Hemas assists Menik Farm children with pre-schools, play areas

Pre-schools for Northern areas in the pipeline

Hemas, one of the first private sector organisations to commence work at Menik Farm in Vavuniya, recently opened three more children’s play areas in Zone 1 in Menik Farm in partnership with the Children’s Secretariat of the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment.
The first Pre-school and play area were set up in the Kadiragamer relief village in March 2009 in keeping with the company’s CSR project ‘Piyawara’ which focuses on Early Childhood Development.

From left: Shiromi Masakorala, Manager Corporate releations / CSR, Hemas Holdings Plc   Yamuna Perera, Director, Children’s Secretariat, Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment, Jayantha Peiris, Deputy Director, Children’s Secretariat, Ministry of Child Development and Women Empowerment

Manager CSR at Hemas Shiromi Masakorala said, “Our first visit to the Menik Farm was in March 2009 with personnel from the Children’s Secretariat to distribute urgently required items to the IDPs, especially the little children. Subsequent to our visit in March, the first Pre-School and Play Area were opened in the same month. In addition, all required items such as crutches, wheelchairs and toys were distributed amongst the IDPs. Our focus on Pre-schools and play areas is driven by research which indicates that early childhood development in the first five years of life, influences a child’s lifetime education and social achievement. By setting up these activity centres we hope to foster a sense of normalcy in these young children, by creating environments that are physically attractive and mentally stimulating. In addition to helping these children overcome the trauma of war, the Pre-schools also aim to develop the language, cognitive and social skills that will prepare them for Primary School. The temporary Pre-schools are constructed by the Ministry while the teachers are trained in Early Childhood Education and trauma counselling by the Children’s Secretariat,” she added.
Hemas joined forces in 2002 with the then Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment to provide quality pre-school education to children across Sri Lanka with its Piyawara Initiative. At present the “Piyawara” project fosters 32 Pre-Schools island wide. In the wake of the devastating Tsunami of 2004, Hemas promptly established temporary Pre-schools in makeshift camps. It subsequently constructed 20 Pre-Schools in Tsunami affected areas at a cost of Rs. 120 million. In recognition of its commitment to early childhood development, Hemas was appointed by the Ministry to the National Coordination Committee on Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), the body that oversees the development and implementation of the National Policy on ECCD.
Director Children’s Secretariat Mrs. Yamuna Perera said, “We have worked with Hemas since 2002. It has been a key developmental partner in the Ministry’s endeavours in this sphere of work and is very committed to the cause for which we are very grateful.” “Our previous experience in running 29 preschools in make-shift camps in Tsunami affected areas has given us the experience in working with IDPs. Our partnership with the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment has fast tracked our work, and in fact, their involvement has made it easy for us to understand the national needs. In consultation with the Ministry we hope to develop state-of-the-art Pre-Schools in the northern areas as a long term project,” said Director Hemas Holdings PLC Abbas Esufally.
Hemas Holdings Ltd is one of Sri Lanka’s top conglomerates with a focus on five key sectors - FMCG, Healthcare, Transportation, Leisure and Strategic Investments.