[2017] Basic Robotics Workshops for students of Over 20 schools

As with all developing countries, students of Sri Lanka are not exposed to the latest technologies. Students are usually exposed to programming (mostly on paper) in age 16 if only they chose an optional subject: ICT. To introduce the wonders of microprocessors and to unleash the limitless possibilities by untapping the creativity in our students, my team decided to conduct arduino robotics workshops around Sri Lanka.

From August 2017 to December 2017, our team organized and conducted six workshops for over 160 students from over 20 schools. Following is the slideshow I prepared for my presentation for students who are absolute beginners for programming and robotics.

Arduino Programming for Basic Robotics - University of Moratuwa from Abarajithan Gnaneswaran

The students were very enthusiastic. Being absolute beginners to programming, they quickly learnt to code within a matter of hours and started modified the for loop and while loops to do whatever they want by the end.

We faced several difficulties during the workshops:

• No funds were provided, we spent our own money on travel and our refreshments
• We couldn't obtain electronic items (breadboards, jumpers, arduino boards). We collected our own items and our friend's items.
• I took my own robot (which I built for evaluation for a module) to all the workshops for demonstration. It was mishandled and broken in half in the 4th workshop.

First workshop in Kanthale

Second workshop in Dambulla for over 40 students

Third workshop in Matale for over 30 students

Fourth Workshop in Galewela

Final Workshop in University of Moratuwa

My robot (Gollum) broken in half during 4th workshop

Following is a slideshow I created for a nationwide exhibition to explain PID concepts for newbies.

PID Control system for Dummies from Abarajithan Gnaneswaran

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[2017] Feel Lanka 11.0 - Tourism Development with Foreign Volunteers

Focused on tourism development in unexplored parts of Sri Lanka, it was a six-week project with a team of foreign and local volunteers collaborating with leading companies and government institutions. We are a team of 15 foreign volunteers from Germany, China, Poland, Croatia, Ukraine, Lebanon, Canada..etc. and locals (students of University of Moratuwa).

My Responsibilities: I was the co-leader of a team of 13 foreign and 7 local volunteers; I coordinated relationships with executive directors of 8 companies, negotiated agreements; lead the team to excursions around the country to collect footage; oversaw production of 9 videos.

Outcome

Team and Sponsors

Our sponsors

International Team

Local Team

Letter of acknowledgement from our mentor

[2017] Education Development Projects - Kavigai

Kavigai Foundation was co founded in August 2017 by me and three of my friends. I had recently left AIESEC in frustration due to its lack of financial and functional transparency and we decided to create a new foundation with following goals:

• Full financial and functional transparency
• Project oriented - centered on volunteerism

We decided to focus on the education sector and conduct a series of workshops as our first projects. Gradually, over 50 volunteers joined our foundation within four months. I proposed plans to restructure the organization and hence we structured it onto four pillars. I assumed position as Director for External Relations in the Executive Board.

My Responsibilities as a co-founder and Director-ER:

• Monitoring the growth of the organization
• Finding sponsorship, partnerships
• Building a brand for the non-profit foundation
• Dealing with university administration and legal bodies

Computer Literacy Workshop for Teachers & Students and Book Donation.

The workshops were conducted separately for teachers and students with the goal of providing the key knowledge in computer literacy to help teachers and students to use applications for academic activities. Games were organised for the students as a part of interactive learning and they were rewarded with gifts. I was the chief resource person.
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• School Chosen: Katkovalam Methodist Mission Tamil Mixed School, Point Pedro, Jaffna
• Audience: Teachers and Students
• No. of Students: 86
• No. of Teachers: 24
• No. of Books Donated: 09
• Project Expenditure: Rs. 23,414.50

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The workshop was conducted by the undergraduates of University of Moratuwa, University of Colombo, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, University of Kelaniya & Staffordshire University.
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Abarajithan (ENTC-UoM) | Praga (BME-UoM) | Karthiga (CIVIL-UoM) ....

