Rich should help the poor - YBPW former President

by Nilma DOLE

It is the duty of Sri Lanka's upper middle-class and high-class society to help the lower classes and the under-privileged to change their attitudes and make a difference, said founder and former president of the Young Business and Professional Women Sri Lanka (YBPW), Janaki Gunawardena.

The YBPW Sri Lanka aims to develop the professional, leadership and business potential of young women through advocacy, mentoring, networking, skill building and economic empowerment programs, the organization was started in November last year.

"We are not a charity organisation, but we are involved in supporting charity projects.

This is why we want to ask those from the upper class, who are blessed with plenty, to give a little to the less fortunate," she said.

She said asking rich people to sort out a few old clothes or donate a little to the poor is difficult because they think it's not their problem. "Our goal is to focus on empowering the women of villages because it usually is the man who is the breadwinner. About 75 percent of Sri Lankan men who work as labourers spend their salary on liquor when it isn't sufficient to even feed their family," said Gunawardena.She said, "Women are better workers and money managers and are efficient in balancing housework and careers."

The YBPW works to raise the status of women everywhere to bring about greater opportunities for not just employed women, but self-employed women too.

YBPW's President, Gowri Kariyawasam also addressed the gathering. She said, "There are 800 mothers in rural areas who are not getting enough nutrition and just one meal goes a long way. We hope to start a donation program called 'Adopt a Family' where we would provide poor families dry rations twice a year, one on April New Year and the other in December."