|
|
| Our History |
|
|
Young Entrepreneur Sri Lanka (YESL), the Sri Lankan affiliate of Junior Achievement (www.ja.org) was formally established in 1997. Many stakeholders have thrown their weight to make it a reality. Let us salute all those who welcomed JA to our motherland; including those who remain anonymous. Junior Achievement provided the jewel in the crowns of those who strived hard to introduce entrepreneurship education, in different forms at different times in our country.
The business community and the Chamber movement in Sri Lanka have been inspired by Junior Achievement, in their individual exposures. Vice President YESL - Pathmasiri Dias, as a member of All Ceylon Small Industrialists Association received a scholarship to visit the USA, UK and Japan, from USAID / Asia Foundation funds in 1965, when he saw Junior Achievement in action in several American States. When the Association was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1984 and renamed as Sri Lanka Chamber of Small Industries (SLCSI) under the president ship of Pathmasiri Dias it took several measures to promote entrepreneur development in Sri Lanka.
Bob Martinez and Suresh Mahayana, International Financial Corporation (IFC) Consultants assisted in formulating the Entrepreneur Development Project (EDP) of SLCSI with USAID/Sri Lanka funded and implemented by Asia Foundation. Under the directorate of Mr. K. D. Ariyadasa, a leading educationist, the EDP trained over 800 youths within two years. Mr. John Guyer Head of Asia Foundation was associated with Mr. Pathamasiri Dias to declare open a new factory for making paints and thinners, by two EDP graduates. At the same time Mr. Mackey Hassim Vice President SLCSI and Mr. Granville Perera a Past President also saw Junior Achievement in the USA, brought literature and discussed merits of JA approach to entrepreneur development in Sri Lanka.
In 1986 Pathmasiri Dias participated in an American Visitor programme initiated by the US Embassy in Colombo, during which he visited JA office at Colorado Springs and studied the programme. It was also the time, that JA was planning to expand outside USA.
Patrick Amarasinghe, President YESL, separately saw JA in action in a number of American States on his business tours. As a concerned citizen and an entrepreneur with social responsibility he was moved by the youth insurrection of 1971, that he saw the merits of Junior Achievement in inspiring creative youth to engage in fruitful business and economic activity to benefit them and the country. Ever since, he strived hard to bring this programme to Sri Lanka. In 1992, on assuming duties as President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) he took a series of measures for human resource development in the private sector. He contacted Junior Achievement International and USAID/Sri Lanka to introduce JA to Sri Lanka. Mr. John Linborg, Head of Economic Growth office of USAID/Sri Lanka promoted the idea and encouraged the introduction of JA in Sri Lanka. Patrick Amerasinghe soon contacted and requested Pathmasiri Dias to join him. He also took the message round to the Chambers, to the business community and to the Government.
His task was facilitated by having John Geier, JA Regional Representative for Asia Pacific who came to Sri Lanka on the invitation of USAID/Sri Lanka and conducted a feasibility study out of which, the local organization YESL was born as the affiliate and member nation of JA Worldwide. Secretary of Education and Higher Education Mr. M. D. D. Pieris, an outstanding Civil Servant understood the long term benefits of this programme and paved the way for its acceptance by the Education Authorities. Hon. Minister of Education and Higher Education Mr. Richard Pathirana took no time to accept the proposal and establish private sector partnership in education. He mentioned it in the progress Report on education presented at the Budget Debate in Parliament in December 1997, pronouncing the acceptance of Junior Achievement to be applied in Sri Lankan Schools.
Ms. Sarasali Fonseka, Programme Director of USAID and Prof. Lakshman Jayathilleke Chairman, National Education Commission supported the take-off stage of Sri Lanka programme in their own spheres. YESL was established as a non-profit corporate body in March 1997 and was awarded official member nation status of JA. Premasiri Weliwita a Senior Educationist and former Director of Non Formal Education assumed duties in January 1998 as the first Executive Director of YESL.
Hon. Minister of Education and Higher Education Mr. Richard Pathirana and His Excellency US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mr. Shaun Donelly launched the first pilot project covering 1000 children from 8 schools in March 1998.
Deshamanya Lalith Kotalawala, Chairman Ceylinco Consolidated, presided over the launching of the first eleven Student Companies on June 1998, and impressed by the movement sponsored the whole Pilot Programme. Mr. Patrick Amarasinghe - Managing Director Fortifies' provided equipment and office space for Secretariat.
As Junior Achievement Programme world over are 100 percent private sector sponsored this example created history; the businesses supporting the 'First' steps of a peaceful revolution through education.
Over the last 10 years there have been main sponsors and friends of YESL. Some of the key sponsors included United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/TIPS and TCP projects, City Group – City Bank, HSBC Bank, Flexport Trophies Ltd, Country Style Foods Ltd, DFCC Bank, Mt. Lavinia Hotel, Cargills Ceylon Ltd, Ceylon Biscuits, Asian Alliance Insurance, Seylan Bank, Ceylinco Insurance etc.
The YESL board to keep up with the rapid expansion developed a strategic plan as the way forward to establish a strong JA program in Sri Lanka. The Board is committed to make YESL a strong self sustainable organization to build on the solid foundation thus far. YESL Board’s immediate goal is to implement the strategic plan to gradually restructure the existing organization and build up systems to face future expansions. The YESL Board strongly believes that there should be two phases in the implementation of the strategic plan. The strategic plan is for 7 years with the following phases:
Phase I (2006/7 to 07/8) - 2 year (interim) restructuring period with 50,000 enrolments
Phase II (2008/9 to 12/13) - 5 year consolidation period with of 400,000 enrolments
The first is a 2 year interim restructuring period (2006/7 to 07/08) while YESL will continue to sustain the on going activities, the main priority will be for management restructuring period to fine tune the existing operations and put in proper systems of YESL delivery. This period will also be used to prepare YESL operations to work with the private sector as an integral part of a successful junior achievement program.
The second phase will be a 5 year consolidation period (year 2008/09 to 12/13) where YESL will focus on expanding the program with strong private sector participation. YESL Board expects that the second phase of making the program self sustainable with private sector funds. YESL plans to get GSL approval for tax free status for YESL contributions during this phase that will be a significant attraction for corporate Sri Lanka to contribute to YESL in their social responsibility programs (CSR).
|
| |
|
