortable laboratory. This relocation aims to facilitate an expansion, allowing for an increased number of computers and technology and accommodating a greater student population.

Figure: A part of the library building is currently used as the computer room.

Figure: A class session inside the current computer room.

Figure: Limited space in the current computer room.

Figure: Proposed Building for Renovation.

For more photos of the current and proposed space: Please click here

Project proposal:

In collaboration with the committed efforts of the School Development Board, our team has formulated a comprehensive proposal for the renovation process. We invite you to review the proposal by accessing the following link: Click to view the project proposal

Fundraising goal:

As per the prepared budget the total cost estimation is around LKR 971,597.50 (app. CAD 4014.64).

Click here to view the budget

Figure: Estimated budget.

We aim to secure the necessary funds through the utilization of one of the options outlined below. The selection of the specific option will be decided based on the funds raised within the designated two-month timeframe spanning from December 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024.

Click here to view the planned options

Figure: Planned options based on the collection.

For more information,

If you have any questions, please contact any of our team members! We're happy to provide you with more information!

In addition, here are the contact numbers for the school.

As we embark on this journey, we invite you to be a part of something truly special. Your contribution, whether big or small, will play a pivotal role in turning our vision into a reality. Together, let's sow the seeds for a brighter future and make a lasting impact on these young lives.

How Can You Help?

Figure: Let's help brighten these innocent young minds! ~

Let's join hands and make a difference in the lives of these aspiring young minds!. Thank you for being a part of this journey and for helping us turn this vision into reality!.

With gratitude,

Jayakody Kankanamalage Chamani Shiranthika