‘Nenasala’ operator wins Global Telecenter Award in Spain

A rural ‘Nenasala’ operator from Sri Lanka bagged the best tele-centre manager award at the recently concluded Global Telecenter Awards in Spain.   

Owner / Manager of ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) – initiated Sooriyawewa Nenasala in Hambantota, Deepika Priyadharshanee won this prestigious award beating 60 tele-centre operators around the world. 

Deepika marked her latest first when she won the award as the best telecentre manager at the Global Telecentre Awards (GTA) held in Granada, Spain on Tuesday (29). Organised by  Telecentre.org Foundation (TCF) and co-presented by the National Information Society Agency of Korea (NIA) and Microsoft Corporation, as a cynosure of ‘The Spark 13 conference,’ the ceremony put a spotlight on nine winners.

“At a time when women entrepreneurs are much in demand for playing a substantial role in world development, especially among developing countries,  Deepika Priyadarshani has set a valuable example,” ICTA Chairman Prof P W Epasinghe says.  

“The  Nenasalas (wisdom outlets), the yields of a brainchild of   His Excellency  President Mahinda Rajapaksa set the turning point in making the benefits of ICT  reach a wider spectrum of people .  The award that Deepika  won proves that Sri Lankans are capable of  great things, given proper guidance, as  has been provided by ICTA under e-Sri Lanka”. ICTA Chairman added. 

Among the overwhelming responses received for GTA 2013 under its six categories, the Telecentre Manger category had received the highest number of entries.  This was over 60.  Deepika was awarded the Best Telecentre Manger award. This was in recognition of her contribution in delivering the benefits of ICTs to the community in Sooriyawewa and enhancing the quality of life of the people of her village. The award was presented by the Managing Director, Telecentre.org Foundation Miguel Raimilla.  

Accepting the award, Deepika thanked Telecentre.org Foundation for organising the First Global telecentre Awards.  She  thanked ICTA for giving her the opportunity to become a Telecentre Manger. She  was also profusely thankful for  ICTA  for providing funding, guidance and support for setting-up a Nenasala in her village eight years ago. "This award is not only mine. This award will celebrate all the hard-working Nenasala managers and operators in my country," Deepika told the audience at the world awards ceremony.

This first Global Telecentre Awards aims to recognise the best of the best in the international telecentre stage in the following six specific categories: Telecentre, Telecentre Manager, Telecentre Network, Telecentre Innovation, Telecentre Initiative, and Information Access Centre.

Winners for each category are as follows:

Grand Winners

• Best Telecentre: Volgograd State Agricultural University, Russia

• Best Telecentre Manager:  Gurusinghe Arachchige Deepika Priyadharshanee, Sri Lanka

• Best Telecentre Network: Philippine Community e-Center Network, Philippines

• Best Telecentre Innovation: eBario Innovation Village, Malaysia

• Best Telecentre Initiative: Ayni Bolivia – Ch@ski Program, Bolivia

• Best Information Access Center: Bangladesh Korea IAC, Bangladesh

Global Community’s Choice 

• Best Telecentre: Volgograd State Agricultural University, Russia

• Best Telecentre Manager: Linda Navarro Balbuena, Philippines

• Best Telecentre Network: Philippine Community e-Center Network, Philippines

• Best Telecentre Initiative: Conecta Joven of Esplai Foundation, Spain

• Best Telecentre Innovation: eBario Innovation Village, Malaysia

• Best Information Access Center: Jordan-Korea IAC, Jordan

Caption
Gurusinghe Arachchige Deepika Priyadharshanee with other winners at the GTA donning a traditional sari.

Caption
G.A.D.Priyadarshani at her work table at the Sooriyawewa Nenasala

Caption
Children using the facilities at the Sooriyawewa Nenasala

This article is carried in Daily FT and Daily News of 31st May 2013.
http://www.ft.lk/2013/05/31/nenasala-operator-wins-global-telecenter-award-in-pain/
http://www.dailynews.lk/2013/05/31/bus04.asp