SMED conducted programme for youth

by Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The Small and Medium Enterprise Developers (Project SMED) conducted a programme on electrical house wiring for tsunami affected youth at the Matara Technical College recently.

The objective of this programme was to help unemployed affected youth as well as to contribute to fill the gap in skilled personnel in the construction trade according to Nihal Cooray SPX Manager SMED, through its sub contracting and partnership exchange (SPX, an UNIDO initiative). Conducted a series of five day training programmes in skills such as housewiring, plumbing and masonry in Kalmunai and Ampara.

The Consultant SPX W. Wijekoon said that the programme is a good example of a successful public\private partnership. The curriculum of training was designed by the Department of Technical Education and conducted by the technical college staff of the area. The trainers will prepare business plans which will enable them to obtain necessary funds to start on their own. A tool kit for every participant was donated by the Organisation of Professionals Association (OPA), he said.

The programme was funded by Friedrich Naumann Stiftung the consultancy arm of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce Sri Lanka which has contributed to the growth of the SMEs and in general to the business industry. The Back to Business programme was another project launched with help desks operating in all affected districts under their network of Chambers.