The Tokyo Cement Group recently inaugurated the second phase of the A.Y.S. Gnanam Village Heartbeat Empowerment (VHE) Centre in Trincomalee. Initially established in 2023 with the Foundation of Goodness (FOG), this facility extension was inaugurated by Mr. Mano Sekaram and Mrs. Averil Ludowyke, Directors of the Tokyo Cement Group, alongside Mr. Kushil Gunasekera, Founder/Chief Trustee of the FOG. Chairman of the Tokyo Cement Company, Dr. Harsha Cabral PC, and Managing Director, Mr. S.R. Gnanam, were among the other distinguished guests at the ceremony.

Mr. Mano Sekaram, Mrs. Averil Ludowyke, and Mr. S.R. Gnanam of the Tokyo Cement Group with Mr. Kushil Gunasekera of the Foundation of Goodness inaugurated the Phase 2 of A.Y.S. Gnanam VHE Centre in Trincomalee

Tokyo Cement Group initiated the expansion plan to increase the center’s capacity whilst offering in-demand vocational training programs, addressing the growing demand from the community. The VHE Centre with added classrooms and multi-use spaces, including a versatile auditorium, widens the scope for education and skills development through simultaneous sessions in Sinhala and Tamil, catering to more students.

As a result, more primary educational subjects are added to its repertoire, including arts, music, and dance. The ICT lab staffed by a full-time IT instructor, has doubled its student intake by offering tailored daytime courses for youth and after-school classes for schoolchildren. The Centre now offers recognized training courses in popular vocational streams such as electronics maintenance, mobile device repair, and CCTV installation and maintenance, helping youth acquire professional skills for better job opportunities. Furthermore, fully-equipped classrooms for cookery and bakery, and beauty culture courses are installed, whilst the capacity for sewing and dressmaking course is doubled with more machines. With the second phase unveiled, the curriculums of all vocational training modules have been upgraded to meet latest professional standards.

The A.Y.S. Gnanam Village Heartbeat Centre Trincomalee offers free educational support on core curricular subjects for Grades 1-5 students from low-income families

Additionally, the A.Y.S. Gnanam Memorial Futsal Centre, a unique feature at the Trincomalee VHE facility, has been upgraded to include coaching for volleyball and netball, allowing local youth to engage in their favorite sports. With nearly 200 youth and adults already enrolled in the new programs, the improved facilities, and extended operating hours have enhanced the reach and long-term value of the Centre.

Vocational training courses are conducted free of cost at the A.Y.S. Gnanam Village Heartbeat Centre Trincomalee to empower youth and women to pursue self-employment opportunities

Established in memory of Tokyo Cement Group’s Founder Chairman, Deshamanya A.Y.S. Gnanam, the Trincomalee VHE Centre offers programs in Tamil and Sinhala, free of cost, welcoming students, women, and youth from nearby areas. Since its inception, the VHE Centre has reached over 1,665 beneficiaries and currently enrolls more than 685 individuals from 18 schools and 30 remote villages. As the 16th VHE project of the FOG, it is the second Centre established in partnership with the Tokyo Cement Group. The two A.Y.S. Gnanam VHE Centers in Trincomalee and Dambulla provide essential educational support in core curricular subjects for schoolchildren and offers free vocational training courses and sports training for youth and women.

This project marks a significant milestone in Tokyo Cement’s efforts to integrate social welfare into its core values. Exemplified by far-reaching initiatives such as this, Tokyo Cement Group reinstates its commitment to be the leading partner in nation-building.