MJF Charitable Foundation – Blog
Business is a matter of human service

Dilmah International Marketing division’s Dayangani Perera visited the St.Mary’s church last Sunday, to provide some insight and learning on sales and marketing to the first group of SEP recipients from Colombo’s highly urbanized, Mattakuliya area. This lecture is part of the education process to ensure a better success rate to the group who have received equipment to start up small income generating businesses.
In the span of 1-1/2 hours, the group of women were given an overall, and comprehensive insight into the various aspects of sales and marketing. The following marketing principals were lectured and then discussed with the SEP recipients.

• Definition of marketing
• Identifying markets
• Basic marketing strategies
• The marketing mix

At the end of the class, Dayangani presented the listeners with Q&A time to obtain a level of response and feedback. It was encouraging to see that almost all of them were very responsive, took notes, and answered the questions in relation to what they had heard.
In bringing the SEP program to be more businesslike , these lectures carried out by the volunteer Dilmah staff will prove to be a very effective way to give the SEP recipients expertise knowledge on how to manage their sales, find markets and also manage finances. Upon close evaluation, it was evident in many instances that these people did not have much of an idea about managing the sales and moreover the income generated by it. Another class done by another volunteer will be held in due course to teach micro finance management.
The participation of MJF Group employees will also provide an opportunity to be more involved in the Foundation activity.

The special education project was launched in 22 schools in Division 2 of the Nuwara Eliya Education zone in Talawakelle in May 2010.

The objective of the project is to provide opportunity for nearly 950 students of the 22 schools who will be sitting for the GCE O/L examination in December 2010 to prepare themselves adequately through mock exams held at all 22 schools from May to November in Maths, English and Science and thereby achieving a higher pass level at the GCE O/L examination..

The text papers are set by a group of Teachers and the papers are printed and distributed each month in keeping in line with the general examination procedures.

The 1^st exam was held on 24^th and 25^th May and future exams will continue to be held during the 3rd Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each month till November.

The MJF team visited some of the schools in Kotagala and Talawakelle whilst the June exams were in progress and had brief discussions with the Principals, Teachers in Charge and some students. The Principal of St. Patricks College Talawakelle Fr. Leonard was of profound appreciation of the imitative of the Foundation and further stated that this was the 1^st time a private institution has come forward with a very practical programme to improve the quality of education of plantation children although there are many NGOs already working in the plantations with various projects and programmes. Similar sentiments were expressed by the Principals of Cambridge College Kotagala – Mr. C Gnanapragasam and Mrs. Vethanayagam the Principal of Kotagala TMV.

Sriharan a GCE O/L student of St. Patricks College said “Maths is a subject which could be perfected only through continuous practice of sums and formulas. The initiative of the MJF Foundation, in giving us opportunities to sit for 7 mock exams from May to December will definitely give us an abundance of such practice and confidence to face the final exam in December.”  

Jacintha also a student of St. Patricks College was of the view that although they do their revisions and prepare themselves for the December exams, the moment they enter the exam hall they are all tensed and tend to forget what they prepared. But with this support by MJF in arranging very competitive mock exams over a period of 7 months, will relieve us of any such tensions and face the final exams with confidence. She further stated that “ we are indeed fortunate to have had this opportunity and will certainly make maximum use of it and produce the results expected of our teachers and thereby justify the initiatives taken by MJF and also will justify the need for continuity of similar support towards plantations  childrens education in the future.”

All Principals and teachers assured of producing better results this year at the GCE O/L exam. A majority of students were aiming at getting an “A” in Maths.

The Foundation will be closely monitoring the progress thought the next 6 months and will report comparative results of each mock exam and will also encourage the teachers to pay special attention of the weaker students in order to achieve the overall expected performance by all students.

This special project is implemented in collaboration with friends of Dilmah in Norway the Noramix Group and covers 22 school in the division. Almost all students attached to these schools are from the plantations in Kotagala, Dimbulla, Talawakelle, Lindula and Watagoda areas.

