"BORDERLESS eVILLAGE"

"BORDERLESS eVILLAGE"

Project Details

* Project Information

* Objectives and innovation

* User Profile

* Results

* Sustainability

* Transferability

* Keywords

* Background Information

* Contacts

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Project Information

Project Name: BORDERLESS eVILLAGE

Number (ID): 405

City: MAHAVILACHCHIYA, SRI LANKA

Country: Sri Lanka

Website: WWW.HORIZONLANKA.ORG

Up and running since: 12/2004

Short project description:

AHAVILACHCHIYA − THE MODEL E-VILLAGE IN PAR WITH THE WORLD

Project summary:

THE HORIZON LANKA FOUNDATION IS A NON PROFIT ORGANISATION SITUATED IN MAHAVILACHCHIYA THAT PROVIDES EDUCATION INCLUDING ENGLISH, SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, COMPUTER SCIENCE AND GRAPHICS TO 200 VILLAGE KIDS. MAHAVILACHCHIYA IS A RURAL TOWN SITUATED 40KM FROM ANURADHAPURA CITY, AND IS SURROUNDED BY THE JUNGLE IN EVERY SIDE. IN JUNE 2004, A TRANSMISSION TOWER WAS INSTALLED AT THE INSTITUTE PROVIDING A 64KBPS LINE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS PROVIDED A GOOD TOOL TO THE VILLAGERS ESPECIALLY THE VILLAGE YOUTH TO SURPASS THE BARRIERS IMPOSED BY THE ENVIRONMENT. THE HORIZON LANKA FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED THE VILLAGE WITH HIGH COMPUTER DENSITY, CURRENTLY REACHING 60 PCS AMONGST HOUSEHOLDS WITH ELECTRICITY WHERE CHILDREN USE IT MAINLY FOR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS.

HORIZON LANKA FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY (PVT) LTD (ETPL) TO PROPOSE A SET OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO TRANSFORM THE RURAL VILLAGE OF MAHAVILACHCHIYA INTO A MODEL E-VILLAGE. HORIZON LANKA FOUNDATION FIRST JOINED HANDS WITH ETPL IN 2004 WHEN FUNDING FOR A MESH NETWORK WAS AWARDED BY THE PAN ASIA ICT R&D GRANTS PROGRAM. THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS DUE FOR COMPLETION THIS MONTH, WILL CONNECT 30 HOMES IN MAHAVILACHCHIYA TO A COMMUNITY MESH NETWORK. HORIZON LANKA FOUNDATION AIMS AT CONNECTING THE REMAINING 50 HOMES TO THE EXISTING MESH NETWORK AND TO PROVIDE A SUSTAINABLE E-LEARNING SOLUTION, CREATE AN E-COMMERCE SOLUTION AND PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY FOR STUDENTS TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING CENTER.

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Objectives and innovation

Please explain the objectives and the context of your project:

THE SUCCESS OF THE INITIAL MESH NETWORK, IT’S HIGH RELIABILITY AND SPEED, HAS STIRRED UP THE INTEREST OF MAHAVILACHCHIYA YOUTH TO USE THE INTERNET AS A TOOL FOR LEARNING AND TO START NEW BUSINESSES. THE INTERNET HAS OPENED AN AVENUE FOR YOUTH TO COMMUNICATE IN ENGLISH AND THIS IN ADDITION HAS INCREASED THEIR CAPACITY TO EXCEL IN THE LANGUAGE. AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTERS INTO HOMES, 6 STUDENTS RECEIVED AN ‘À GRADE FOR ENGLISH IN THEIR ÀLEVEL EXAMINATION WHERE PREVIOUSLY SUCH A HIGH GRADE HAD SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE. THIS WAS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT PROVED TO THE VILLAGERS THE BENEFIT OF COMPUTERS FOR EDUCATION. THIS PROJECT TARGETS AT CONNECTING ANOTHER 50 COMPUTERS IN CHILDREN’S HOMES TO THE EXISTING MESH NETWORK.

