“May Breeze” at the GFS
The Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS) presents “May Breeze” on Saturday, May 23 at 9.30 a.m. at its headquarters. All proceeds will be towards the development of the GFS Hostel for working girls.
The morning’s programme will consist of a cookery demonstration by culinary expert Mallika Joseph, beauty demonstration by Oriflame, a fashion show, and musical entertainment by Ronnie Leitch. Refreshments are by Sponge. There will be trade stalls as well as an entrance ticket draw and raffle ticket draw with exciting prizes to be won!
The GFS is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest women’s organisations, serving the girls and women of Sri Lanka since 1904, irrespective of racial and religious barriers.
The GFS Headquarters, fronted by a pretty patch of green and fringed by araliya trees in bloom is a land- mark down Green Path in Kollupitiya. The 92-year-old Hall with its imposing façade, teak floor and stage was recently restored to its original magnificence and is used for meetings, classes, kiddies parties, sales etc.
The Society's main ongoing service project is the Hostel which was started in 1957 to provide safe, basic accommodation for young girls coming into the city for employment and higher studies. A girl is allowed to stay in the Hostel for three years after which she is expected to move out to make way for a newcomer to Colombo. In this way, hundreds of girls of all races and religions have lived in harmony in the GFS Hostel for the past 58 years. All are grateful to the Society for providing them the opportunity to live in the heart of the city and pursue their chosen careers.
However, as the years go by and the number of girls in search of employment in the capital increases, so does the demand for lodging facilities. Today, many young women from the outstations desperately seek some suitable space so that they could further their studies, secure good jobs, assist their families and build a successful future.
It is in response to this urgent need that the GFS has planned to expand the present Hostel to provide increased and better facilities to the girls of our land at reasonable rates.
In order to undertake a project of this magnitude, the GFS has for the past several years been engaged in modest fund raising in various ways, including its popular biannual Sales. But much more is required and this year, “May Breeze” has been organised with the hope of augmenting the Hostel Development Fund. Tickets cost only Rs.500 per head and are available at the GFS Office.
The public is invited to enjoy a pleasant morning in the beautiful GFS Hall while supporting a good cause.