Inaugural ‘Lighting Digital Youth BootCamp’ Concludes on a High Note.
80 + youth participants from across the island participate at a 4 day residential workshop in
Heiyanthuduwa, Gampaha.
The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka announced the success of concluding the inaugural session of the ‘Lighting Digital Youth BootCamp’ in Heiyanthududuwa, Gampaha from 25th to 28th February. The four-day residential workshop was well attended by 80 + participants that were carefully screened to participate in the program.
The ‘Lighting Digital Youth Bootcamp’ initiative is a unique program devised by the ICTA in collaboration with the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) to fast-track youth employment into the ICT industry. Youth who successfully undertake the ‘bootcamps’ will have the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills via a structured but quick set of targeted programs delivered by eminent professionals in the ICT industry. As a result, the Lighting Digital Youth Bootcamp initiative will directly enable 34,000 Sri Lankan Youth to be employable in the ICT industry across all Divisional Secretariats via 170 boot camps.
Out of the 80+ participants, 70% were currently unemployed youth and seeking prospective career opportunities. The Youth Bootcamps offered a unique opportunity in providing Scholarships, Internship Opportunities, Job Opportunities, Professional Memberships, Startups, and freelancing opportunities. Phase one of this initiative will conduct ten boot camps in 10 districts targeting 2,000 participants covering Gampaha, Hambantota, Kegalle, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kurunegala, Ampara, Vavuniya. Youth Bootcamps will be implemented across the island in a phased-out manner, providing a unique opportunity for youth to join the program until 2023.
Sameera Jayawardena- Director Capacity Building at ICTA stated, “ We are overwhelmed by the response we have received for the youth bootcamp. I am extremely proud to say that we have an immense potential for local talent. We, as ICTA, and organizations that represent the industry play a key role in guiding our future generation, and the youth boot camp is a unique platform that enables it. We thank our industry partners CSSL, BCS, FITIS, and SLASSCOM for partnering with this initiative. A national rollout is planned throughout the coming months enabling youth to enter a rewarding career in ICT. We believe this will be a key contributor in achieving the national goal of creating 300,000 ICT employees by 2025.”
BCS awarded five full scholarships to the best-performing students, and three internship opportunities were offered by the Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka, which was the key highlight of the event. Furthermore, to interactively engage them, ICTA intends to conduct regional boot camps in association with various stakeholders and interest groups. In doing so, it will assist in providing proper guidance and obtaining the necessary qualifications, thereby support in generating an export revenue of USD 3 Billion.
Mr. Oshada Senanyake, Chairman ICTA and Mr. Sameera Jaywardena, Director ICTA spearheaded this initiative while Mr.Rashitha Delapola, Director NYSC and Mr. Manula Perera, Director NYSC ensured the successful delivery of the project from the National Youth Services Council.
Those interested can register for the Bootcamps by visiting https://youth.lightingdigital.gov.lk. After which, they will undergo a screening test, and a preparatory webinar prior to attending the bootcamp. After the successful completion of the boot camps, a post-session followup will be conducted to monitor the participants' progress. For more information, visit https://youth.lightingdigital.gov.lk.