About the MCTC

The Mahasenpura Community Training Center (MCTC) is SRI's landmark project, opened in February 2007.

SRI built and funds the centre, which is situated in Mahasenpura School and has 23 networked computers.

It's run by and for the local community, providing free courses and training seven days a week.

Tharindu Geetham, a former pupil of Mahasenpura School manages the MCTC. He is assisted by three teachers: Mr Nuwan, Mrs Thushari and Mrs Nimeshika who is also the NGO's finance manager.

The whole team come from the area. They were hired and trained by SRI after leaving school and have been with the charity since the outset, either in a paid or voluntary capacity.

The centre's two security guards, Mr Kumara and Mr Jinasena, also both had children attending the school.

The MCTC started off exclusively focusing on IT, but has broadened its scope over the years.

Today, it still gives many students their first practical IT experience through a host of difference courses and events.

Many are 16- or 18-year old school leavers who attend courses in the roughly six-month period between getting their exam results and starting the next stage of their education. Others are as young as grade III.

The MCTC also runs bespoke training for community members and works alongside the Department of Education to provide specialised IT training for government teachers.

The centre has strong links with schools in the area, as the charity built many of their IT labs. Deputy MCTC Manager, Nuwan, continues to service their computers.

In recent years, the MCTC has established an increasing number of environmental and language classes, events and seminars. These are all aimed at serving an area with huge tourism potential thanks to its surrounding national parks.