Zonta women of tomorrow

by Thulasi MUTTULINGAM

Every year thousands of graduates emerge from our universities, hopeful of viable employment after four years of intense study. Unfortunately, though there are many vacancies in the corporate sector, there is a chasm between what most university courses prepare their students for and what most corporates expect from their fresh young employees.

Chief guest at launch of Zonta Women of Tomorrow 2010, Professor Sahrya Scharenguivel being felicitated.

Various initiatives have been taken to address this issue and one such is the ‘Zonta Women of Tomorrow’ program launched by Zonta Club III of Colombo. It is a non profit association, affiliated to Zonta International, a worldwide body of professional women dedicated to uplifting the status of women.

The program which provides young female undergraduates with high profile mentors from the corporate sector for a year, was first launched in 2008.

The third batch of mentees, consisting of 19 undergraduates have just recently been introduced to their mentors, who include such high profile personalities as Chandan de Silva, CEO, MAS Investments (Pvt) Ltd and Sunjeevani Kotakedeniya, CEO, Lanka Orix Leasing Co who will mentor them throughout the year.According to Zonta Club III, they launched this program as a practical and needs based project to enhance the employability and professional skills of young women, under the guidance of well-known industry professionals and experts.

Says Shikandani Rodrigo, President, Zonta Club III, “Our country’s theory based education system with its narrow scope leads to rising unemployment amongst the educated and this combined with the slump in the local economy, required a path breaking initiative of this nature.”

Highlights of the program in previous years apart from the mentorship included a career guidance and induction workshop by the AGM - HR at HNB, Chiranthi Cooray and an adventurous leadership training program by Manik Welikala, Training and Development Professional and HR Relationship Manager at Standard Chartered Bank. The mentees attended interactive workshop and programs aimed at successfully facing challenges and changing vocations.