CURRENTLY SOME STUDENTS WHO ARE CREATIVE HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO CREATE WEB PAGES AND GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS. THROUGH THIS INTERNATIONAL NETWORK, INQUIRIES HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE POSSIBILITIES OF A BPO CENTER. THIS OPERATION IS FOR DATA ENTRY, WEB APPLICATIONS, SCANNED IMAGES, TEXT TO MS WORD/EXCEL, SCANNING HARD COPIES ETC. IN ORDER TO DO THIS SCANNERS, LASER PRINTERS, COMPUTERS WITH HIGH CAPACITY HARD DISKS TO MAINTAIN BACKUPS, VIDEO EDITING AND IMAGING SOFTWARE IS REQUIRED. THE ELECTRICITY AND PHONE BILL CHARGES FOR THIS CENTER ALSO NEED TO BE COVERED INITIALLY UNTIL IT IS SUSTAINABLE. THE CREATION OF THIS CENTER WOULD PROVIDE AN INCOME TO YOUTH IN MAHAVILACHCHIYA AND ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ADVANCE IN IT.

E-LEARNING IN LOCAL LANGUAGES HAS BEEN A VERY POPULAR METHOD OF EDUCATION IN UNIVERSITIES AND IN THE CITIES. THE INSERTION OF THIS TOOL WOULD ENABLE STUDENTS IN MAHAVILACHCHIYA TO COMPETE EQUALLY WITH THE CITY STUDENTS. THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE RATE OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT WOULD DECREASE.

MAHAVILACHCHIYA YOUTH ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN MARKETING THE LOCAL PRODUCE SUCH AS BEES HONEY AND VEGETABLES TO THE CITIES AND INTERNATIONALLY.

In what way does it try to achieve its objectives?

THIS PROJECT BRINGS IT INTO THE HOME AND PROVIDES A LARGE NETWORK BY WHICH STUDENTS CAN COMMUNICATE AND LEARN THROUGH. THIS NETWORK IS FREE OF CHARGE TO THEM AND THE ONLY FUTURE COST IS THE LICENSE FEES TO BE PAID TO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY HORIZON LANKA FOUNDATION ANNUALLY. THE E-LEARNING SOLUTION WOULD BE INTRODUCED FREE OF CHARGE AT FIRST BUT AFTER A CERTAIN LEVEL STUDENTS COULD BE ASKED TO PAY A SUBSIDIZED AMOUNT FOR SUSTAINABILITY. THE E-COMMERCE SOLUTION WILL ALSO BE FREE OF CHARGE TO THE STUDENTS. THE BEAUTY OF THIS SOLUTION IS THAT STUDENTS DO NOT NEED TO TRAVEL TO A LOCATION TO PAY FOR INTERNET CHARGES, BUT HAVE EVERYTHING AT THEIR FINGERTIPS, AT THEIR HOME.

THIS PROJECT AIMS AT PROMOTING THE USE OF COMPUTERS AT HOME AND IN CREATING A NEW MEANS FOR BUSINESS THROUGH BPO OPERATIONS AND E-COMMERCE. THROUGH THIS IT WILL PROVIDE A MEANS FOR E-CHANNELING WITH HOSPITALS, FACILITATE IN THE SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT AND PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS AND CHILDREN’S HOMES. THE COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT BY GAINING ACCESS TO HEALTH AND EDUCATION INFORMATION, AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION FOR FARMERS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND OVERALL COMMUNICATION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

Which opportunities/problems does it addresses?

MAHAVILACHCHIYA HAS A HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG THE YOUTH AND THE PACE OF IT IS NOT FAST ENOUGH TO REDRESS THE DEEP ROOTED POVERTY AND OTHER LONG STANDING GRIEVANCES OF THE PEOPLE. EDUCATION FACILITIES IN THE AREA ARE SO POOR THAT THERE ARE RECORDS OF A HIGH RATE OF SCHOOL LEAVERS AT THE PRIMARY LEVEL. ENGLISH ESPECIALLY HAS BEEN A SUBJECT THAT STUDENTS FIND HARD TO CONQUER. POOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS HAVE SADLY HINDERED FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE AREA. THE AREA ALSO LACKS PROPER HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

