Future First recognises high achievers

“Future First” investing in children through entrepreneurship education, HSBC”s flagship corporate sustainability programme marked its successful completion with an awards ceremony held recently at the BMICH to recognise high achieves. Awardees included participants of the Future First Company Programme; the concluding phase of the project.

The six year long programme has benefited more than 1000 children in 10 schools and centres of marginalised communities.

The project was funded by HSBC”s Global Education Trust Fund and HSBC locally and conducted by the Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka, (YESL) an affiliate and member of Junior Achievement Worldwide. The course content was based on the JA Business Education Programme.        

The event was attended by Chief Guest HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives former CEO Nick Nicolaou, Guest of Honour YESL President Deshabandu Patrick Amarasinghe, HSBC Head of Marketing and Communications Tharanga Gunasekera, HSBC Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management Nilantha Bastian, HSBC Corporate Sustainability Manager Dilini Fernando, YESL Director, HRD and Administration Nihal Rangala, members of the SOS Directorate, Principals, Vice Principals and Teachers.  

The ceremony commenced with the welcome address by Needs First JA/YESL Company, SOS Village, Piliyandala President Charuni Dileesha.

Chief Guest, Nick Nicolaou traced “Future First”s history and referred to previous award ceremonies and said he was very happy with the outcome of the programme. He urged students to make the best use of the opportunities afforded to them through Future First and wished them the best in their future endeavours.

YESL President Deshabandu Patrick Amarasinghe, speaking at the occasion said “The aim of the programme was to make the student work force ready and also to be job creators instead of job seekers.” He further went on to thank HSBC for the financial support and assistance provided throughout the programme and expressed his thanks to the YESL staff and all others who supported the programme and wished the students the very best of luck.  

Glint Star JA/YESL Company Talahena Kanishta Vidyalaya Director Production, Thuwan Raheen Deen Jaya and Star Teen JA/YESL Company Director, Finance Sujani Buddhika spoke about their life-changing experience with “Future First”.

Showcasing the life skills acquired by the students, presentations were made by Parampara Image JA/YESL Company, Needs First JA/YESL Company, Glint Star JA/YESL Company and Realize JA/YESL Company.  

The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the “Most Outstanding Young Entrepreneur of the Year” to Parampara Image JA/YESL Company of S.O.S. Social Center, Peraliya Secretary A.P. Nadeesha Madhushani.

She was escorted into the hall by two of her colleagues, SOS staff and her mother to accept the award from Nick Nicolaou. She spoke about the benefits and life skills she received from the “Future First” Programme, her ambitions and vision for the Parampara Image JA/YESL Company, and thanked HSBC, YESL and all those who helped her.

Other winners included: The coveted “Company of the Year” Gold Medal was won by the innovative and enterprising Parampara Image JA/YESL Company of the SOS Social Center, Peraliya. They also received Gold Medals for the Business Plan of the Year and Annual Report of the Year, respectively.  

Other Gold Medalists included, Realize JA/YESL Company, Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda, Product of the Year; Bright Memory JA/YESL Company, Talahena Kanishta Vidyalaya , Negombo and Logo of the Year , Star Teen JA/YESL Company SOS Center Kahapola.

Individual Gold medals were also awarded to: President of the Year M.R.M. Afrid Risvi (World Winners JA/YESL Company, St. John”s College, Dematagoda), Human Resource Director of the Year - Chamendra De Silva (Needs First JA/YESL Company, SOS Childrens’ Village, Piliyandala), Production Director of the Year – Thuwan RaheenDeen Jaya (Glint Star JA/YESL Company, Thalahena Kanishta Vidyalaya, Negombo), Marketing Director of the Year - A. Isuru Bimsara (World Winners JA/YESL Company, St. John”s College, Dematagoda), Finance Director of the Year – Anjana Lahiru (Glint Star JA/YESL Company, Thalahena Kanishta Vidyalaya, Negombo), Public Relations Director of the Year - L. Sudharshani Malshika de Silva of the SSV JA/YESL Company (Sri Saddharmodaya Vidyalaya, Moratuwa), Secretary of the Year - A.P. Nadeesha Madhushani (Parampara Image JA/YESL Company SOS Center, Peraliya), Realize JA/YESL Company of Mahamaya Vidyalaya, Nugegoda took away the Award for the Best Company Presentation.

Silver Medals and Merit certificates were awarded to the runners up in various categories.

34 Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards were awarded to students who showed great entrepreneurial spirit. The winners were selected by an independent panel of judges in accordance with stringent standards of Junior Achievement Worldwide (JA) and Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka (YESL).

The Junior Achievement Worldwide Business Programmes are recognised for their practicality. Students are given a true to life business experience at High School Level by helping them form companies and self-manage them for up to a year and liquidate them. Thus, students gain experience in a true life set up. The foundation for this is set up in the middle and primary schools programmes of the JA business education programme and YESL customises the JA teaching material to suit local needs.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara