Fair & Lovely Jeewika Athwela attracts unemployed youth

One of the key initiatives among many by Unilever Sri Lanka directed towards upgrading the living standards of the community, the 3rd Fair & Lovely Jeewika Athwela Career Guidance Fair was held at the Matara Technical College from January 25 to 27, to the rave reviews of the populace and the authorities with over 25,000 recorded as attended.

While there are several programmes in upgrading health and nutrition conducted by Unilever Sri Lanka, the Fair & Lovely Foundation conducts the Jeewika Athwela career guidance fair, which specifically aims to provide assistance in personal development and career guidance to the youth of Sri Lanka.

The highlight of the fair was that in addition to career guidance offered to the unemployed, counsellors showed genuine interest in offering much needed advise in how to select a career line based on individual aptitude and suitability as well as information and direction in selecting the right vocational training.

Further, most counsellors took a personal interest in providing those interested with possible lines for self-employment as well as tips in how to develop businesses already commenced. The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Vocation and Technical Training and the Ministry of Education actively supported this initiative by Unilever Sri Lanka.

Youth Affairs Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi stated that such events are not only useful but also timely in that Sri Lanka is faced with a difficult period in generating employment for all.

Referring to the problems facing graduates, she said that graduates had traditionally taken a very narrow view in terms of career options resulting in many facing hardships in gaining employment.

Events such as this help youth to find suitable fields or lines for career development and employment.

Marketing Manager of Unilever Sri Lanka Nadeesha Wijesinghe said the immense interest and participation by the youth of the South indicated the need for such an event and the success of it.

The state support for this event is quite evident and the support received by the organisers speaks well of the all round interest and need to assist the emerging population represented by the youth of Sri Lanka.