HSBC empowers 1,000 street children through entrepreneurship education

The project is unique in its nature as it targets ‘At Risk’ children who do not attend school. Several studies conducted by child welfare organisations including the National Child Protection Authority have revealed that in and around the city of Colombo, thousands of children are either not enrolled in schools or even though enrolled, are notably absent from regular schools.

Students doing simple businesses in schools with the guidance of the teachers

Among the reasons for being out of school is the absence of some basic rights available to them, including lack of permanent dwellings and having no parents or guardians. As a result, these children loiter around public places, intrude on properties, unauthorised places and open areas to get their needs fulfilled.

Considering these factors, HSBC, in collaboration with Young Entrepreneur Sri Lanka (YESL)/Junior Achievement (JA) launched the YESL/JA programme to support 1,000 street children in terms of education, health and social etiquette.

The programme helps prepare young people for the real world, educating them on running a business, generating wealth and effectively managing it; creating jobs which make their communities more robust and applying entrepreneurial thinking into the workplace. Students permeate these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.

The content of the programme covers the basics of an economic system, the different roles of consumers and producers and the steps in organising a business. The programme is conducted in simple English which also helps to upgrade the English skills of the students.

The YESL/JA programme comprises the three main levels of Elementary, Middle School and Senior School programmes. The students have successfully completed the Elementary Programme and are now following the Middle School programme.

The Middle School programme will reinforce the value of workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The students will be introduced to numerous economic concepts and useful facts about the working world. It builds on concepts the students learned in the Elementary School programme under the Future First programme in the year 2007 to 2009.

The Middle School programme includes economics and business curricula as well as practical experience. The dynamic interaction between the trained teacher and the students promotes active learning and brings theory to life.

It also provides students with examples of how business and entrepreneurship affects economic development, explores personal finance, while prompting career options based on their skills, interest and values.  It also builds the foundation for intelligent financial decision making throughout their lives through hands on realistic site-based experiences.

Programme supplements

In addition, HSBC Sri Lanka strengthens and supports the programme as follows:

• Outward Bound Programme – to develop leadership skills, discipline, ethics and values, team building, respect, patience and how to share and care
• Talent show presented by students for staff and customers – to build confidence, self esteem and opportunity to showcase hidden talents
• Refresher interactive teaching programme for the teachers
• Recruiting and training five teachers who work twice a week with the students in the schools. The salaries of the teachers are paid by HSBC
• Engagement of HSBC staff members to organise activities such as making photo frames with low cost raw material, how to make bags out of old newspapers, reading days, field visits, etc.

Project locations

1.SOS Community Centre in Peraliya

2.SOS Children’s Village, Piliyandala

3.The Hermann Gmeiner school in the SOS Children’s Village in Piliyandala

4.Eight disadvantaged Government schools:

i.Talahena KV, Negombo

ii.SWRD Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Borella

iii.Seevali Central, Borella

iv.Hewawitharana Vidyalaya, Borella

v.Saddarmodaya Vidyalaya, Moratuwa

vi.Methodist Vidyalaya, Dehiwala

vii.Parakramabahu Vidyalaya, Narahenpita

viii.St. John’s Vidyalaya, Dematagoda

(In comparison to other schools in Sri Lanka, these schools are considered the poorest of the poor with unequal opportunities to access quality education).

Objective of the project

Short-term objectives

• To create opportunities for bright entrepreneurial minds to develop ideas even though hailing from disadvantaged backgrounds
• To build confidence, a sense of purpose, hope for a better life; create awareness of opportunities to raise the standard of living
• To impart lifelong skills and leadership tools to encourage self sufficiency

Long term objectives

• To equip street children with the necessary tools to create knowledge based businesses in the future
• To integrate street children into the fabric of society, not only to improve their quality of lives, but also to create active citizens who contribute to the economic prosperity of the local community

Benefits to the country

• Better opportunities for children, making them work force ready and spurring the entrepreneurial spark
• Contribution to the socioeconomic development of the country
• Poverty reduction
• Improving quality of life
• Generating productive citizens
• Adding value to human capital
• Creating a savings culture
• Developing unity between different communities of Sri Lanka
• Avoiding potential social unrest in the country

Target beneficiaries

One thousand ‘At Risk’ children who are in day care centres, living by the railway lines and canals.

Key deliverables:

• Help 1,000 street children to become future entrepreneurs
• Increase attendance of these children by 90% in the schools
• Support 1,000 street children through recreational activities such as workshops on discipline, counselling, outbound programmes, talent shows and awards ceremonies

Deliverables achieved

• The programme has helped 1,000 street children develop skills such as analysing information, critical thinking skills, decision making, planning, oral and written communication etc:
• Over 2,000 students received Certificates of Achievement reaching JA Worldwide standards
• Over 2,000 students successfully presented public performances in role playing by:
• Oral presentations
• Written and drawing work
• Students have used the knowledge they have gained to do simple financial transactions such as using a till to save, manufacturing/producing and selling items such as fresh fruit drinks, sweets, chick peas at the certificate ceremonies with the assistance and the guidance of the teachers and the parents
• Developed self confidence and become independent
• Developed team work and team spirit
• Developed communication skills in English
• Developed leadership qualities
• Over 700 dedicated staff members of HSBC have volunteered their time regularly to organise special programmes to reach out to these children. Some of these programmes are:
• Screening of popular children’s films and excursions to the MILCO factory and the zoo
• Giving the children the right to play on Universal Children’s Day
• Having a reading day – to help children read and build confidence, self esteem and improve reading standards
• Art competitions to help children reflect feelings and ideas which are hidden and to build self-confidence

What prompted HSBC to take on this project?

• HSBC recognises that education is central to sustainable development and is one of the most powerful instruments known to reduce poverty and inequality.  This knowledge resulted in two of the eight Millennium Development Goals focusing on education and UNESCO declaring 2005 – 2015 the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.
• The student population of the country is around 5,000,000 (Five Million) which is about 25% of the total population. The education system does not cater to the market demand of the country and the world. This programme attempts to reconcile this misalignment.
• For nearly three decades, socio-economic development in Sri Lanka was retarded due to terrorism. However, with the liberation of the northern and eastern provinces, it is now a challenge to the country and the people to create new opportunities for the younger generation to contribute to the socioeconomic development of the country. The programme aims to build a better future for these children by making them employable, workforce ready and entrepreneurial.
• Street children and orphans are the weakest and most vulnerable segment in the global community. In Sri Lanka too, children living on the street face grave risks to their education, health and well being, yet support for them remains inadequate. Ignoring their plight is an admittance of failure to protect their childhood and absolving our responsibility towards childcare and providing for their future. As the world’s local bank, a programme for these children is an important step to reinforce our core values and guiding principles.
• HSBC believes that education is crucial to the development and prosperity of every country.  HSBC’s engagement with the community rests on the twin pillars of education and environment. The education projects aims to give underprivileged children an opportunity to educate themselves and emerge successful in their lives.

Project period and commencement date

Launched date: July 2007

End date: December 2013

Advice

Advice to others who may wish to take on similar projects, in terms of overcoming obstacles and so on:

Numerous discussions held with the Department of Education with regard to the benefits of the programme and HSBC’s role in the programme helped to make them understand the importance of this alternative education programme.

Once Department Officials were convinced, together with them, HSBC was able to make the school principals and teachers in charge understand how working together could benefit all, working towards achieving a common goal to uplift the lives of these marginalised children.

The specially trained teachers’ attitudes and teaching techniques, easy to comprehend short modules, role plays, opportunities to display/showcase the work done and awarding of certificates of an international standard, created a very positive impression among the school teachers, principals and the children.