Children around Sri Lanka paint for water in Brandix initiative
Top apparel exporter marks World Water Day 2016 with ‘Diya Siththam’ contest for schools
A novel initiative to inspire children to give expression totheir views on water conservation and management through art has resulted in the Brandix Group engaging with 37 schools in Sri Lanka to commemorate World Water Day 2016.
The ‘Diya Siththam’ (Water Frescoes) programme conducted by the Bindu Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility division of the Group paved the way for nine schools whose thematic wall paintings were adjudged the best among participants to receive financial assistance from the country’s largest apparel exporter.
Driven by Brandix Group factories around Sri Lanka, the initiative brought together children from areas as geographically and socially diverse as Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa, Giritale, Koggala, Nivithigala, Rideegama, Seeduwa, Ratmalana and Avissawella to name a few, in an activity that stimulated deeper thought about the water-related issues facing many communities in Sri Lanka.
“The enthusiastic response of hundreds of children to this art competition was heartening and inspirational,”Anusha Alles, Head of CSR & Corporate Communications at Brandix said. “It was a great platform to educate a wide cross section of our future generation on the importance of water use and conservation, while providing them with an opportunity to have fun and explore their artistic skills.”
Brandix Group factories that participated in the programme identified schools in their areas to be invited to participate and provided them with the materials and tools required to produce their wall paintings under the theme ‘Water for the people; Water by the people.’ The competition was open to all age groups of students.
A team of judges travelled around the country to assess these efforts, at the end of which the wall paintings of five schools, Medirigiriya Central College, Giritale; Sri Rahula Maha Vidyalaya, Ratmalana; Halpathota Romanu Katholika Vidyalaya, Koggala; Kadawala Navodya Central College, Ratmalana and Peellawatta David De Silva Kanishta Vidyalaya, Katunayakewere chosen as the best. Each of these schools received Rs 200,000 from Brandix for their efforts. The Group also rewarded every one of the four primary schools that participated, with a total of Rs 375,000 in cash prizes.
Engaging with employees or the community to increase awareness of the importance of managing water resources, improving access and conservation, and rewarding initiatives in this sphere have become part of an annual initiative at Brandix to mark World Water Day, commemorated worldwide on 22nd March.
The pioneer of the concept of ‘total solutions’ in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector and a preferred supplier to some of the top retail brands in the US and Europe, Brandix is a benchmark and international award winner for eco-friendly manufacture and commitment to environmental best practice. The Group’s principal CSR efforts are driven by the central corporate theme of ‘Water’ and constitute a long term commitment to increasing the availability of water and the provision of safe drinking water to those most in need.