GCE O/L Mathematics Seminars

We are glad to inform that the second project of Kavigai : Chanakya 2.0 - Phase 01 has been executed successfully on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of November in Colombo Hindu college - Ratmalana, where a mixed batch of 70 students will be sitting for their GCE O/L this year.
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With an overall goal of increasing GCE O/L performance, the students were divided into four categories based on their current academic standards and the 3-day seminar was conducted to provide special attention to the strengths and weaknesses of each students employing different teaching techniques for each category.
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We hope to continue this seminar workshop on every weekends till O/L examinations begin as per our plans.
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• School Chosen: Colombo Hindu College, Ratmalana
• Audience: Students
• No. of Students: 70

More info:

facebook.com/kavigaifoundation/

[2017] Switch Off - Wiring Poor Houses with Foreign Volunteers

Introduction

Switch Off 4.0 is the six-week long, project executed from 14th January to 24th February 2017. However, the planning phase of the project began as early as October 2016. Meanwhile, as exchange volunteers, nine undergraduates arrived Sri Lanka in February 2017 from Egypt, Indonesia, UK, Italy and China to execute this project together with the OC.

Featured in Sunday Times (12.03.2016)

Based on on-site surveys performed by the organizing Committee members in different villages, nine households in Piyasenapura, a rural area in Deltota, (Kandy District) were chosen and wired.

House wiring event. Click for full album

In addition to the wiring program, the volunteers and the organizing Committee visited a mini hydro plant in Pussellawa and the wind power plant in Puttalam to learn about energy production and to assess the viability of renewable energy in Sri Lanka. With that knowledge, they conducted interactive school sessions for students of Grade 7-9 on energy production and conservation in four schools. During the duration of the project, the volunteers spent their free time on assembling and testing LED bulbs from the components purchased using the funds. The organizing Committee and the volunteers also conducted door-to-door surveys in over 80 houses in various areas of Colombo,

where information about domestic energy usage in Sri Lanka was collected for future analysis.

Project Report

Story of how we electrically 9 houses under $700.

[2016] SEP - Support Educate Prepare in Vietnam

SEP was a six week long project in summer 2016, focused on raising awareness against sexual harassment and human trafficking among teenagers of Ho Chi Ming city. I joined the team of 7 members from France, Netherlands, Malaysia and China as a volunteer.

I was a facilitator for the four workshops and a two-day camp organized by the local organizing committee. The project focused:

• Awareness against Human Trafficking
• Awareness against Sex Abuse
• LGBT Rights
• Safe Sex 

I stayed with a host family and enjoyed the interaction and cultural sharing a lot!

[2014] Baseline Analysis of Thondamanaru Lagoon

In 2014, I volunteered in a team of professors and research assistants on a project to analyze biological and socio-economic parameters of a lagoon ecosystem. This lagoon has been central to many disputes in my hometown, Jaffna.

I was responsible for editing and producing 

• Four one-hour long documentaries 
• Ten-minute trailer (given below)

Main activities

Compile available data on fauna and flora, hydrology, socio-economic status (literature survey.
Fortnightly sampling from June 2014 to Dec 2014 at 20 locations within the study sites.
Water samples will be assessed for EC, temperature, pH, DO, ORP, TDS (total dissolved solids), salinity, concentration of Cl-, HCO3- (bicarbonates). 

• Assessment of fauna and flora
• Meetings with the lagoon dependent communities to obtain the current socio-economic status 
• Awareness programmes to introduce the value of the Thondaimanaru Lagoon ecosystem and the conservation strategy to University students, school children, general public and government security forces around the lagoon.

Outcomes

• Data base on fauna and flora hydrological and socioeconomics
• Management plan for the Thondaimanaru lagoon
• five documentary films 
• Field guide titled Guide to the  Thondaimanaru Lagoon

More information

https://www.mangrovesforthefuture.org/grants/small-grant-facilities/sri-lanka/phase-2-sgf-projects-lk/cycle-4-sgf-projects-lk/baseline-analysis-of-development-opportunities-for-thondaimanaru-lagoon/

[2014] Poster Series: Organic Chemistry Reactions (High School)

Organic Reactions from Abarajithan Gnaneswaran