The project “Gammeddata IEEE Api” is an initiative of the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Student Branch Chapter of University of Moratuwa and is organized in collaboration with Industry Applications Society (IAS) and Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) Student Branch Chapters and the IEEE Student Branch University of Moratuwa. The project was organized with the intention of motivating and lending a helping hand to the enthusiastic school children from rural areas of the country by addressing their areas of interest in the field of technology so that they can pursue their dreams and bring the maximum out of their potential.

The first phase of this project was carried out successfully last year. This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the project could not be conducted physically. But, this situation was taken positively and it was turned into an extended helping hand as Phase 2 of the project. In Phase 2, online series of workshops were conducted for two consecutive days, including 4 sessions in Sinhala and Tamil medium as well, covering the interested students throughout the country.

It is noteworthy that all the intended objectives were successfully achieved throughout the project. On the 1st day, the sessions were on “Fundamental concepts of Arduino” in Sinhala and Tamil languages. On the 2nd day of the session, “Fundamental concepts of Drone Technology and DIY Project: Arduino based CNC Machine” was conducted in Sinhala medium and, the “Machine Learning & Arduino Programming in C++” session was conducted in Tamil medium.

Phase 2 of “Gammeddata IEEE Api – Phase 2” was capable of touching the hearts of over 3000 students of the whole country ranging from grade 6 to grade 13. And it is a pleasure to mention that we could conduct this by covering all-district in Sri Lanka in both languages. At the end of each session, we conducted quizzes via google forms and selected ten winners. We awarded each of them with an Arduino Starter Kit which values 1500 LKR. The feedbacks of students, teachers and parents received at the end of the program carry evidence to say that the program was able to make a profound impact and provide a source of inspiration to all students to achieve greater heights despite their backgrounds.

Sasindu Abhayawardhana, Chairman, IEEE PES SB Chapter of University of Moratuwa
Prabhashi Andrahennadi, Secretary, IEEE PES SB Chapter of University of Moratuwa