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DreamSpace Academy - Co-Creating The Dreams

DreamSpace Academy is a non-profit social enterprise tackling local socio-economic and environmental challenges through challenge-based learning, grassroots innovation and impact venture building
Story
DreamSpace Academy was established in 2018 in Kallady, Sri Lanka by Kishoth Navaretnaraja and Aravinth Punch. For thirty years, the country had experienced many problems due to war, including challenges in how people lived, money, and nature. Although other countries provided assistance, it was clear that solutions from outside could not fix the real problems in Sri Lanka. 

DreamSpace Academy aimed to make things better by helping the people in Sri Lanka. The country required unique solutions to address its specific issues. In 2018, the Global Innovation Index identified Sri Lanka as less innovative in Asia compared to other Asian countries. Additionally, the economy struggled with persistent trade deficits in 2016 and 2017, where imports surpassed exports, underscoring the need for local economic solutions. 

One major problem facing Sri Lanka was the conflict between humans and elephants. In 2016 and 2018, there were 88 and 93 human deaths, respectively, due to interactions with elephants. During the same period, 279 and 319 elephants were killed due to human activities. This highlighted the need for finding long-term solutions that considered the specific challenges faced by humans and the environment. 

DreamSpace Academy believed that everyone in the country needed to work together to find solutions. Local people understood the problems best and could find the best solutions. DreamSpace Academy had four important ideas to guide them: firstly, to come up with new and smart ways to solve problems; secondly, to encourage people to start their own businesses to address local issues; thirdly, to teach people the things they needed to know to make things better; and fourthly, to bring everyone together and build trust. 

DreamSpace Academy had a simple goal: to make Sri Lanka a peaceful and united place. We aimed to help local communities come up with their own ideas to solve problems and improve the country. By doing this, We hoped to improve the economy and stop conflicts between people and the environment.
The mission of DreamSpace Academy is to achieve sustainable development goals through education, innovation and entrepreneurship by empowering underserved communities, protecting environmental ecosystems, fostering economic initiatives and facilitating peacebuilding. The vision of DreamSpace Academy is to build a self-sustaining ecosystem for local & international changemakers to co-learn, co-innovate, co-live, co-farm and co-produce, thereby co-creating next-generation enterprises to make Sri Lanka the biggest social & tech innovation hub in South Asia. The two pillars of DreamSpace Academy are our Social Mission and Business Venture. Through our social mission, we offer personalized empowerment, peacebuilding, community building, and well-being advocacy. With Business Venture, we have our social enterprise which does capacity development, international aid projects, and service providing. Sixty percent of the income received from business ventures is used to sustain our operations, and 40% is used to run our social missions. DreamSpace Lifecycle is the main program of DreamSpace Academy that is used to empower young lives in Sri Lanka. It has been developed, tested and improved continuously by DreamSpace Academy for 5 years for the age groups 18 to 26. 

