Siemens and Bayer kickstart community development program

Ape Dayawa, a trust formed by Siemens and Bayer kickstarted a two-fold community development program for the tsunami affected villages in Hambantota and Tangalle districts of Sri Lanka. The program will be implemented by the Jana Suwaya People Development Foundation of Sri Lanka. Juergen Schubert of Siemens Ltd and Sajith Premadasa, Chairman of Janasuwaya People Foundation started the project in Sri Lanka.

Ape Dayawa (Guarantee) Limited, a voluntary social services trust formed by Siemens and Bayer, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jana Suwaya People Development Foundation to undertake rehabilitation work for people affected by the tsunami in Hambantota and the Tangalle districts.

The rehabilitation project will focus on uplifting the living standards of the people by constructing two social learning and community centres and supporting livelihood improvement programs by extending interest free loans to women entrepreneurs based on the "micro finance model". J. Schubert and Premadasa presented the loan cheques to the first few beneficiaries at a ceremony held in Colombo.

The Social Learning and Community Centre will provide special training and facilities for women and children such as vocational training and counselling programs, computer and communication facilities with web access, children's library and a first aid medical unit. It will also act as a platform for the community to meet and interact.

The livelihood Enhancement Program will provide support to 5,000 tsunami affected families in Hambantota and Tangalle districts by extending interest free loans based on the "micro finance model" to women entrepreneurs. These women will be trained in various skills for industries such as animal husbandry, handicrafts, pottery, milk industry, ice cream industry, jewellery craft and other small business enterprises.

The Ape Dayawa trust will provide financial assistance to run and maintain these facilities for five years.