MAHAVILACHCHIYA IS A PART OF THE RURAL SECTOR OF SRI LANKA THAT STILL REMAINS LARGELY UNCONNECTED TO THE WEB. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A HIGH DENSITY OF COMPUTERS IN THE VILLAGE, THEY DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS NOR ARE THEY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER. THE VILLAGERS DO NOT PERCEIVE HOW THE INFORMATION AVAILABILITY CAN MAKE THEM MORE PRODUCTIVE AND DEMANDABLE NOR DO THEY KNOW HOW THE SAME CAN IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. FOR INSTANCE, IN SPITE OF THE WEB CARRYING THE WEATHER REPORT FOR FOUR DAYS AHEAD FOR A PROVINCIAL TOWN, RANDOM QUERIES AT SURROUNDING VILLAGES REVEAL THAT NO FARMER USES THIS INFORMATION IN MAKING DECISIONS ON HIS/HER AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES. THIS SITUATION IS IRONICAL, AS THE WHOLE WORLD HAS ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION, WHILE THE VERY PEOPLE TO WHOM SUCH INFORMATION WOULD HAVE BEEN MOST IMPORTANT, HAVE BEEN INDIRECTLY PREVENTED FROM ACCESSING THE SAME.

Please explain what is unique or special in your project:

THIS PROJECT HAS AN INNOVATIVE INTEGRATED STRATEGY, BASED ON EXISTING TECHNOLOGY AND RURAL SOCIAL STRUCTURES, ADDRESSING A VARIETY OF BARRIERS AND ULTIMATELY HELPING TO GET LARGE NUMBERS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES ON THE INTERNET. MESH TECHNOLOGY IS A NEW METHOD FOR CONNECTING RURAL COMMUNITIES. IT IS EXTREMELY RELIABLE, ROBUST AND IS ABLE TO CREATE A HIGH SPEED WIRELESS NETWORK IN AREAS OF DENSE VEGETATION SUCH AS MAHAVILACHCHIYA. PROVIDING CONNECTIVITY TO CHILDREN AT HOME AT NO CHARGE IS A DEFINITE GROWTH FACTOR FOR THE AREA. THIS ALONG WITH E-LEARNING AN E-COMMERCE CAN ONLY PROVIDE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR MAHAVILACHCHIYA TO RISE AS A BORDERLESS E-VILLAGE. IT WILL BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND CREATE THE PLATFORM FOR AN IT KNOWLEDGEABLE WORKFORCE.

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User Profile

Category in which the project is candidated: Youth Education Project: up to 29 years old

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Results

Project results up to date:

CURRENTLY 5 NODES AND 4 TOWERS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED CREATING CONNECTIVITY TO 20 HOUSEHOLDS. INTERNET SPEED OF 54 KPBS HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN EACH HOUSEHOLD.

How the project fulfils user needs:

STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AT HOME AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND THEIR TEACHERS ON TOPICS SUCH AS HOMEWORK AND WEBPAGE DESIGN. FARMERS HAVE ACCESS TO WEATHER REPORTS FROM HOME SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT THE NEXT DAY. ACCESS TO E-CHANNELING WEBSITE HAS ENABLED THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE HOSPITAL APPOINTMENTS AND ORDER MEDICINE ONLINE. YOUTH ARE ABLE TO FIND JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

Number of users of the project and preferred method of interaction:

UP TO DATE, 20 STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AT HOME. THEY USE THE INTERNET FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES, COMMUNICATION WITH TEACHERS, INFORMATION ON WEATHER, NEWS AND GENERAL WEB BROWSING.