DreamSpace Lifecycle Programme identifies passionate individuals who aspire to create positive change. It provides them with opportunities to develop skills, research local challenges, and collaborate with experts. The program culminates in the development of sustainable impact ventures.
The DreamSpace Lifecycle Programme is an 18-month journey that reshapes young lives, guiding them from aspiring changemakers to impactful entrepreneurs and leaders. The transformative process unfolds across five key stages; such as Changemaker Discovery, Challenge-based Learning, Grassroots Innovation, Domain Expertise and Impact-Venture Building.
The journey within DreamSpace Academy's program unfolds in a series of strategic phases, each contributing to the growth and empowerment of aspiring changemakers. It all begins with "Changemaker Discovery," where the program launches with interdisciplinary workshops aimed at identifying individuals driven by a profound desire to enact positive change. Hailing from diverse backgrounds, these passionate changemakers share a common vision—to address pressing real-world challenges. Guided by their motivation to tackle local environmental and social issues, these individuals are identified as potential changemakers, the driving force behind transformative initiatives.
The subsequent phase, "Challenge-based Learning," propels the identified participants into a journey of skill acquisition. Engaging in labs spanning a wide array of disciplines—from photography to biotechnology these changemakers delve into immersive learning experiences. By embracing this diverse learning, they uncover their own unique domains of expertise, thus laying the solid groundwork for their transformative endeavors.
"Grassroots Innovation" marks the next phase, as these skilled changemakers armed with specialized knowledge venture into their communities for immersive research. They seek out pressing local challenges that resonate deeply with their aspirations. These innovative solutions are born from the very real-world needs they've identified, ensuring not only relevance but tangible impact.
Collaboration with international experts is central to the "Domain Expertise" phase. Drawing on a blend of global insights and local contexts, participants refine their solutions to greater heights. This collaborative approach bridges the gap between visionary concepts and pragmatic execution, yielding solutions that are both innovative and feasible.
Ultimately, the program reaches its zenith with "Impact-Venture Building." Changemakers transition from conceptualization to tangible, sustainable impact ventures. As they bring their ideas to life, they artfully balance their social missions with financial viability, ensuring that their projects are not only transformative but also capable of scaling sustainably.
The first three months are particularly significant, where identified changemakers rotate through various labs, gaining multidisciplinary skills that shape their capabilities. Following this foundational phase, they are empowered to pinpoint their passion and expertise, focusing their efforts on areas that align most closely with their aspirations. DreamSpace Academy's program embodies this holistic and transformative journey, equipping individuals with the skills and mindset to drive meaningful change within their communities and beyond.
DreamSpace Academy offer challenge-based learning through a variety of labs led by passionate instructors such as Electronics Lab, Mechanics Lab, Software Lab, Media Lab, Music Lab, Bio Lab, Business Lab, Regeneration Lab, Blue Lab, Leaders Lab and Linguistic Lab.
Electronics Lab is For those who are fascinated by robots, to develop practical skills for building anything from circuits to humanoid robotics. The Electronics lab is a deep and high-tech container-based micro-factory model manufacturing space specialising in electronics, mechanical and electrical fields. It empowers the community to build a sustainable economy in Sri Lanka. It provides open access to an advanced infrastructure for manufacturing, training, research & development, and innovation to harness the potential electromechanical resources within ecological boundaries.

Mechanics Lab is For enthusiasts captivated by mechanics, acquire hands-on skills crafting machines, from gears to automata.

Software Lab is For those who crave digital adrenaline, to gain practical experience in coding anything from apps to cloud computing. The mission of Software Lab is deep-rooted in establishing a sustainable software service provider and hands-on software education institute in Sri Lanka to create better and technology-accelerated businesses in advanced societies. Software Lab of DreamSpace Academy is a software solution startup in Sri Lanka that provides technology services for businesses and local-socio challenges; it delivers a platform for those who want to learn, innovate, research, and pursue careers in artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning, deep learning, data science, desktop application development, mobile application development, website/web application development, microcontroller programming, cloud computing, and scripting & automation industries.

Media Lab if For media enthusiasts, gain hands-on skills in creating visuals and narratives for captivating content.

Music Lab is For those with genuine creative imagination, to build practical skillsets for composing anything from photographs to rhythms. The mission of Music Lab is deep-rooted in establishing sustainable peacebuilding through music to help communities address the many stages of conflict in a more constructive and creative way and make it in the music industry in Sri Lanka. Music Lab of DreamSpace focuses on making peace through music, social harmony through music, social awareness through music, innovations in music, music recording, sound recording and research, education and training, identifying people who are interested in music and encourage them, music band, techno music and many other fields of interest.

Bio Lab is For those who want to get their hands wet with BioHacking, to build practical dexterity on BioTechnology. The mission of Bio Lab is deep-rooted in establishing a sustainable bioeconomy in Sri Lanka to create local life-science and biotech innovations to address biomedical and ecological challenges. Bio Lab at DreamSpace Academy provides an environment with unconditional access to education and research infrastructure for the global community of biologists, citizen scientists, biohackers, and changemakers to realise their ideas into knowledge, innovations and enterprises.

Business Lab is For those with an entrepreneurial mindset, to acquire practical knowledge for maximising the growth of business ventures. The business lab helps to strengthen the youth budding entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka to transform their ideas into a real startups. The lab provides practical exposure of the processes and procedures followed by organizations in conducting commercial practices.

