Child Development, Empowerment from LOLC CARE

Mrs. Rohini Nanayakkara, Chairperson, Ishara Nanayakkara, Deputy Chairman, Kapila Jayawardena, Group Managing Director/CEO and Mrs. Kalsha Amarasinghe, Executive Director lighting the traditional oil lamp during the opening ceremony.

The LOLC Group, through its strategic Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, LOLC CARE, successfully completed its inaugural CSR project aimed at child development and empowerment. Under LOLC CARE, the Group constructed a children's home and provided assistance to an existing home managed by the National Council for Child and Youth Welfare (NCCYW).

Both homes, "Madiwela Special Education and Home for Boys" and "LOLC CARE Child Development Centre" are located at Madiwela, Nugegoda and are occupied by developmentally challenged males and orphaned boys.

"LOLC CARE Child Development Centre", the newly constructed two storied home, was ceremonially opened on the January 8, 13, by LOLC Group Directors, Mrs. Rohini Nanayakkara, hairperson, Ishara Nanayakkara, Deputy Chairman, Kapila Jayawardena, Group Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Kalsha Amarasinghe, Executive Director and Sujith Perera, President of NCCYW. Senior Management members and staff members of both LOLC and NCCYW were present during the ceremonial activities. The home was subsequently donated to the NCCYW.

Newly constructed ‘LC CARE Child Development Centre’.

Speaking about this project, LOLC Group Managing Director/CEO, Kapila Jayawardena said, "During the first phase of our inaugural project under LOLC CARE, we partnered with the NCCYW to provide financial assistance to renovate and maintain one of their existing homes, namely, the 'Madiwela Special Education School and Home for Boys'.

This home is dedicated to looking after 34 developmentally challenged boys and adults, and we managed to increase the capacity of the home to accommodate six more occupants. During the second phase of the project, we constructed a fully-fledged home in the adjoining land to house and educate 50 young, orphaned boys. Staff members of the home will provide the children necessary care and education until they reach 18 years of age. The home will also provide them vocational skills to secure employment thereafter."

Both children's homes will be managed by the NCCYW, with LOLC providing necessary financial assistance and support.

Launched in 2009, LOLC CARE was designed to implement LOLC Group's vision for sustainability and aims to undertake numerous initiatives for community development and environmental protection in line with its CSR policy.

The National Council for Child and Youth Welfare is a non-governmental organization set up to look after the wellbeing of underprivileged children.

Some of the activities planned for the children of LOLC CARE children's homes include, continuous maintenance of the buildings, sponsorship of children from childhood to employment, educational support, extra-curricular activities conducted by staff members or by way of sponsorships, skill development of children, and alms to the homes.

Children of the new LOLC CARE Child Development Centre enjoying a sweet treat during the opening.

"In addition, with the help of LOLC employees, we have organized various cultural and religious activities for the occupants of the special education school and home, and we hope to extend the same for the children of the new child development centre. We have also maintained close relations with the Board of NCCYW to assist them in meeting various requirements of the homes." Jayawardena added further.

It is the aim of the LOLC Group to provide necessary infrastructural, financial and welfare support, to ensure that the occupants of both 'LOLC CARE Child Development Centre' and 'Madiwela Special Education School and Home for Boys' are looked after and given the necessary skills for their individual growth and integration into society.

"Through LOLC CARE, we have striven to make a difference in children's lives that, otherwise, will be pushed to the peripheries of the society. We have an individual plan for every child. We believe in providing them a safe and healthy environment, the necessary resources for their well-being and a new family of teachers and care givers to look after their overall development, Jayawardena concluded.