~ 4481 School Children from Marginalised and Rural Communities given opportunities to make Positive Life Changes

Berendina Employment Centre (BEC), a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) and a subsidiary of Berendina Group, awarded educational scholarships to a group of children commencing Government Certificate of Examination (GCE) Advanced level from the Hatton District earlier this month.

BEC, one of 3 NGOs’ of the Berendina Group, works closely with Give2Lanka. Collectively, they provide assistance and guidance to school children from rural areas of Sri Lanka who do not have the same educational facilities and\or access to acquiring knowledge as those in larger towns of Sri Lanka.

BEC believes that self-sufficiency and sustainability are key to children achieving their goals and leading successful lives. With that aim and the assistance of all associate contributors to Give2Lanka; they also assist youth looking for employment, find suitable jobs, thus giving them an opportunity to become financially independent.

Give2Lanka is a not-for-profit organization which specializes in providing a fundraising platform for well governed and managed charitable institutions that do not have the resources and the capacity to raise much needed funds, manage and implement projects. The main focus of Give2Lanka is to support organizations that provide sustainable changes, focusing on educational opportunities in low socio-economic communities. Give2Lanka ensures children and their families have access to basic human needs through an array of tailor made programs designed to encourage social, emotional and educational growth, empowering communities to be independent and resilient.

The minimum requirement for eligibility is 6 credits in GCE Ordinary Level, including Maths. They must come from low income families with a per capita income less than Rs.5000 a month. Initially students are provided monthly educational support ranging from Rs. 1,000 (Arts and Commerce Medium) to Rs. 1,500 (Science). Parents and students are provided mentoring. The students are provided with career counselling after Advance Level.

Youth in the program, interested in further studies are provided with fees up to Rs. 50,000 for 30+ approved courses like AAT, CMA, Nursing and a range of vocational training.

Those interested in immediate employment, are linked to a suitable job in one of the 300+ companies linked to Berendina leading to sustainable long term employment. Already over 14,000 youth have been linked to jobs by Berendina including some Bright Children falling under this program.

This program has been endorsed by Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala former Under Secretary General of UNDP, Dr. Indrajith Coomarsamy current Governor Central Bank, Mr. Hanif Yousuf CEO Expo Lanka, Mr. Hemaka Amarasuriya former Chairman Singer now of Sri Lanka Insurance, His Excellency Mr. Piet former Ambassador for Netherlands, Prof. Hiran Dias former Dean Asian Institute of Technology and Priyanthi Ferenando former head of CEPA.

Whilst funding for this program is raised through its main partner a family Trust in Netherlands named Berendina Stichting, and supported by:

• Give2lanka through donations by public
• 500 + staff of Berendina through a staff payroll system
• 110,000 micro finance clients of Berendina

On the 22nd of November scholarships were issued to 188 students in Ambagamuwa Division in Nuwara Eliya at a function held at Sri Krishna Bawan Hall, Hatton. In total 1,178 students will be awarded scholarships in November and December.

Berendina and Give2Lanka aim to assist 10,000 children by 2020. 4481 Youth have been assisted to-date.

All those interested in joining hands with this worthy cause and supporting our Sri Lankan children to become socio-economically empowered and become contributing and resilient citizens of Sri Lanka, please contact Give2Lanka.

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give

Photo caption: Chairman of Give2Lanka and former Chairman Berendina, Mr. Dulan de Silva, handing over certificate of merit to P. Kumuthini of N/Cambridge Collage, Kottagala