Author: Purnima Pilapitiya
Learning and Growing at the MJF Charitable Foundation
Brains were buzzing and hearts were full at our 4-day Skill Enhancement Workshop for Special Education Professionals in Moratuwa! From new techniques to renewed passion, it was a jam-packed experience for our educators who travelled across Sri Lanka to be there. Several of our teachers, trainers and therapists participated in the workshop, which took place at our MJF Centre in Moratuwa.
Planting Inspiration in Kalkudah!
When the monsoon showers hit the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, rivers like the Sandana Madu almost always overflow. The floods, soil erosion and landslides that follow are a concern for the small nearby village homes. The community decided to seek a sustainable, ecofriendly solution to the problem – trees. How do trees help? To put it simply, the root systems of trees make riverbanks more secure and protected – naturally. The community enlisted the help of our MJF Foundation team in Kalkudah. Together with our Rainbow Horizons Programme for children with developmental disabilities and our agriculture-based small entrepreneurs, they came up with an inspiring solution – seed balls to grow trees. The seeds selected are native trees suited for the locality and the purpose of riverbank protection. Moreover, our kids got the chance to exercise their motor skills while supporting their community with a greater need.
Why Does a Tea Company Care About Cervical Cancer?
Dilmah and the MJF Charitable Foundation is collaborating with the Government through the Health Ministry and the Rotary Club of Colombo to fund vital HPV DNA testing kits required for screening and early detection of cervical cancer. Read about the preliminary awareness event held for Cervical Cancer Awareness month at Genesis, Dilmah Centre for a Sustainable Future. Read more about it here : https://www.themorning.lk/articles/bgbAVkb0aQ3uy32xiAcd
Culinary Dreams – Unlocked!
Since 2016, the Empower Culinary & Hospitality School (ECHS) under the MJF Charitable Foundation has been nurturing the next generation of chefs in Sri Lanka. This January, 33 young men and women from our ECHS schools in Moratuwa and Kalkudah are ready for their next chapter. ECHS is Sri Lanka’s only World Association of Chefs’ Societies accredited culinary facility. Its reach extends from the east to the west coast of Sri Lanka and has seen 282 young chefs graduating and pursuing their culinary journeys. What makes ECHS unique is the holistic education it offers from IT, language skills and business management to physical education and home gardening, in addition to practical and theoretical culinary training. Established by our Founder with the aim to empower youth, this inclusive programme brings together young dreamers with diverse abilities, challenges and backgrounds to support a shared dream.