AN ENTERPRISING YOUNG MAN FROM MAHAVILACHCHIYA

Source: http://www.horizonlanka.org/news/kasun/index.html

Kasun Harshalal, a senior student of Horizon Lanka Academy,
Mahavilachchiya started a small computer lab on January 15, 2008 with
the idea of starting a small business. He had to be satisfied with two
old PCs one, a Pentium III and the other a Pentium I. Though many
doubted his endeavor, all what Kasun knew was that one PC is enough to
make an impact if there is determination and proper planning. After all
Horizon Lanka too was started with a used 486 model PC ten years ago.
So, why not try with two Pentiums after 10 years?



He rented an old abandoned house in the village for a small fee and
started the computer lab. He named the computer center as Lakna.



To everyone’s surprise, within few weeks, more than 60 junior students
enrolled to study computers at Lakna. He has just three used PCs now
and teaches what he learnt from Horizon Lanka to the students in Tract
4 area of Mahavilachchiya. He started with Microsoft Windows Operating
System and now teaching Microsoft Office. Soon he will teach other
areas such as graphic and web designing as well.



Children come to Lakna Computer Center after school. Parents are happy
that the children get a decent IT education for an affordable price.
The students who learn the basics at Kasun’s computer center can join
Horizon Lanka Academy to follow standard courses. This eases Horizon
Lanka’s burdens of spending time on the basics.



Apart from IT teaching, Harsha also does some CD sales, typesetting,
providing MP3 songs, images and wallpapers for mobile phones.



Kasun does not have a video camera or a still camera. But this man who does not know the word NO, used a Sony Ericsson K510i model mobile phone
and got stills of a kid’s birthday party and made a movie with Windows
MovieMaker software and charged a whopping 1,500 LKR (14USD) from the
client. The client, the child’s parents were very happy about the
quality of the movie and paid the fee without bargaining. (We will
later upload the movie file to the site if the parents agree to show
Kasun’s talents.)

Kasun needs few more PCs, a laser
printer, a color printer, a video and still camera to introduce new
services to the community. He also needs a network hub and some
networking cables as well. He welcomes even used equipment. Horizon
Lanka gave him a broken scanner which but Kasun has repaired it and now
it works. Kasun also received some used computer parts and monitors
from EuroCenter DDC, Colombo and now in the process of repairing them.

You
are welcome to help this enterprising young man by giving him a helping
hand. If he has a LankaBell CDMA phone, he can have access to the
Internet and do more service to the students. He says there is
potential even to start a cybercafé for the villagers when the computer
classes are not held.


Horizon Lanka wants to see
more enterprising youth to develop the village. It is these youth who
will take the lead from us from now on. info@horizonlanka.org