Contribution of the project to improving education and training for young people:

PREVIOUSLY STUDENTS WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE HORIZON LANKA FOUNDATION TO DO RESEARCH AND ADVANCE IN IT SKILLS, HOWEVER NOW THEY SAVE TIME AND IT IS NOT A HASSLE. THE STUDENTS WITH COMPUTERS AT HOME WOULD SAVE THEIR HOMEWORK ON A PEN DRIVE TO TAKE TO SCHOOL, HOWEVER NOW THEY ARE ABLE TO SEND THEIR HOMEWORK DIRECTLY TO THEIR TEACHER AS SOON AS THEY ARE DONE. THE STUDENTS HAVE STARTED TO USE THE INTERNET AS A RESOURCE FOR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS AND ARE ALSO INCREASING THEIR SKILLS IN WEB DESIGN. MOST YOUTH HAVE EMAIL ADDRESSES AND ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THIS. THE COMMUNITY CHAT NETWORK HAS ALSO CREATED AN ADDITIONAL MODE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOUSEHOLDS. ONE OF THE CURRENT PROJECTS RUNNING, eMENTORS, PAIRS EACH CHILD WITH AN ENGLISH SPEAKING ADULT AROUND THE WORLD. THE CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEND STORIES AND ESSAYS TO THEIR eMENTORS, WHO IN TURN WILL CORRECT THE ENGLISH FOR THEM.

How the project has improved participation by professionals, children, youth and other stakeholders:

VILLAGERS HAVE ACCESS TO GAIN NEW IDEAS FOR BUSINESS VENTURES AND FARMERS ARE ABLE TO CHECK PRICES OF PRODUCE IN NEIGHBORING TOWNS ONLINE. STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO E-BOOKS AND PARTICIPATE IN INTERACTIVE FORUMS. YOUTH ARE ABLE TO APPLY FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE CITIES ONLINE AND ARE ABLE TO POST THEIR RESUME FOR REVIEW.

How the project promoted new technologies for educational and cultural development:

THE YOUTH OF MAHAVILACHCHIYA BARELY HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY TEXT BOOKS AND PENCILS, HOWEVER NOW THEY CAN SAVE THIS MONEY. THE INTERNET HAS PROVIDED THE MEANS FOR THEM TO WRITE PAPERS AND ACCESS INFORMATION ON ANY EDUCATIONAL TOPIC ONLINE. THEY ARE EVEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH STUDENTS IN THE CITY THROUGH CHAT GROUPS AND FORUMS TO BRING THEM UP TO PAR WITH THE REST. STUDENTS ARE ALSO ABLE TO ADD PICTURES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THEIR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS.

THE YOUTH IN MAHAVILACHCHIYA ARE VERY CREATIVE AND ARTISTIC. THEY HAVE A KNACK IN THE ART OF WEB DESIGN AND THIS HAS BEEN EVIDENT IN THEIR WEB DESIGN CREATIONS FOR FOREIGN CLIENTS. THE HORIZON FOUNDATION WEBSITE WAS CREATED BY THE STUDENTS OF MAHAVILACHCHIYA AND IS UPDATED REGULARLY. THIS WEBSITE HAS CAUGHT THE EYE OF MANY PEOPLE INTERNATIONALLY AND IN RETURN THEY HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT WEB PORTAL DESIGN.

How project results are measured:

THE RESULTS ARE MEASURED BY THE INTEREST CHILDREN HAVE DEMONSTRATED ON THIS PROJECT AND IMPROVED EXAMINATION RESULTS. AS SOON AS THE FIRST COMPUTER WAS CONNECTED THE CHILDREN HAVE ASKED FOR MORE HOMES TO BE CONNECTED AND THEY HAVE SPENT MORE HOURS ON THE INTERNET VERSUS PLAYING. STUDENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO GET JOB INTERVIEWS IN THE CITY AND HAVE APPLIED FOR UNIVERSITY ADMISSION ONLINE. THEIR ESSAY WRITING SKILLS HAVE ALSO INCREASED AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH PROFESSORS IN OTHER CITIES. FARMERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS WEATHER REPORTS AND RESEARCH ON MORE ADVANCED AGRICULTURAL METHODS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY.

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Sustainability

The duration of our project is:

From 1 to 3 years

The approximate total budget of our project is:

More than 500,000 USD

The source of funding for our project is:

Grants

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Transferability

What lessons can others learn from this project?

