A place brimming with hope
Twenty-five years ago, with the aim of providing a permanent facility for the training and development of youth, the Lions Club of Hendala started raising their own funds, to match the outright grant received by the Lions Clubs International Foundation to establish the Lions Vocational Training Centre (VTC) at Hendala.
Students get a wide-ranging exposure. Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
The Lions Club of Hendala chartered in 1983, is a constituent club of the Lions Clubs International of Oakbrook, USA and has achieved many milestones in service to the community.
“The VTC was the brainchild of the dedicated Lions of Hendala. The project was encouraged by a grant of US$ 34,500 from the Lions Clubs International Foundation in December 1992 and the 99-year lease of a land in Hekkitta helped the VTC become reality in 1995,” said Chairman of the VTC and Past District Governor, Lion Mohan de Silva.
Present Prime Minister, then Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, Mahinda Rajapaksa took a personal interest in selecting this centre as the first under the patronage of the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka to provide job oriented training to youth in the Gampaha District.
The centre has operated continuously as a non-profit organization training over 3500 students in English, Information Technology, industrial sewing, dressmaking, bridal dressing, beauty culture and other vocations.
When the Sunday Times team visited the VTC, a senior lecturer of the Beauty and Salons stream, Hiranthi Fernando was at a practical evaluation session with her students. “This is the NVQ ( National Vocational Qualification) Level 4 class. Every Monday is their practical session,” says Ms Fernando who has been a Hair and Beauty instructor for the past ten years.
“The NVQ level is a course which consists of training at the VTC, on the job training and then practical assignments. Students who have graduated are running large salons, some have moved into teaching and some work as beauty technicians. There are students who are pursuing their studies further after graduating from here. They are all doing amazingly well,” she added.
The lecturers are remunerated by the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka while the Lions club meets the administrator’s and caretaker’s wages.
The students at the centre are brimming with hope for the future. Waruni Gunarathne (30) travels from Seeduwa daily to follow the course which she started on January 2. “I would love to pursue my studies after this NVQ level, I have an idea to go abroad as well and would like to open my very own salon one day.”
In 2004, the club received a grant from USAID for upgrading and capacity building purposes, which helped the centre to increase the intake of deserving students for computer training.
“In our course, we have finished NVQ Level 3. This is a level that the industry requires most. There are two courses running parallel to the NVQ Level 3 and 32 students being trained. Our target is to release 30 people within six months to the industry. Admissions are open for students who are at the Ordinary Level examinations stage,” said Computing Instructor, D.C. Rajapaksha.
“Our course has been tallied for Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students. NVQ Level 3 is for students at the O’L stage and NVQ Level 4 is for those doing their A’Ls. In Sri Lanka the Government and private sector employers say, ‘if they have passed NVQ Level 3 they have the knowledge to take the job’. There are past students who are employed in government and private institutions,” he added.
Vishman Kavin, who is studying computing at the VTC began his course in January 2020 and is very enthusiastic. “There is a lot more knowledge I am gaining here than in school. There’s more exposure and leadership training. Every morning we have an assembly and we all have to speak on a topic – The programme is Dawase nayakathwaya (Day’s leadership),” says Vishman who lives in Hekkitta, Hendala and has schooled in the same area.
In 2010, the centre received a third grant from Lions Clubs International for upgrading purposes, which enabled the centre to obtain NVQ Level 4 certification. “This is ample testimony of the recognition and acceptance of this venture as a sustainable and viable joint venture by Lions Clubs International,” reiterates Mr. De Silva.
The Board of Management of VTC includes Lions, Past District Governor Mohan de Silva (Chairman), Chryshan Kurukulasuriya (Secretary), Dr. Malcolm Stanislaus (Treasurer), Past District Governor Shirley Thissera, Past District Governor Camilus Fernando, Ajith Gunawardena (Present President, Lions Club of Hendala), Kamini Dissanayake (Present Secretary of the club), Hirantha Perera, Sisira Samarasena, Charith Abayasekera, Pradeep Peiris and Nishantha Alwis.
The Lions VTC is hoping to introduce quality education and training for the disabled as well.
The Centre is located at No. 45, Hekitta Road, Hendala. For more information, contact the Officer in Charge, Duminda Rajapaksha on 0710318840 or the Chairman Mohan de Silva
on 077732821