Dialog Axiata PLC Change Trust Partners with Varam Sri Lanka for Youth Self-Employment

September 2008

Dialog Axiata PLC and Varam Sri Lanka joined hands recently in a youth self-employment initiative at Varam Welfare Centres in Hikkaduwa, Dadella and Galle. The Welfare Centres have been providing job skills training for young people and will now include a paper recycling operation which was funded by the Dialog Axiata PLC Change Trust.

This recycling and hand-made paper operation will be part of a greeting card making program, which has been in existence for about a year. Through the new additions the program will now include training in making the recycled paper used for greeting cards and training in screen-printing which will also be used in the card making process. In providing for this extension of the card making program, the Dialog Change Trust funded a new building while also providing for the paper making equipment and furniture.

Commenting on Varam Sri Lanka's efforts Professor Harendra De Silva, Founder of Varam Sri Lanka said "Through Varam Sri Lanka we are focused on empowering a segment of society that till now went unseen and unheard. Through the Welfare Centres we are not only giving alternative livelihood option to many young people we also strive to build their soft skills through enhancing their creative talents. Having the support of a corporate citizen such as Dialog Axiata PLC not only empowers us in terms of funding but also gives recognition to an impending socio-economic issue while providing solutions."

Commenting on the Dialog Axiata PLC Change Trust Mr. Mothilal De Silva, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC commented "Through the Dialog Change Trust Fund we have strived to uplift the lives of many segments of society who have not had a voice of their own. Being a relatively young Company itself we recognize the strength and power in Sri Lankan youth and as a Company we seek to harness that force. We are honoured to be partnering Varam Sri Lanka in this effort to uplift the lives and livelihood of the youth in the South through this Welfare Centre project."

The Change Trust Fund was established in 1999 and is Dialog Axiata PLC’s key community service iniative. The Fund itself is powered through an innovative fund raising method where post-paid subscribers are invited to donate 0.5% of their monthly bill up to a maximum of Rs.25/= which is thereafter matched 1:1 by Dialog Axiata PLC. The collection is then used for various community service projects aimed at uplifting lives island-wide. The Change Trust Fund also involves employees from Dialog Axiata PLC in all of its iniatives on volunteer basis.

Dialog Axiata PLC’s Corporate Responsibility practice focuses on reaching out to all segments of society, to enrich the nation through inclusion. The company is committed to serving the nation in support of national development goals through its community outreach initiatives while maintaining highest ethics in operations by good governance. Dialog Axiata PLC champions the communications sector as a member of the Sri Lanka Global Compact steering committee and have received three consecutive World GSM Awards for using digital technology for community benefit. For more information log on to www.dialog.lk/responsibility.

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Dialog Axiata PLC Change Trust Partners with Varam Sri Lanka for Youth Self-Employment

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