John Keells Foundation (JKF) launched the pilot of John Keells Praja Shakthi Digital Learning Initiative on 11th November 2021 in Ranala. As another innovation of JKF in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project aims to facilitate online based learning of disadvantaged school children who are preparing for public examinations in the midst of the pandemic and mitigate the increase in inequalities in accessing educational opportunities.

The pilot project involves the distribution of a total of 100 Samsung A8 tabs and data packages to selected O’Level and A’Level students in John Keells Praja Shakthi locations in Colombo 2 and Ranala. JKF is partnered in this initiative by Deutsche Bank, John Keells Office Automation and Dialog Axiata PLC.

The project is designed so that tabs will be re-pooled after the completion of the recipients’ study course to benefit another cohort of deserving students. To ensure the due use of the device and enhance the impact of this intervention, JKF will be monitoring the educational progress of the students through the school principals as well as backend mechanisms.

During the simple event held at the Elephant House Factory in Ranala in compliance with COVID-19 protocols, 50 tabs were distributed to O’Level students from four Government schools in Ranala. The event was graced by Chathura Mihidum, Divisional Secretary, Kaduwela, Anuradha Samarakoon, Divisional Education Director, Ranala, Daminda Gamlath, Group President – Consumer Foods, Sanjeewa Jayasundara, CCS’s Head of Operations – Supply Chain, Carmeline Jayasuriya – Head of Operations, John Keells Foundation, Pasan Jayasinghe – Vice President Deutsche Bank, Harsha De Zoysa – Senior Sector Manager, Large Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC.

The distrbituion ceremony in Ranala was followed by a simple evvent in colombo 2 during which JKF was partnered by Deutsche Bank, John Keells Office Automation (JKOA) and Dialog Axiata PLC. CInnamon hotels was the logistics partner at this event.

John Keells Praja Shakthi is a sustainable community empowerment project initiated by JKF in and around the John Keells Group’s business locations through strategic interventions. The multi-stakeholder collaboration on the new project is a testament to the strength of partnerships in empowering communities through sustainable initiatives.

The event in Colombo 2 was graced by Mr. Nalaka Rathnayake, Divisional Secretary of Colombo, Ms. Carmeline Jayasuriya, Head of Operations – John Keells Foundation, Mr. Kamal Munasinghe, General Manager – Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, Mr. Vikas Arora, Chief Country Officer – Deutsche Bank, Mr. Prabath Samindra, Head of Operations – Deutsche Bank, Mr. Sameera Wijeratne, Head of Digital Education – Dialog, Principals of the schools, as well as the students receiving tablets accompanied by their parents.

Mr. Nalaka Rathnayake, the Divisional Secretary of Colombo, commended John Keells for this timely initiative and urged the recipient children to use these valuable devices carefully and return them for the benefit of other disadvantaged students.

The Digital Learning Initiative is another innovation of JKF in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project aims to facilitate online based learning of disadvantaged school children who are preparing for public examinations in the midst of the pandemic and mitigate the increase in inequalities in accessing educational opportunities.

John Keells Praja Shakthi is a sustainable community empowerment project initiated by JKF in and around the John Keells Group’s business locations through strategic interventions. The multi-stakeholder collaboration on the new project is a testament to the strength of partnerships in empowering communities through sustainable initiatives.