Aviva NDB donates computer centre to Sanhinda Children’s Home

Saturday, 8 October 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

AVIVA NDB Insurance donated a fully-fledged Computer Training Centre to the Sanhinda Children’s Home in Homagama recently as a part of the Company’s ‘Street to School’ Corporate Responsibility endeavour.

Aviva Group champions an international programme called ‘Street to School’ in communities in which it operates, to uplift the education and living standards of under privileged children and give them an opportunity to realise their full potential.

In Sri Lanka, AVIVA NDB Insurance has signed a Letter of Understanding with the Department of Probation and Child Care Services coming under the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs to improve facilities at Sanhinda Children’s Home. This is the third ‘Street to School’ project initiated by the Company.

Sanhinda Children’s Home was established by a renowned professor who conducted research on beggars and identified that street children were often exposed to various forms of exploitation ranging from begging, drug trafficking, stealing to sexual exploitation. The home has 60 youngsters in the age group six to 16 years who have been orphaned at an early age and had once been street children.

AVIVA NDB’s donation of the Computer Training Centre provides the children with practical exposure to computer studies. Chief Executive of Aviva Asia Pacific, Simon Machell who was in Sri Lanka was the Chief Guest at the opening of the centre.

This CR endeavour was not confined to the Computer Training Centre. Forty employees of AVIVA NDB teamed up and voluntarily spruced up a section of the main building at the Sanhinda Children’s Home. The Company also built a security fence encircling the premises and restored the playground threatened with erosion.

In addition, the Company introduced counselling services at the home. A qualified child counsellor provides invaluable advice and guidance to the children. The children also get supplementary tuition classes funded by the Company as a part of the comprehensive ‘Street to School’ AVIVA NDB Corporate Responsibility initiative that ensures the children in the home are encouraged and motivated to shine in their studies.

“In Sri Lanka, ‘Street to School’ projects have focused on improving the infra-structure facilities and education standards for deserving children. First we improved conditions at the Ihala Hevessa school in Kalutara. Next it was at Rathugala, a remote village in Moneragala inhabited by the indigenous community. At the Sanhinda home we have opened the door to a future where the children can excel in IT,” commented Shah Rouf, the Managing Director of AVIVA NDB Insurance.