Nearly 40 differently able children from the MJF Groups Kahawatte Plantations and another 30 – 35 from the surrounding villages of the plantations in Nawalapitiya will be trained in performing arts in 3 Centres within the plantations. This special programme will be commenced in August by MJFCF in collaboration with Sunera Foundation. 

The project introductory meeting for the Plantation Managers and health staff was held at Nawalapitiya on the 14^th of June.

“Merrill J. Fernando Challange Trophy” the Annual Cricket Match for the Visually Handicapped took place on the 6th of May 2010 at the NCC Cricket Stadium this year too played between the School for the Deaf and Blind – Monaragala vs Rajarata Jayaviru Sevana – Anuradhapura.

This annual event that coincides with the Settlor’s birthday is considered a special event by the Students of the Deaf & Blind School – Monaragala.

The teams were invited by the MJF Charitable Foundation this year too along with their supports to take part in this event.

You will see in the attached photos the Monaraga team attired in Green and the Anuradhapura in Black.

Whilst compeering was handled by a Student and the Principal of the School Umpiring and Scoring were done by professionals qualified in Cricket for the Visaually Handicapped appointed by the Federation of the Visually Handicapped.

The Match was won by the Deaf & Blind School – Monaragala for the 3rd consercutive time and they inharrited the Challenge Trophy this year.  The award ceremoney began with the differently abled children singing “Happy Birthday to the Settlor”.

Best Player B1 was won by Deshapriya, Best Player B2 was won by …… and the Best Player for B3 was won by Manuka from the Monaragala team.

The winners walked away not only with lots of gifts and sports items but also a Schol for the Captain Deshapriya who have entered the University (the 1st ever student to enter the University from this School) from the MJF Charitable Foundation, whilst the Anuradhapura team walked aways with consolation prices for the entire team.

The SEP (Small Entrepreneur Program) has been one of the most successful projects of the MJF Charitable Foundation. Begun in 2005, initially to assist the surviving victims of the Asian Tsunami, the program now has over 475 persons who have received support to begin small scale businesses.
Following the success story, the first women’s only SEP program in suburban Colombo was initiated on the 8th of May, to coincide with Mr.Merrill J. Fernando – the MJF Foundation Settlor’s birthday events being held during the week.
12 women were identified through the St.Mary’s church located in Mattakkuliya (a densely populated area in suburban Colombo). Of the 12 women, 8 of them are currently participants in the nutrition program also being funded by the MJF Foundation. The selection process mainly was based on criteria that seemed most practical for mothers with infants.
Leaving an infant at home for a labor intensive job is no easy task for a mother. This situation creates a very real problem when income generation is considered a priority task but also the need to tend to the baby’s needs. Ultimately most women are left with little or no choice but to depend on their husbands for a source of income. As we have seen in many instances, this is hardly enough to keep the home fires burning. And the irony of it all is that many men in these impoverished societies are involved in a variety of illegal activity including drug abuse. As a result, they are apprehended by the police and most often end up in jail, thus leaving their wives and children in a desperate attempt to fend for them selves.
The SEP program is seen as a two pronged solution to this situation where the mother can be at home to provide care to the child, and at the same time carry out a business venture to generate income, hereby being a little more independent of her husband’s earnings.
Keeping to the MJF Foundation’s method of assistance, these recipient’s homes were visited prior to assistance to gauge their actual situation. Those visibly below the poverty line, but with promise and a high level of determination to succeed, were chosen. This women’s group being the first, their success will act as an example to encourage more women in future SEP programs to be implemented within the Mattakkuliya area.
We wish them all the very best!

Consequent to the formal launch of special English & Maths education project for 25 schools in Talawakelle at the Holyrood Primary School opening, the project was formally inaugurated at the Kotagala Tamil Maha Vidyalaya in Kotagala on the 24^th of May. Principals of all 25 schools, the Maths and English Teachers of the respective schools were present at the inauguration chaired by the Additional Zonal Director of Education. The objectives, the methodology and the expected outcomes of the project were clearly outlined to all school Principals and Teachers and all attendees whilst appreciating the initiatives taken by MJFCF to improve the achievements levels in Maths and English at the GCE O/L exam, assured their fullest commitment towards achieving the expected outcomes.

