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 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 corporate responsibility endeavour was not confined to the computer training centre. 40 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, managing director of Aviva NDB Insurance.
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About Aviva
Aviva is the world’s sixth largest* insurance group, serving over 44.5 million customers across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Aviva's main business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £47.1 billion and funds under management of £402 billion at 31 December 2010. Aviva is the largest insurance services provider in the UK and one of the leading providers of life and pensions products in Europe.
*based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2010.
About NDB Bank
NDB Group is one of the largest financial conglomerates in Sri Lanka, operating regionally in Maldives and Bangladesh. The Group offers project finance, corporate banking, SME lending, retail banking, investment banking, stock broking, wealth management and insurance solutions under one roof. NDB Bank has a AA (lka) rating by Fitch Ratings Lanka and is amongst the best in the industry reflecting the bank's strong financial profile in terms of its capital base, profitability and asset quality. NDB Bank is one of the highest capitalised private sector commercial banks in Sri Lanka.