IT lab set up for Child Protection Society Boys Home in Maharagama
Colombo, November 21, 2008: – Virtusa Corporation (NASDAQ: VRTU), a global information technology (IT) services company that provides IT consulting, technology implementation and application outsourcing services through an enhanced global delivery model, today set up an IT laboratory for the children of the Child Protection Society Boys Home in Maharagama as a part of their CSR initiative “Digital Reach”.
The project was fully contributed by Virtusa employees. This involves the setting up the IT lab, donating IT related books, resources such as furniture, financial assistance and skills training for the CPS Boys Home. The Virtusa Digital Reach team in addition has laid out a comprehensive Train the Trainer (TOT) program where two laboratory administrators will be trained on IT functions in the long term thereby strengthening the project’s sustainability.
Shanil Fernando – Vice President Virtusa Corporation said “Being in the committee of the Boys Home, I saw there is immense talent and potential within the children of this home and wanted to give them an opportunity to learn one of the fastest growing and sought after skills in the business world. I strongly feel this venture is a door –opener for all the youngsters of the home to grow in the field of Information Technology and learn new avenues enriching their future. In the field of Information Technology the global language is Java and C++ where everyone is at the same level. This is a true life enhancing opportunity for the children of this home, and they will be privileged to have access to facilities that are not common in an average home.”
The Child Protection Society of Ceylon will commemorate 80 years of service to the country. At present there are around 30 children in each home ranging from the ages of 5-18. The CPS aspires to give these children a happy, healthy and safe childhood, away from the dangers of the vicious societies they lived in.
Virtusa Digital Reach aims to promote digital literacy through access to useful Information Technology and help build a more digitally-inclusive society thereby improving the quality of life in the communities in which the company operates.
About CPSThe Child Protection Society (CPS) of Ceylon was founded by Sir P.J. Parsons and Lady Parsons in 1928, and was the first recognized organization in Sri Lanka and the South Asian Region devoted to the protection, shelter and development of destitute children. The organization established two homes, a boys home at Maharagama and a girls home in Rukmale. This makes it one of the oldest welfare institutions in the country.
The main focus of the CPS has always been to provide an environment of security to children, but since this alone would be insufficient for a child to grow as a whole individual, the CPS also provides an atmosphere of affection and love that is as close as possible to that of a home. Since the day of its inception, the CPS has campaigned successfully for many child protection laws such as the Children and Young Persons Ordinance, the Orphanages Ordinance as well as the Adoption Ordinance. With the patronage of the country’s president, the CPS has through the years received support from many noteworthy citizens such as Sir Andrew Caldecot, Sir Mack Mason Moore and some of Sri Lanka’s Governor Generals, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke and Sir William Gopallawa. Most recently the organization has been steered by the likes of Justice O.S.M. Seneviratne and Secretary Justice Walter Laduwahetty.