Aspirations Education“Apeksha Scholarships” to break knowledge gap
March 9, 2011 12:00 pm
Students pursuing higher education overseas to help build the future of another
Aspirations
Education (AE) an international career guidance and student placement service
center in Sri Lanka has ventured in to an industry first sustainability model
providing access to education for the deprived through the contribution of the
able individuals who travel overseas pursuing their education. Since its
inception in 2007, the aim of the scholarship program was to assist students of
low-income groups, who were deprived of the basic necessities in life, to follow
a continuous school career.
For three consecutive years Aspirations Foundation has been sustaining 115
deserving students from 15 Districts in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomali,
Ampara, Badulla, Monaragala, Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Colombo, Gampaha,
Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kandy, and Matale, through the Scholarship Programme. The
selection of candidates for the Apeksha program was carried out by the senior
officials of Aspirations Education under the direction of heads of schools and
tutorial staff; and subsequently, an in-depth survey was conducted to select
students who needed financial assistance the most. Civil authorities of the
respective areas assisted the course by assessing the actual living standards
of the selected families.
Speaking about the initiative and its principle Ms. Deepamala Abeysekera, General Manager Aspirations Education, “Aspirations Education was born out of a firm commitment to be a fountain of inspiration to the Sri Lankan community to help them realize their aspirations. Our core business model is providing career guidance and counseling services absolutely free of charge to students who wish to pursue their education overseas. True to our commitment we strongly believe it is our social duty to work towards helping ones Aspiration to be realized, and in this cycle, students who gain our services to reach global also become a vital partner developing the aspirations of their brethren in Sri Lanka”.
Elaborating further Mr. Ajith Abeysekera, Chairman, Aspirations Education explained how by receiving their professional services free of charge, students who can afford studies abroad, will effortlessly and routinely be helping their sisters and brothers who are not as fortunate as them, through the innovative and social entrepreneurial process Aspirations have set in motion.
Aspirations
Education initiated the programme in complement to the Millennium Development
Goal of achieving universal primary education. Students receiving professional
services free of charge, will naturally and routinely help the less fortunate
as per the “Apeksha Scholarships” scheme bridging the education divide, making
a difference in all our lives. The
concept of a knowledge divide is used to describe the gap in living conditions
between those who can find, manage and process information or knowledge, and
those who are impaired in this process. As specialized knowledge becomes an
ever-increasing component in society and the spreading of this knowledge
becomes ever faster with modern technology, the people who cannot take part in
this development will be increasingly isolated and marginalized.
Promoting Sustainability in business Aspirations Education is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and is the only educational organization in Sri Lanka to be a part of the global network. UN Global Compact is a leadership initiative of United Nations pioneered by Former Secretary General Kofi Annan where organizations from around the world have rallied under the UN banner to promote sustainable business practices that will add value to the society at large.