The 1^st model exam in Maths and English for nearly 1050 GCE O/L students will be held on 25^th and 26^th May respectively in all 25 schools.  MJFCF handed over the printed test papers to the Principals of all schools. Similar exams will be held every month till November – thus preparing the students suitably to face the GCE O/L exam in December. In addition nearly 6000 students in Grades 6 – 10 will face a mid year achievement test in June in English and Maths. 

Nearly 90% of the student population in the 25 schools in this programme are children of Tea Plantation workers in Talawakelle, Dimbula and Kotagala areas.

This special education improvement project is a joint venture between MJFCF and Noramix Group of Norway.

The MJF Kids held their Vesak lantern competition for the 4^th year in succession at their Kids home in Peliyagoda on 22^nd May.  Vesak is a Buddhist religious event celebrated in Sri Lanka in the month of May every year. The significance of Vesak is the birth, enlightenment and the demise of Lord Buddha.

All 8 groups within the MKF Kids produced colouful lanterns under theme of birds and animals associated with the life of Buddha. The panel of judges comprising of Vajira from QA, Nissala from HR and Shanthi from MJFCF from within the MJF group indeed had a hard task in selecting the best 4 as all groups produced some creative lanterns.

It was a great effort by the Kids amidst a week long heavy rains and floods experienced in most part of the country. However on the day of the event, there was no rains at all and the kids representing all religious faiths  were really overjoyed and thanked god for acceding to their week long prayers in giving them a rain free day to display their creative lanterns.

Team “Rose” emerged winners followed by Nelum and Manel Teams.

Dilhan and Serena along with the panel of judges distributed the prizes to the winners.

The week long events to mark the 80^th birthday of Mr. Merrill J Fernando culminated with the ceremonial opening of the new Primary School at Holyrood Estate in Talawakelle by Mr. Merrill J Fernando on 15^th May along with Malik, Dilhan and of course young Amrit. Hon. V Radahkirishnan – former Provincial Minster of Education who along with Dilhan laid the foundation stone for this school on 21^st November 2009 was also present in his capacity as Member of Parliament for the Nuwara Eliya district and formally took over the keys of the school from Mr. Fernando and handed over them to the Principal of the school. This modern and spacious facility with 5 class room/cum auditorium and teachers room with adequate toilets for girls and boys will replace the existing 69 year old one room school for nearly 197 students in Grades 1 – 5. The Minister expressed his sincere thanks to the Foundation for its magnanimous donation of this school especially with a view to improve the quality of education amongst the plantation children, which amply demonstrates the true meaning of “business is a matter of human service”. The school design was done in house by the MJF CF team which was highly commended by the Minister and suggested that this design must be replicated in other government funded new primary schools in the future.

On the same day the Foundation also launched a new special English and Maths education project for 25 schools in Division 2 of Nuwara Eliya Education zone. The main objective of this project is to enhance the achievement levels at the GCE O/L examination in Maths and English. Nearly 6000 students in Grades 6 – 10 from the selected 25 schools inclusive of 1050 students who will be sitting the GCE O/L exam in December 2010 will be benefited from this project, which is supported by Noramix Group of Norway – a close associate and distributor of Dilmah tea in Norway.

Earlier on 8^th May, Mr. Fernando handed over SEP grants to 12 beneficiaries of the St. Vincent Paul Society at the St. Mary’s Church at Mattakkuliya to inaugurate the 1^st phase of the SEP project. The children of this society had been supported by the Foundation with a nutritional improvement programme for the past 8 years.

Mr. Merrill J Fernando along with Malik, Kimarli and Dilhan laid the foundation stone for the expansion project of the Saddhasarana – MJF Home for the Elders in Pitipana a small village close to Mr. Merrill J Fernando’s birth place in Negombo on 8^th May. This elder’s home currently provides residential facilities for 5 elderly women and when the new wing is completed by October this year, it could accommodate another 22 inmates.