Regeneration Lab is For those who are interested to tackle plastic waste management problem in Sri Lanka through an upcycling process. Trash for Trade is a plastic upcycling social enterprise. It is a social innovation idea developed from an open-source community, ‘Precious Plastic’ with the support of DreamSpace Academy. We have taken upon this initiative using the upcycling machinery our team has built.

Blue Lab is For those intrigued by underwater research, gain hands-on skills for exploring marine environments and technologies.

Leaders Lab is For those aspiring for leadership, to cultivate skills for guiding teams, fostering growth, and achieving excellence.

Linguistic Lab is For those intrigued by languages, to acquire practical skills for comprehending linguistic concepts to multilingualism.

DreamSpace Academy's ingenuity shines through a range of remarkable innovations that exemplify its commitment to sustainability and positive impact. The innovations of DreamSpace Academy are DreamFungi, DreamBot, Biodigester, Corona Hunter, Underwater Glider, Circular Plastic, CoronaBot, VisAct and AISLE. Among these is "DreamFungi," a pioneering biocomposite material utilizing mycelium as an eco-friendly alternative. "DreamBot," another innovation, stands as a versatile digital fabrication machine empowering local manufacturing. The academy's focus on sustainability extends to "Biodigester," a solution aiming to eliminate waste issues by implementing alternative energy methods.

Responding to the urgent need during the pandemic, DreamSpace Academy introduced "Corona Hunter," an affordable, open-source rapid test kit for detecting COVID-19 using isothermal amplification. The academy's dedication to environmental conservation is further demonstrated by the "Underwater Glider," an autonomous underwater vehicle devised to monitor precious Blue Ecosystems. This innovation marked a significant milestone as DreamSpace Academy's first major achievement.

The academy's commitment to education and awareness is evident in "Circular Plastic," an interactive installation designed to promote environmental consciousness and health awareness. In response to the pandemic, "CoronaBot" was introduced—a Tamil ChatBot providing real-time information on COVID-19. Empowering communities to address grassroots issues, "VisAct" stands as a visual action platform facilitating solutions through visual reporting.

Additionally, DreamSpace Academy's collaboration with international companies and universities led to the development of "AISLE," a Tamil speech detection AI model. This impressive accomplishment underscores the academy's dedication to advancing technology for the betterment of society. Through this remarkable array of innovations, DreamSpace Academy demonstrates its unwavering commitment to driving positive change through innovative solutions.

