Holcim Lanka, the leading cement manufacturer in the country, has entered into a strategic agreement with the global non-profit organization, Room to Read, to provide technical expertise on construction along with cement at a discounted rate for its library and school construction projects around the country.  Holcim Lanka is mindful of its social responsibility to its stakeholders and is especially cognizant of how valuable education can be in transforming lives, stimulating economic growth, and creating a diverse and skilled workforce for nations and companies. Holcim’s partnership with Room to Read, which operates programs focused on literacy and gender equality in education, will benefit over 11,500 children in Sri Lanka, along with families and local communities. Besides providing cement at a discounted rate, the terms of the agreement will involve Holcim engaging with these projects in several impactful ways. 

CEO of Holcim Lanka, Philippe Richart commented, “We strongly believe that the training masons will receive from Holcim will serve to improve the utility and economic viability of local community members, while ensuring that Room to Read has access to skilled masons in the years to come.  Moreover, the community as a whole will also benefit, as they will have access to skilled masons on other construction projects. Further, our commitment to this project will ensure routine quality checks of Room to Read’s construction projects and provide necessary know-how as and when required. I’m grateful to the Room to Read organization for valuing our consultancy and making us a part of such a worthy cause.”

Holcim will be actively involved in conducting training workshops for the masons working on Room to Read construction projects commencing in 2015. The selected masons will receive additional training from Holcim, to enable them to be granted a recognized certification such as The National Vocational Qualification, which makes them easily employable. Room to Read will also seek Holcim’s wealth of knowledge and technical expertise in improving the content in the Masons Handbook, which will be provided to the masons at the training sessions. The cost for the handbooks will also be graciously sponsored by Holcim.

Room to Read is working to provide safe, child-friendly learning spaces in rural Sri Lanka so that students have access to a quality education in an environment conducive to learning.  In 2015, Room to Read Sri Lanka plans to construct 12 schools and 11 libraries.

Photo caption: (Above) John Wood - Founder, Room to Read (left) and Philippe Richart - CEO Holcim (Lanka) Limited at the MOU signing and (below – from left) Nalin Karunaratne - VP Marketing, Philippe Richart - CEO Holcim (Lanka) Limited, John Wood - Founder, Room to Read and Sevanthi Jayasuriya, Country Director – Sri Lanka, Room to Read 

About Room to Read: Room to Read is a global organization seeking to transform the lives of millions of children in the developing world by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Founded on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children, Room to Read works in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and to ensure girls have the skills and support needed to complete their secondary education.  Since 2000, Room to Read has impacted the lives of nearly nine million children in Asia and Africa and aims to reach 10 million children by 2015.

About Holcim Lanka: Holcim Lanka is the local subsidiary to the global construction giant, currently operating worldwide. Being the market leader in the cement industry, the company focuses on Economic, Social and Environmental performance along the triple bottom line of sustainable development. The company currently operates one fully integrated cement plant in Puttalam, while also operating a grinding plant in Galle, with expansion projects taking place throughout the country. Having established the brand in Sri Lanka, Holcim Lanka today provides a range of cement products while also providing materials for major construction projects in the country alongside the provision of technical expertise through the Holcim Innovation and Application Centre, which allows customers to tailor the mix of cement most suitable for them. The company currently operates island wide with an established network of distributors, united under the vision of ‘building the future’.