Fashion Bug continues island-wide career guidance programs for school leavers

From left:  Zamrin Zarook from the Educational Support Division, Dr Ziyad Mohamed- Director, Educational Support Division, Insight Center for Education, and 

Dr. S.H.M Faraaz - Deputy General Manager

Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya, Sinhala Division, University of Colombo

Fashion Bug, one of Sri Lanka’s leading fashion retailers with over 17 outlets island-wide, continued with its laudable CSR program, under the educational CSR platform ‘Sisu Dirimaga’; which is for school leavers who need guidance regarding their future career paths. 

The company which in the recent past has been involved in many such CSR initiatives has set about organising a series of island-wide career guidance workshops, together with the Provincial Education Offices, for students who are doing the Advanced Level examination. “We are conducting these programs in over 120 schools island-wide and over 100,000 students will benefit as a result,” said Fashion Bug Director and Sisu Dirimaga program Founder Shabier Subian. 

To date Fashion Bug has conducted these programs in a total of 20 schools, with over 6,000 students having participated in them.

Most recently Fashion Bug concluded three such programs at K-Azar College in Akurana where a total of 400 students participated, Zahira College Gampola where 500 students participated and Karavita National School Nivithigala along with six participating schools in the area, which saw a total of over 500 students participating in the program.

The resource persons involved for the programs conducted at K-Azar College Akurana and Zahira College Gampola were Insight Centre for Education Educational Support Division Director Dr. Ziyad Mohamed and Insight Centre for Education Educational Support Division Zamrin Zarook.

For the program conducted at Karavita National School Nivithigala, Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya, Sinhala Division, University of Colombo was the resource person, while the program itself was organised by the Karavita Divisional Secretariat and fully sponsored by Fashion Bug.

The topics addressed at these workshops include how to get through A-level exams effectively and in a stress-free manner, coping with educational as well as family issues and managing time effectively, how to asses yourself as a student and how to pre plan your future taking into account your strengths and desires. 

New industries to enter and how to plan subjects accordingly to meet the country’s demand and supply for jobs, what sort of jobs are popular and what areas are risky, strategic planning on what you need to do in order to select A/L subjects to match the chosen career path, are also amongst the topics under discussion. 

Additionally, included in the program are a few motivational programs, as well as ‘tricks and strategies’ on how best to prepare yourself for exams. Real life examples of successful leaders and professionals are also given, thus serving to further motivate the students to achieve their goals.  

Associated with these programs were Deputy General Manager Dr. S.H.M. Faraaz, HRD Senior Manager Namal Ekanayaka, Senior Marketing Executive Ishan Godamanna, Assistant Manager Marketing S.M. Faham, Ratnapura Branch Manager Mohamed Hizam, Katugasthota Branch Manager Naleem, Area Manager Kandy Region Faishad and Operations Manager Kandy Faleel of Fashion Bug .

“It is our aim to establish a sustainable CSR platform as opposed to miscellaneous one-off projects that lack clear, long term objectives. The Sisu Dirimaga program will ensure that all projects stem from one clear platform, establishing a clear CSR identity for Fashion Bug as a responsible corporate citizen, as well as give our customers the satisfaction of being part of a noble national cause,’ said Subian . 

In addition, Fashion Bug is also involved in several other CSR projects which include the provision of a drinking water plant to Ovitigama Maha Vidyalaya in Matara, providing a computer lab to Thube Kanishta Viduhala in Matara, Kalubowila Hospital, Maharagama Cancer Hospital, Ragama Hospital and an environmental project in Kurunegala, namely ‘Thuru Sahasak’ and ‘Puruduwanna’.

“Each Fashion Bug outlet works closely with its community. We have close links with the community centres and religious communities of all religions and we actively participate in and contribute to all their events. As part of the profits generated from a branch in a particular area are channelled towards the CSR project of that area, our customers who patronise that particular outlet are proud custodians of that particular project and feel that they too are working side by side with us,” said Fashion Bug DGM Dr. Faraaz Hameed.

“Developing underprivileged schools in rural areas through mobilising of projects, upholding and financially enabling underprivileged students who excel academically, enabling the dreams of those with the desire to learn and making a reality of education for all no matter your circumstances, is our goal,” said Subian.