‘Liya Saviya’ with Astra to empower home-based female entrepreneurship

It is time to take a stride to come back from what COVID-19 has left the world with. Not only has it crippled the many industries globally, but has had a toll on men, women, and children as individuals in terms of mental stress and issues with earning a living. 

Those who were mainly affected by this unexpected catastrophe are mainly lower-income and lower middle-income earning families and undoubtedly, many organisations are taking measures to put back together what may have been shattered by the coronavirus wave that struck the world at the dawn of 2020.

However, as efforts to support such women, ‘Liya Saviya,’ a vocational education program for women, is launched by Astra, together with the tourism industry, leading beauty culturist Hasini Gunasekara, and Chef Dushanthi Madanayake of White Flower Cake Academy.  This is a platform where those who are interested can invest their time in vocational training sessions, which will empower them to be self-employed while strengthening their mental health as well. 

At a time when the country’s education system experienced a turning point, ‘Liya Saviya’ also breaks traditional norms, but mainly aims at reaching women who are in rural areas of the country, and is offered via an online app called ‘IAB Online app’ which can be accessed through any smartphone. 

The program will prove to be a haven to those who wish to commence home-based businesses in the rural areas, with proper training, while entrepreneurship is guaranteed. 

‘Astra’, a brand that works for the wellbeing of the community, kick-started the program by awarding 250 scholarships to applicants to empower themselves in baking, especially cakes. Scholarships were awarded by Astra on 30 and 31 July. 

Not only baking cakes, but also decorating them will be a part of the training provided, along with the know-how on running their own business. Accordingly, participants will receive a country-wide recognised certificate from White Flower Cake Academy. 

There is nothing better than baking with Astra, which is always a good start, and the initial program commences from the Puttalam District and will later expands island wide. Apart from providing the know-how, Astra also intends on providing discounted Astra products as an encouragement. Support needed for the marketing of the business in terms of digital platforms is a major asset that Astra has in line as a part of ‘Liya Saviya’. 

Let us make it now than later, and have a good start with Astra to bake a cake, and bring a smile to your loved ones, especially kids. 

Measures as such will enable mothers to overcome the financial crisis currently faced. With better financial environments at home, our mothers will be able to transform their homes into happier and healthier environments for the kids, providing them with the best of everything, which is what Astra and the team hopes for ultimately as the overall outcome of this initiative.