Any village affiliated to Sarvodaya goes through a village graduation process. They begin the process as very basic programs such as construction of entry roads, clearing water tanks etc. which demands collective sharing of labour (Shramadana) to meet a common objective. Such a humble beginnings leads to grandeur engagements as time goes by.

Following are two examples how the e-empowerment process takes place in a rural village

Example 1:

Village name    Divurumgama, at Badulla (about 250km away from capital Colombo)
Nearest town    Keppatipola (2.5km)
Population    2092 (Male- 962, Female- 1130), Youths - 817, Adults - 677, Children - 598

Exposure to ICTS>

In 2005, village community initiated the VIC during a village shramadana camp.

Motivation >

Specialist training on collecting, organizing, filing and maintaining information material were given to two village youth by telecentre staff of Badulla Sarvodaya District Centre (about 20km away).

Skill development >

Subsequent visits by the telecentre coordinator helped to add more skills to the VIC team. In 2006, VIC received a laptop donated by Sarvodaya-Fusion that had triggered community enthusiasm to interact with computers.

Self learning>

Youth members started composing a village hand-book gathering information related to special interests. There were 6 handbooks produced by early 2009.

Exploration>

Shramadana Society purchased another Computer recently, that enables VIC to assist Society’s development activities, especially to compile project information in relation to micro-finance deliveries by Sarvodaya Economic Enterprise Development Services (SEEDS). Also, VIC carries out basic computer training to village youth.

Application>

In a typical day, about 5 people visit the centre to access basic information that may be travel, banking or education related, or to enquire the appointment for a medical specialist at the town, or to access a birth-certification application form for newly born child.

Example 2:

Case study of Madugasthenna, Kandy (about 130km from capital Colombo)

Madugasthenna, is a small hilly rural village located in the peripheries of famous Kandy city, in the hamlet of Mahathenna. This is a small village settlement of 71 houses. They started Sarvodaya early activities as early as 1995.

As they continue the development progress, by 2004, two youth got the opportunity to join two training programs at Sarvodaya Head Office. Miss Hansamala Wijewardana , active member of sarvodaya youth society followed ICT training programme in Sarvodaya IT Unit (SITU). In the mean time Mr. Tilak Laksiri Premarathna followed communication training at sarvodaya.

Upon their return, they started the village information circle. Gradually this had been developed into a Village Information Centre (VIC), and became one of the best VICs in Kandy district.

During the course, Hansamali moved into a distant place after getting married, and Laksiri continued education successfully and secured a job in a private bank. Yet youth circle set by them steered the process. Even to date Laksiri, provide his leadership visiting the VIC every weekend.

VIC is so successful, it has become a regular attraction of village youth, and Principal of nearby Udugama Collage, sends school children to learn for their educational projects.

There are 40 members in the VIC now in the age group of 14 - 30 years. Information list is so broad from health information, herbariums, pest collections, school information etc.

Visitor record book indicates the main visitors are ;

1.OL / AL student of area
2.Self employed in village
3.NGO workers in the area
4.Teachers of Udugama Vidyalaya (Collage)

Among the highlights, they managed to secure a government support to pay the rent of the building, where they maintain VIC. There dream is to build Madugasthenna VIC into a village ‘community radio centre’.