Celebrating Success: Highlights from Yarl IT Hub (YIT)

Greetings from Aravanai! Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! This month, we're thrilled to shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of our on-the-ground partner, Yarl IT Hub (YIT). As a not-for-profit social enterprise based in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, YIT continues to make significant strides in empowering underserved communities through technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Here are some of the highlights: - YGC Innovation Festival: Expanded into a grand event with over 20,000 attendees through collaboration with 50 organizations, offering experiential learning opportunities. - Geographic Expansion to Vavuniya: Yarl IT Hub established a permanent presence in Vavuniya, achieving significant geographic expansion. - Signing MoU with University of Jaffna: Collaborated to boost entrepreneurship and innovation by establishing Start-Up Incubation centers and facilitating access to resources. - Uki Coding School's Success: Achieved all graduates securing internships, introducing a successful 6-month Startup Essentials program completing two cohorts in 2023. - YIT Accelerator Growth: Thrived with two accelerator cohorts supporting over 10 start-ups on their growth journey. In 2023, Uki, YIT's scholarship-based accelerator program, continued to excel with initiatives such as producing an enlightening documentary about Uki, successful completion of digital marketing and startup essentials courses, and the opening of a new center in Vavuniya, enabling wider access to tech education. Additionally, Uki's impact has been significant, with over 550 students trained, leading to numerous internships and entrepreneurial ventures, showcasing its role as a key player in nurturing tech talent. The YGC Innovation Festival '23, organized by Yarl IT Hub, was another dynamic event that transcended traditional boundaries, attracting entrepreneurs, professionals, enthusiasts, and students alike. Highlights included enlightening talks by industry experts, master classes covering specialized subjects, and interactive learning experiences such as the Mini Expo and competitions. These activities aimed to foster creativity, collaboration, and practical skills development, making the festival a vibrant hub of innovation and opportunity for all attendees. In 2023, the YGC Accelerator program supported early-stage start-ups with essential resources and guidance, conducting two six-month cohorts to nurture and empower entrepreneurs. Selected start-ups received comprehensive training, mentorship, seed funding, and networking opportunities, aiming to aid in marketing strategies, start-up skills, and investor connections. Puthiya Payanakal, Yarl IT Hub's gamified rural program, enhances problem-solving skills for students aged 11-14. It reached 12,000+ students across 250+ schools in Northern Province in 2023, fostering creativity and 21st-century skills from January to June. The program maintains 3 levels of engagement where each level incorporates interactive project-based activities to foster self-learning and hands-on understanding of the concepts. The program aims to cultivate self-directed learners and ignite a passion for learning and innovation. Introduced in mid-2023, the Entrepreneurship Club by Yarl IT Hub aims to inspire entrepreneurship among students, with each participating school receiving Rs. 25,000 in funding. Through workshops across different regions, over 40 schools have established their clubs, emphasizing Yarl IT Hub's commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in young minds. Founded in 2018, Aki has become a prominent player in the education and e-learning sphere, notably with its e-learning platform. In 2023, Aki expanded its offerings, providing over 70 secondary education courses and more than 16 vocational education courses, catering to students' practical skill development. Aki also offers tailored courses for teachers, including topics like Web and Mobile Application Development, Hardware Application Development, Cyber Security, and other trending subjects, contributing to educators' continuous growth. Throughout 2023, Kalam in Jaffna continued to be a thriving hub for innovation and community engagement. Serving as a popular co-working space, it saw consistent growth in daily occupancy, attracting professionals seeking collaborative work environments. Additionally, Kalam hosted numerous Yarl IT Hub events, fostering technological engagement and community growth. Its maker events and workshops, especially for students, highlighted its commitment to nurturing creativity. Moreover, Kalam's role expanded as it provided its space to external organizations for various events, further solidifying its position as a vital hub for technological and community activities in Jaffna. In reflecting on the journey of Yarl IT Hub in 2023, we express deep gratitude to our community for the continued support for Aravanai through which we were able to support YIT's initiatives. Your unwavering support and commitment have been fundamental to our success, transforming challenges into milestones. As the Aravanai supporter you were instrumental in our collaboration with Yarl IT Hub. Our volunteers, the heartbeat of Aravanai, have driven our projects forward with Yarl IT Hub and a symbol of dedication, fostering a spirit of community and resilience. Looking ahead to 2024, we invite continued collaboration in shaping a future marked by empowerment, innovation, and community. Thank you for being part of our story and let's continue to dream, innovate, and inspire together. With a monthly commitment of tax deductible contribution here, your continued support will become crucial in driving our mission forward. If you'd like to explore volunteer and mentorship opportunities with us, we invite you to take the next step. Sign up to volunteer [here] and become a mentor [here]. Warm regards, Aravanai Team