The impact ventures of DreamSpace Academy are, Trash For Trade, OceanBiome, iReact, DiGi Advocates, AIforLife, Curve Metrics, Her, DreamSPace Terrace and DreamSpace Records.
DreamSpace Academy is the driving force behind a series of impactful initiatives that address critical societal challenges. "Trash For Trade" stands as a potent social enterprise, combating plastic pollution through the creation of a circular economy. Committed to marine conservation, "OceanBiome" is yet another endeavor focusing on the preservation of our vital ocean ecosystems.
In the realm of fostering harmony and combating misinformation, "iREACT" unites peacebuilders and storytellers to counter hate speech and fake news. Simultaneously, "DiGi Advocates" contributes by nurturing digital literacy within local communities, fostering informed and responsible digital engagement.
Leveraging the power of technology, "AI4Life" utilizes Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to uplift underserved communities, emphasizing empowerment through knowledge. "Curve Metrics" is a commendable social enterprise dedicated to empowering women and disabled individuals through craft making.
With a focus on women's empowerment, "HER" is a heartfelt initiative aimed at nurturing a strong local women's community, and fostering unity and strength among underserved women. Additionally, the community-centric "DreamSpace Terrace" initiative provides a gathering space for social activities, bringing communities together for shared growth and experiences.
These initiatives collectively exemplify DreamSpace Academy's dedication to fostering positive change, social inclusivity, and sustainable progress in various spheres of society.
Dreamspace Academy’s impacts are, Over 2,500 candidates from underserved communities have been empowered. More than 9 labs have been built for interdisciplinary education and co-creation. Over 39 changemakers are addressing local environmental and social challenges. More than 11 innovations have been developed to tackle complex local challenges. Over 19 ventures have been built by the empowered candidates. Over 23 awards have been received in recognition of our meaningful impact.
Dreamspace Academy’s Achivements are DreamSpace Academy has been honored with numerous prestigious awards that reflect its commitment to innovation and positive impact. Notable awards include the SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Awards in 2022 and the BIZ 2022 Award, both recognizing the academy's contributions within Sri Lanka. The academy's dedication to innovation was also acknowledged with the IEEE Innovation Nation Sri Lanka award in 2021, as well as recognition from She Loves Tech and the Nestle Idea Hackathon in the same year.
DreamSpace Academy's accomplishments extend beyond national borders, as evidenced by the Earth Company's Impact Heroes award received in 2021 from Indonesia. Furthermore, the academy was honored with the Peace Direct - Peacebuilding Award in 2020 from the USA, underlining its significant role in fostering peace and positive change. 
The global recognition of DreamSpace Academy's efforts was further exemplified by the Global Community Bio Fellowship award received in 2020 from the USA, as well as the Generation Unlimited - Youth Challenge accolade in the same year from Sri Lanka. The academy's commitment to addressing crucial environmental challenges was acknowledged with the Stockholm Junior Water Prize in 2020 from Sweden.
DreamSpace Academy's reach extended to social innovation, as showcased by the Hackdev - Social Innovation Challenge award received in 2019 from Sri Lanka. Additionally, its engagement in science outreach earned the academy recognition through the Falling Walls - Science Engagement Award in 2019 from Germany. These awards collectively celebrate DreamSpace Academy's multifaceted dedication to fostering innovation, social betterment, and positive global engagement.
Dreamspace Academy’s other programmes are In addition to the aforementioned, DreamSpace Academy also offers its own programs, such as Bootcamp on Interdisciplinary Skills, Reskilling Bootcamp, Dreams on Wheels - Mobile Maker Education Workshop in underserved communities across Sri Lanka, DreamShot - Incubation program for startups and diverse challenges for youth and VisAct - Visual to Action | Empowering Grassroots Advocacy and Solutions. These programs are designed to provide participants with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's economy.

Bootcamp on Interdisciplinary Skills

Two Categories. 1. Age Group - 6 - 13 	2. Age Group - 14 - 18
DreamSpace Academy's Interdisciplinary Skills Bootcamp offers a transformative 3 to 6-month training experience that converges a spectrum of disciplines, including Electronics, Mechanics, Software, Media, Music, Biotech, Business, Re-generation, and Leadership. The program's primary aim is to nurture a new generation of thinkers capable of transcending conventional boundaries and fostering innovative collaboration. Through a meticulously structured curriculum, participants immerse themselves in practical learning, collaborative projects, and expert-led sessions. The program's overarching goal is to empower graduates with a profound grasp of how these diverse fields intersect and to cultivate their capacity to apply this knowledge practically.
As a result of this program, graduates will emerge with an enriched understanding of the interconnectedness among disciplines and a unique skill set that positions them as adaptable problem solvers in today's complex landscape. 
These diverse bootcamps also help DreamSpace Academy to discover the potential youth for the DreamSpace Lifecycle programme.
Reskilling Bootcamp
Age Group - 25 - 35
DreamSpace Academy offers a reskilling program designed for professionals seeking to cultivate domain expertise in their respective fields. The program's purpose is to equip participants with specialized knowledge, enhancing their skills and capabilities. Graduates emerge with a refined skill set, positioning them as proficient practitioners in their domains, thereby facilitating career advancement and bolstering their contributions to their respective industries.
The special focus of the programme is to target government professionals, enabling them to transition from conventional service delivery to efficient, innovative practices, thereby advancing effective governance at government sectors.
Dreams on Wheels - Mobile Maker Education Workshop in underserved communities across Sri Lanka
"Dreams on Wheels" is an inspiring STEAM interdisciplinary workshop initiative by DreamSpace Academy, dedicated to underserved communities, particularly youth and schoolchildren. As part of our mobile STEAM program, we bring innovative learning directly to communities through mobile labs equipped with cutting-edge gadgets. 
The purpose is to nurture creativity and curiosity, aiming to empower rural young minds with hands-on experiences, bridging the gap between theory and practical application. "Dreams on Wheels" envisions a future where maker education knows no boundaries, fostering a generation of empowered minds ready to shape a brighter Sri Lanka.
DreamShot - Incubation programme for startups and diverse challenges for youth

