Educating the rural child

by Sapumali GALAGODA

Eighty percent of the population in Sri Lanka live in rural areas, out of which over 88 percent live in poverty, where economic and social development lags behind.

Those most affected are children, as they don't get adequate nutrition and are unable to receive proper education, said Business and Professional Women (BPW) Sri Lanka founder Janaki Gunawardena.

The association Business and Professional Women, Founder, Janaki Gunawardena stresses a point at the meeting. Pic. by Susantha Wijegunasekera

BPW Sri Lanka said that by feeding and educating poverty stricken children, a foundation for a better future can be established, so that they will be equipped to provide for the next generation.

She said that "Change" is the holistic approach to help these children reach their potential with collective capabilities of BPW. Initially the project will be to establish funding and nutritional provisions for a stable education for them.

The next phase is to help families with knowledge and guidance of BPW to develop skills, and then find a source of income and become self-sufficient to create a more stable background, Gunawardena said.

The aim of "Change" is to be a mentor for the rural underprivileged, school- going child by providing him or her advice, stationery, school bag, a pair of shoes, dry rations and a basket of new and nearly new clothes and a glass of milk everyday.

Gunawardena said that a person's contribution will not exceed Rs 12,000 per year.

Many children today lack funds to continue schooling. By supporting rural children in their education, Sri Lanka will have an educated and knowledgeable future generation.

It is our duty to care for the less fortunate upcoming generation of children as they will be the future of this country. BPW's vision is that all children in Sri Lanka are able to realise their full potential by empowering them to be what they are capable of.

The Association of Business and Professional Women was founded in 1919 by Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

In August 1930 business and professional women of 16 countries came together and the Federation of Business and Professional Women was formed in Geneva, Switzerland.

The International Federation of Business and Professional Women has category one consultative status with all UN organisations and has affiliates in 125 countries and five continents.

The association Business and Professional Women Sri Lanka was founded by Janaki Gunawardena in 1993 and is affiliated to the International Federation of Business and Professional Women.