John Keells Foundation (JKF) launched the pilot of John Keells Praja Shakthi Digital Learning Initiative on 11th November 2021 in Ranala.
As a medium-term response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the project aims to facilitate online based learning of disadvantaged school children who are preparing for public examinations in the midst of the pandemic and mitigate the increase in inequalities in accessing educational opportunities.
The pilot project involves the distribution of 100 Samsung A8 tabs and data packages to selected Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students in John Keells Praja Shakthi locations in Colombo 2 and Ranala for the duration of the course of study.
JKF is partnered in this initiative by Deutsche Bank as co-funder and John Keells Office Automation (JKOA) and Dialog Axiata PLC as suppliers of devices and data packages at concessionary rates.
Elephant House was the logistics partner for the Ranala event.
During the simple event at the Elephant House factory in Ranala, 50 tabs were distributed to selected Ordinary Level students from four government schools.
JKF’s Head of Operations, Ms. Carmeline Jayasuriya said, “John Keells Foundation launched this project taking into account the numerous hardships faced by schoolchildren.
“We are delighted to be partnered by responsible corporates such as Deutsche Bank, JKOA and Dialog Axiata in this pilot initiative,” she said.
The project is designed so that tabs will be re-pooled after the completion of the recipients’ study course to benefit another cohort of deserving students.