MAS concludes Eco Go Beyond campaign across 30 schools
View(s):Eco Go Beyond, the sustainable development education programme pioneered by MAS Holdings, successfully concluded a series of sessions at 30 schools, completing its scheduled programme cycle for 2019. MAS Eco Go Beyond uses traditional values and beliefs to introduce beneficial topics and sensitise students, so they understand their responsibility as adolescents towards sustainable development within their communities.
Students at one of the sessions
The activation sessions at schools – including problem solving using lean principles, disaster risk resilience and practical sessions on home gardening techniques – were primarily conducted by MAS personnel. This component of the programme impacted an audience of 900 students and more than 120 teachers, who benefitted from a special session on giving effective feedback. With this programme, Eco Go Beyond completes stage 3 of the 2017-19 cycle for the 30 schools that were on-boarded in 2017. The rollout workshops during this cycle impacted over 5,593 students, 234 teachers, and 259 parents and benefactors, MAS said in a media release.
The programme concluded with a ceremony held at the MAS Athena Auditorium in Thulhiriya on October 29, with the inaugural Vice Chancellor of the Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka Dr. Chandra Embuldeniya as the chief guest, and officials from the Ministry of Education, principals, teachers, students from the 30 participant schools and MAS fraternity in attendance. The highlight of the event was 400 exhibit items created by students that were on display. Godawela Sri Pragnananda Vidyalaya emerged champions, while Palannoruwa Central College Gonapola and Balabowa Junior School Dewalapola became first and second runners-up, respectively.
Launched as a community outreach programme in August 2006, the MAS Eco Go Beyond programme, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education, includes workshops, audio-visual presentations, activation in schools via projects with students, and the monitoring of these activities for successful implementation. With the youth of Sri Lanka as its primary stakeholder, MAS strives to champion an educated and active youth who promotes sustainable livelihoods. As of December 2019, MAS Eco Go Beyond has impacted over 54,000 students in over 90 rural schools around Sri Lanka.