Project Serve is a bimonthly initiative that focuses on implementing the Rotary six areas of focus. The first project under the Rotary focus area "Education and Literacy" was jointly organized by the Rotaract Clubs of ACBT, Cinnamon Gardens and Wellawatte. The focus on this project was to provide a multi-functional digital hybrid library and media room for a school in Mathugama. This project went under the name of “New Heights in Literacy for Underprivileged Children” will serve to support the Rotary focus area of strengthening education and literacy by the means of establishing a children’s library and to further facilitate it with a digital multimedia room introducing the ‘hybrid library’ concept to Sri Lankan rural school communities.
The project consisted of multiple phases including organizing a book drive to collect books, visiting the school and carrying out the cleaning/repair work needed to host the library, and finally the handover of the completed library with the donated books/digital equipment. A brief summary of the 3 phases is as follows,
First phase- Organizing a book drive and collected and handed over over 300+ books to the selected school.
Second phase – Re painting and renovating the multi-media room that would be accommodating
the library.
Third and the Last phase - Officially handing over of the hybrid library consisting of bookshelves,
TV, and the DVD player to the school.
The final phase was fulfilled in October 2016. We officially opened the Hybrid Library for the school by providing the facilities ( 2 bookshelves, LED TV and DVD player) and created a learning environment for the students to learn.
We are thankful for the principal of the school and also the teachers for their commitment towards the children in working towards providing a quality education amidst all the odds that may have to encounter as well as our numerous sponsors including The Rotary Club of Colombo Midtown and the 7th Generation Honda Community of Sri Lanka to name a few, for the support given in making this possible. We hope that this multimedia room wall will help to mold and create a better learning environment for the children of WP/MT Sri Ramakrishna T.M.V. We also hope to engage and support the school and its children further in future endeavours.
