Launch of the Shaper Buddy Programme

GFF HELPS Sri Lanka in collaboration with Global Shapers Kandy Hub and SANASA Campus has launched a three-month long Capacity Development and Career Guidance Programme where weekly workshops will be conducted targeting 18 students who are following degree programs at SANASA Campus. These workshops will cover a variety of topics aimed to equip the participants with 21st century skills and employability skills which will greatly enhance their chance of landing better jobs after the completion of their academic program.

Project launch and orientation programme of the “Shaper Buddy Programme” was held on Friday, October 8th 2021 with the presence of Mr. T. Karunasena, Registrar of SANASA Campus, Mr. Saom Namchu, GFF HELPS Asia Coordinator, Mr. Tharaka Munidasa, International Advisor for GFF HELPS Sri Lanka, and Ms. Pavithra Wijethunge, Curator of Global Shapers Kandy Hub.

Participants for the launch of the Shaper Buddy Programme

To briefly introduce our partner for the programme, Global Shapers are a community of young professionals brought together under an initiative of the World Economic Forum consisting of young professionals under the age of 30 working together to address local, regional, and global challenges. With more than 13,000 members, the Global Shapers Community spans 448 city-based hubs in 150 countries. Kandy Hub, the second Global Shapers hub in Sri Lanka, comprises of 25 shapers from diverse career paths and their projects focus mainly on the impact areas of Education & Employment and Climate Change & Environment.

SANASA Campus is providing higher education under government supported financial plans to students from low socio-economic background who have not been selected into public universities and are unable to afford tertiary education at private universities. Therefore, getting good professional opportunities are of utmost importance not only for their future but also for their families and this programme aims to equip the beneficiaries with skills required for them to achieve their career prospects.

This programme is implemented under GFF key focal areas of Education, Professional Development and Skill-sharing. Moreover, the programme will be contributing towards 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the impact overlapping with targets of SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth,and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Workshops under Shaper Buddy Programme

Shaper Buddy Programme is implemented by GFF HELPS Sri Lanka in collaboration with Global Shapers Kandy   Hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum, with the aim to equip 18 students who are following degree   programs at SANASA Campus with necessary skills to enhance their employability and to succeed in a work   environment. Under this programme, weekly workshops will be conducted covering 16 modules delivered be   competent and experienced resource people. The first session of module two, “Mental well-being” was conducted   by Michael Fronczak, Co-Founder and Manager at Sanatha Suwaya Meditation & Retreat Center, Kandy on 09th   October 2021. The resource person for the second session (10 October 2021) was Dr. Ravihansa Rajapakse   (PH.D., AFHEA), a researcher, UX practitioner and a strong advocate for human-centered design. Dr. Rajapakse   holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science (Human-Computer Interactions) from Queensland University of Technology.

Mental Well-being by Dr. Ravihansa Rajapakse

Language Proficiency and Confidence Building by Shamilka Karunanayake

The second week of the workshop consisted of two interactive sessions on “Language Proficiency and Confidence Building” on 16th and 17th of October 2021. The sessions were conducted by Ms. Shamilka Karunanayake and her colleagues from Global Shapers Kandy Hub. Mr. Mohomed Yasir, Area Director of Area F3 at District 82 Toastmasters and Ms. Jithmini Amunugama, a digital marketing specialist, a writer and a public speaker joined the sessions as resource people and delivered invaluable tips on how to improve public speaking skills.

Mental Well-being by Michael Fronczak

The first session of module two, “Mental well-being” was conducted by Michael Fronczak, Co-Founder and Manager at Sanatha Suwaya Meditation & Retreat Center, Kandy on 09th October 2021. The resource person for the second session (10 October 2021) was Dr. Ravihansa Rajapakse (PH.D., AFHEA), a researcher, UX practitioner and a strong advocate for human-centered design.

Public Speaking by Mohamed Yasir and Jithmini Amunugama