DreamShot, an esteemed initiative under the wing of DreamSpace Academy, is a beacon of innovation and transformation. Designed to empower the youth of Sri Lanka, DreamShot serves as a catalyst for budding entrepreneurs, providing them with a launchpad to realize their startup dreams. 
Through the dynamic incubation program of the "DreamShot Startup Challenge," we nurture innovation, guiding aspiring entrepreneurs to manifest their visionary ideas into impactful startups. Additionally, DreamShot's holistic approach extends to "Shetecpreneur," an avenue for women to thrive in the tech and business landscape, and the "DreamShot Awards," a platform to recognize excellence and drive creativity. As an embodiment of possibilities, DreamShot envisions a future where innovation flourishes, propelling Sri Lanka onto the global stage of entrepreneurship and innovation.
VisAct - Visual to Action | Empowering Grassroots Advocacy and Solutions
VisAct is an innovative platform addressing Sri Lanka's growing challenges in safeguarding freedom of expression and resolving grassroots issues. By providing a centralized digital space for reporting and advocating grassroots problems, VisAct connects individuals, local stakeholders, and authorities. Utilizing social media and technology, the platform amplifies voices, encourages collaboration, and facilitates problem-solving. Through thorough community research, stakeholder engagement, and skill-building, the platform's development team has laid a solid foundation. 
VisAct's importance is evident in its potential to prevent incidents like the #SundayEasterAttack2019 and the Mannampity Bus Accident by offering an inclusive, transparent, and accountable platform, empowering individuals to drive positive societal change and address pressing concerns collectively.
More about DreamSpace Academy.
With a robust team comprising more than 30 dedicated employees, DreamSpace Academy operates on both a national and international scale, with members hailing from countries including Canada, the UK, the US, Germany, and beyond. Our impact extends beyond Sri Lanka, reaching countries such as India, Germany, and Canada. Anchored in Batticaloa, we boast three significant infrastructures: DreamSpace Academy, DreamSpace Hive, and DreamSpace Hive, all of which play pivotal roles in our mission. Among these, DreamSpace Hive serves as our central hub. 
Our collaborative efforts are fortified through partnerships with esteemed organizations such as BOOKBRIDGE, araCreate, Global Communities, USAID, UNDP, Lenovo Foundation, Magicbit, IMS, SLTC, SQM Foundation, Mirchandani Foundation, Strengthening Youth Leadership Collective, OpenEdge, Stockholm International Water Institute (SJWP), The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, Skills for Inclusive Growth (S4IG), Sri Lankan Tamil Student Association (STSA), Global Talent Mentoring (GTM), Sarvodaya Shanthi Sena Sansandaya, IREX, Upcycled Tech, MotionLab Berlin, Global Innovation Gathering (GIG), Centre for Peacebuilding and Reconciliation (CPBR), UN Volunteers, GreenBuzz, Troublemaker Shenzhen, SteamHead, Gathering for Open Science Hardware (GOSH), Science Hack Day Berlin, Scout Association, Lecturers Without Borders, Just One Giant Lab, and Access 2 Perspectives. Our multifaceted network and collaborative ecosystem underpin our endeavors to effect transformative change on a global scale.
Contact us
You can explore our online presence through our website, dreamspace.academy. Our physical presence is defined by various addresses that encompass our diverse initiatives. The DreamSpace Foundation is located at 7A, Saravana Road, Kallady, Batticaloa 30000, Sri Lanka. Similarly, you can find the DreamSpace Academy at the same address, 7A, Saravana Road, Kallady. The DreamSpace Collective is situated along Old Kalmunai Road, Kallady, Batticaloa, while the DreamSpace Hive can be visited at 7th Cross, New Dutch Bar Road, Kallady, Batticaloa. 

You can get in touch with us through phone by dialing +94 (0) 65 222 6525 or by reaching out via email at info@dreamspace.academy. Our team is available to assist you from Monday to Saturday, between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm. We look forward to connecting with you, whether through our digital platform or at our physical locations.