Hope Cookies: Spreading love and hope for the differently-abled
At a factory situated on the outskirts of Kaduwela, a group of unique individuals are busy at work churning out some finely handcrafted confections. All phases of the manufacturing process – mixing, baking and packaging – are done to perfection, ensuring a high quality output. The factory is aptly named ‘ Sahan Sevana’ – the home of “Hope Cookies.”
What makes Hope Cookies special is not only the quality of the product, but the people behind it. The entire manufacturing process is handled by differently-abled individuals, under the watchful eyes of the specially trained supervisors, CBL ( Ceylon Biscuits Ltd), the company behind the project, said in a media release.
Sahan Sevana was established in 2010, when the CBL Group took over the project initiated by ‘ Palette’, a Japanese NGO. Today, it has grown into a fully- fledged self- sustaining operation, with its premium cookies being available at all leading supermarkets. Hope Cookies are available as a range of products including sesa- me cookies, butter cookies and coconut crumble to name a few.
The employees of Sahan Sevana receive training on various aspects of Artisan Cookie Manufacturing and the cookies are manufactured under the expert guidance and supervision of CBL staff. The special team of staff has been trained specifically to care and train differently-abled individuals. The entire manufacturing process is supervised to ensure highest standard of quality. “The number of certifications – ISO 22000: 2005 Food Safety Management System, ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System, SLS 251: 2010, SLS 326: 2015 and SLS 1509: 2015 – that it has received is an ample testimony of its high quality and standards. The profit generated from this operation is reinvested into its upkeep and expansion,” CBL said.
In recognition of its services, Sahan Sevana was presented with the award ' Best Organisation that provides employment for differently-abled individuals' by the Ministry of Social Welfare at the Swashakthi Abhimani 2018 national awards ceremony. The awards ceremony was organised by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Primary Industries in collaboration with the Department of Social Services, with the objective of evaluating and recognising organisations that employ differently- abled individuals
“There is no greater challenge than identifying the abilities in people and nurturing these abilities to realise their full potential. Today, the differently- abled members of Sahan Sevana are a group of fully skilled, productive team that proudly stands among us as equals, actively contributing the national economy and the community that they live in. Through their success, they have demonstrated that given the opportunity, guidance and the resources, there’s nothing to stop them from realising their true potential, just like anyone else. On this aspect, CBL group’s Sahan Sevana project shines bright as a beacon of hope to the differently-abled community,” CBL said.