KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency), the grant aid organization of the Republic of Korea, held the opening ceremony of the ‘ICT Educational Environment Improvement Project’ carried out by Kim Ji-Yeon, who is working as a computer education volunteer at the Kalaiimagal School in Trincomalee recently.
The project was designed to develop students’ ICT skills through hands-on ICT lessons by providing one PC per student. The total cost of the project borne by KOICA was $27,686.09 including the provision of 23 computers, computer desks and chairs, 3 air conditioners and beam projectors, while the Kalaimagal school supported the project by supplying the construction workforce and software installation.
Kim Ji-yeon, who successfully finished his project, said: “I had a lot of difficulties in delivering hands-on lessons due to the lack of computers. As a result many students did not even know how to operate the computer at basic level. I hope students’ ICT performance will be improved after this project.” He was sent as a computer education volunteer to Kalaimagal school and has been teaching ICT since March, 2017.
“I am grateful to KOICA and Kim Ji-yeon for improving our ICT classroom and I hope that more students enhance their ICT skills through this project” said Principal of Kalaimagal school,Yuvarajah.
The KOICA Sri Lanka office operates around 10 ‘On-field Projects’ annually with a total budget of 30 million USD to give volunteers an opportunity to find a problem and solve it on their field. Some of the ‘On-field Projects’ implemented this year include, ‘ICT Educational Environment Improvement Project’ at St.Theresa’s College (by Lee Seon-gyeong), ‘KOICA Hope Farm Project’ (by Kim Yun-ha) in Kilinochchi, ‘New Beauty Culture Classroom Project’ at National Youth Services Council (by Kim Da-kyung) in Anuradhapura and ‘Multimedia ICT Classroom Project’ at Rambaikulam Girls Vidyalayam (by Ahn Su-jung) in Vavuniya.
The KOICA Sri Lanka office will continue its efforts for economic and social development of Sri Lanka by supporting volunteers ‘On-field Projects’. In addition, the KOICA Sri Lanka office supports volunteers’ various cultural activities introducing Korean culture to Sri Lanka to promote friendship between the two countries.