Forwardair group launches new CSR project

Forwardair Group has stepped into taking on the funding of Bridge2Peace Montessori House in Lunugamvehera, as a CSR project of the Group.

A MoU was signed between the two parties on 25 May 2011, Bernadine Anderson, Founder & Directress of B2P and Nemantha Hatharasinghe, Executive Director of Forwardair Group signing the agreement on behalf of the two parties.

The Bridge2Peace Montessori House of Children, Lunugamvehera, was founded in March 2005 as a direct response to the tragic consequences of the tsunami. The harsh environmental conditions and the extreme poverty of the community resulted in the children being deprived of education of acceptable standards.

It was the first project of Bridge2Peace, a non-profit, non-governmental charitable organisation, committed to bring Peace through Education and providing programs designed to educate and empower the poorest of the poor.

The land was donated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa through the D.A. Rajapaksa Foundation and the formal opening of the school was graciously attended by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.  

The B2P Montessori houses approximately 80 children at any given time, who benefit from a completely-sponsored, trilingual, Montessori education of international standards. All stationery requirements as well as clothing and personal toiletries are provided free of charge each year. A nutritious mid-day meal for all students is also totally sponsored.

The school provides employment for four teachers especially trained as part of the Bridge2Peace mission and five others (assistant teachers and support staff), all of whom are from the village.

Founder and Directress of B2P Bernadine C. Anderson maximises 22 years of experience in education both here and in the USA, to bring about a radical shift in the perception of education, using the internationally-accepted principles of Dr. Maria Montessori, combined with concepts drawn from the best educational models the world over as the foundation for quality education imparted in her schools in Sri Lanka.

An internationally-accepted Peace Curriculum has become an essential component of the education of all the schools, promoting peace, justice, and reconciliation with the goal of creating a harmonious and multi-cultural community. The Peace Gang of Sri Lanka is the social outreach arm of the schools’ Peace Work. The first-ever Peace Garden in Sri Lanka has been created in Lunugamvehera.

The B2P Montessori House of Children has brought about undisputed social transformation, with tangible perceptions and changes in attitudes, values, knowledge within the village community.

It is the quintessential catalyst, the reaching of the entire community by means of the child, and for this very reason the Forwardair Group has now stepped in to take on the school as its CSR project. The pledge of support by the Forwardair Group is an assurance that the power of early education will continue to enhance the life of the community of Lunugamvehera.