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Towards creating a lasting impact on society and as an initiative towards ‘giving back’ to the people, Amãna Bank, Sri Lanka’s torchbearer of people-friendly banking, recently launched its flagship CSR venture OrphanCare.
Established as an independent trust under the auspices of Amãna Bank, OrphanCare aims to address a very important yet mostly unattended need of orphan children; which is the fate of orphans once they reach the age of 18 and are compelled to leave institutional care.
The OrphanCare launch event was held on 29 March at the BMICH under the distinguished patronage of Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Women and Child Affairs and Development of Dry Zones Minister Chandrani Bandara, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector CEO Ayman Sejiny and Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy with the presence of many diplomats, donors customers, staff and well-wishers.
Termed by UNICEF as ‘The Second Abandonment’, this growing concern is the challenge faced by orphans, who initially were abandoned in childhood, and who are now forced to transit or ‘age out’ of institutional care.
This is a need which is seldom realised and considered in society. Care-leaving orphans often face significant challenges in completing higher education, securing gainful employment, and even finding stable housing. They are disproportionately vulnerable to marginalisation, discrimination, and even exploitation or abuse as they enter young adulthood.
Deprived of the family support structures, economic assistance, and life-skills training that many young adults in stable households enjoy, care-leaving orphans are often hastily ushered into society, insecure and ill-prepared for the trials of modern adult life. They have, in effect, been abandoned twice; first in childhood and then on the verge of maturity.
The OrphanCare Trust will be administered by a team of trustees who have a track record of passionate social service, which include as Trust Chairman and Rotaract movement in Sri Lanka founder Ruzly Hussain, Amãna Bank Chairman Osman Kassim, Rotary International former President K.R. Ravindran, Tudawe Brothers Chairman Rohan Tudawe, MAS Holdings Co-founder Sharad Amalean, Akbar Brothers Senior Director Tyeab Akbarally, President’s Counsel and CIC Holdings Chairman Harsha Amarasekera, AAT President Jazri Magdon Ismail and Amãna Bank CEO Mohamed Azmeer.
Guided by Amãna Bank’s core values, the trustees have instituted a strong governance framework to maintain the highest standards of integrity and to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Trust.
Sharing his views, Trust Chairman Ruzly Hussain said: “OrphanCare is Amãna Bank’s novel approach to intervene in a vital and decisive aspect of care leaving orphans.” Reiterating on the problem faced, Osman Kassim asks: “As parents, could we ever imagine ceasing all emotional and financial support to our children once they turn 18? Orphans deserve the same consideration. We believe that as a society, we have a responsibility to ensure that they are not abandoned a second time.”
Every young orphan enrolled into OrphanCare will be assigned an account into which the Trust will make periodic deposits until the orphan reaches the age of 18. At this point, the funds will become accessible to the account holder.
In the discharge of all activities of the Trust from enrolment of orphans to disbursement of funds and beyond, Amãna Bank has pledged to honour Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child where all enrolments will be irrespective of the child’s or their parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
The very essence and identity of the Trust is defined by a foundational principle; every rupee donated to OrphanCare will be allocated exclusively for orphan accounts. Amãna Bank will bear all operating and administrative costs of the Trust. “We want donors to be confident,” Mohamed Azmeer explains, “that 100% of their contributions will have a direct and meaningful impact on the lives of care-leaving orphans.”
Inviting the general public to support this initiative, Osman Kassim said: “If you are moved and driven by our cause, we hope that you will join us in making a difference in the lives of young adults who have, for too long, been forgotten and neglected,” adding the sentiments “It’s not just about giving them a chance at life. It’s about giving them a choice in their future.”
Those interested to support Amãna Bank OrphanCare initiative,
Email - [email protected]
Call - +94 77 3710 342/+94 77 3850 441
