99x rebuilds flood-damaged IT labs restoring digital learning for rural schools in Mahiyanganaya

In December of last year, Sri Lanka faced devastating floods that disrupted the lives of numerous communities. The disaster not only affected homes and livelihoods but also impacted schools, many of which lost essential IT laboratories where students learned crucial digital skills. These labs, vital for practical lessons and introducing students to computers, played a significant role in narrowing the digital divide that rural schools had long grappled with.

As the nation pivoted from immediate relief efforts to long-term recovery, 99x, a prominent product engineering company with roots in Sri Lanka, initiated a series of recovery projects under its Corporate Relief Fund. This initiative, backed by the Prime Minister's Office and SLASSCOM, aimed to rebuild technological infrastructure in flood-affected areas.

Understanding the critical importance of technology in education, 99x collaborated to rebuild IT laboratories in three schools severely affected by the floods: Hebarawa Maha Vidyalaya, Bathalayaya Maha Vidyalaya, and Keselpotha Maha Vidyalaya, all located in Mahiyanganaya. Over several months, dedicated teams worked in tandem with the Prime Minister's Office, SLASSCOM, and the school communities to select and refurbish these labs.

In July, a group of 99x volunteers journeyed to Mahiyanganaya to complete the restoration of these IT laboratories. The event was marked by great excitement as students gathered outside the schools, eagerly anticipating the return of their IT facilities. School principals and teachers expressed relief and gratitude, highlighting the importance of these labs for resuming practical IT lessons that had been postponed for months.