THE BIGGEST BOTTLENECK IN THIS PROJECT WAS TO GET APPROVAL FOR THE FREQUENCY LICENCE FROM THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND REGULATORY COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA. THIS TOOK MUCH LONGER THAN WE EXPECTED AND SHOULD BE NOTED AS AN UNPREDICTABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

THIS PROJECT ALSO PROVED THAT THE RURAL COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO ADVANCE AS FAST AS THAT OF THE CITY PEOPLE IF GIVEN THE CHANCE. THE INTEREST OF CHILDREN IN THE RURAL AREAS ARE EVEN GREATER BECAUSE THEY APPRECIATE A COMPUTER MORE AND THEIR ADVANCEMENT IN IT RISES EXPONENTIALLY.

We are available to help others starting or working on similar projects

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Keywords

Keywords which better characterize the project:

INNOVATIVE WIRELESS NETWORK SOLUTION PROVIDING LOW COST CONNECTIVITY TO RURAL COMMUNITY, E-LEARNING AND E-COMMERCE AT THEIR FINGERTIPS, STIMULATING ECONOMIC GROWTH BY CREATING NEW PRODUCTS.

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Background Information

How the project came about:

HORIZON LANKA FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AGENCY OF SRI LANKA TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR THE PAN ASIA R&D GRANTS PROGRAM IN OCTOBER 2004. ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY (PVT) LTD WAS THE IMPLEMENTATION COMPANY CHOSEN TO DELIVER A LOW COST WIRELESS MESH NETWORK TO 30 HOUSEHOLDS IN MAHAVILACHCHIYA. THE PROJECT WAS AWARDED AND FUNDING APPROVED IN OCTOBER 2005. THIS PROJECT ALSO INCLUDED TRAINING ON MAINTAINING THE NETWORK AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS ON THE BENEFITS OF IT TO THE RURAL COMMUNITY.

Barriers:

IT AND COMPUTERS ARE A NEW CONCEPT TO THE RURAL POPULATION SO THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF IT IS VERY SLOW. PARENTS DO NOT PERCEIVE HOW THEIR CHILDREN COULD BENEFIT FROM A COMPUTER AND ARE SET IN THEIR OLD WAYS OF THINKING.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS FACED WAS RECEIVING APPROVAL FOR FREQUENCY LICENCES FROM THE TELECOMMUNICATION AND REGULATORY COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA AND IMPORT CLEARANCE FROM THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. THIS TOOK MUCH LONGER THAN WE EXPECTED AND CAUSED A MAJOR DELAY IN THE START OF IMPLEMENTATION.

Solutions:

TWO OF THE MAHAVILACHCHIYA YOUTH WERE RECRUITED TO CREATE AWARENESS PROGRAMS TO THE HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITY. THEY PROMOTED IT BY DEMONSTRATING THE BENEFITS OF INTERNET AND CREATED EXCITEMENT AMONGST THE STUDENTS.

BARRIER TO FREQUENCY LICENSE AND IMPORT CLEARANCE WAS OVERCOME BY CONSTANT MEETINGS AND CHANGES IN NETWORK DESIGN TO SUIT THEIR REQUIREMENTS.

Future plans and wish list:

FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT, IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO EXPAND THE MESH NETWORK TO COVER THE ENTIRE VILLAGE AND NEIGHBORING VILLAGES. THIS WOULD CREATE A COMMUNITY NETWORK TO TRANSFORM THE E-VILLAGE TO AN E-CITY. THE BPO CENTER WOULD ALSO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONAL SPACE AS IT GROWS. AN INTERACTIVE E-LEARNING PROGRAM WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, BY ADDING LOCAL TUTORIALS AND ONLINE VIDEO TUTORIALS TO MAKE IT A COMPLETE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. THIS WOULD REQUIRE CUSTOMIZED SOFTWARE FOR THE E-LEARNING SOLUTION AND USE OF NOTES OF PROFESSIONAL TUTORS.

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Contacts

Organization: HORIZON LANKA FOUNDATION

Organization type: School

Project Coordinator: MR. T. B. NANDASIRI WANNINAYAKA

Address: 101, LEFT BANK, MAHAVILACHCHIYA, ANURADHAPURA, SRI LANKA

Phone: +9477 7702678

E-mail: WANNI@HORIZONLANKA.ORG