Hameedia, Dialog bring smiles to underprivileged children

Two reputed corporates have joined hands to help poor, destitute and abandoned Sri Lankan children in promoting their education and helping them to come up in life.

Helping children and the needy was first mooted by Fouzul Hameed, MD, Hameedia Group, specialists in men’s clothing following the footsteps of his father, but later he found it has greater dimensions and much funds and resources are needed. So he decided to join hands with Dr Hans Wijesooriya, CEO, Dialog Axiata – the mobile telephone people, to raise necessary funds and thus emerged ‘My Friend’ project.

This week a function was arranged to donate some gifts to some of these children who are assisted in their education by ‘My Friend’ project in Colombo.

Dialog users can register and send SMSs to 7700 and Rs 30 collected from each SMS would be channelled to the project and also the sale of customised ‘My Friend’ merchandise and souvenirs available at selected Hameedia outlets are added to this project. The SMSs in turn receive some fashion tips. Dr Wijesooriya as Chief Guest at the function said that everyone is equal before God and technology and the technology could be a vehicle to make better and they would make it affordable to everyone.

The private sector, he said could do little, little things that could go a long way.

He said that now they have introduced a pro- gramme ‘Nanasa’ that benefits thousands of underprivileged children in their education. He said “If the heart in the right place, it could make all the difference in life”.

At this function four such children stressed the need for help. One lost his parents and everything else during the Tsunami but with the help of ‘My Friend’ he succeeded in his OL and AL, cleared a management degree and now follows Chartered Accountancy. Another boy who wanted to be a football player with the help of ‘My Friend’ has become a graphic designer and is now an art director in an advertising firm.

Another poor boy from Maligawatte spent the nights in the Galle Face Green to allow his parents in their dingy apartment to have their private moments. He did not go to school but was involved in nefarious activities like drug trafficking. He was helped by ‘My Friend’ to further his education and in this manner thousands of poor destitute children are help to further their education.

(QP)