If ever a Sri Lankan youth organization established a penchant for making a statement while making a difference, the ‘Z Club of Colombo’ would be it.
The Z Club is a Service Project of Zonta Club II of Colombo, providing opportunities for the Girl Child to develop leadership skills, to explore career alternatives, to improve international understanding through service projects, to interact with experienced Zontian Sponsors, and to work together to better their society and the world, by gaining an understanding of their school and community by developing an international awareness.
Founded in 2001, the club’s most recent statement was one made in fashion when seven young, aspiring designers launched their creations- firmly declaring that a fashion statement can be made with hardware, cheeththa, origami or even a simple T-Shirt- at XOXO On the Runway held recently at The World Trade Centre.
As these designers showcased their work on the ramp, they were all forming a bigger picture- of raising funds for the club’s main project for 2010-2011- to develop the poorly equipped Home Science room of Maha Mathya Maha Vidyalaya in Polhengoda, into a mini vocational training centre. It is a less privileged mixed school catering to the low income families in and around Kirillapone, with classes only up to the Ordinary Level exam.
“We discovered that majority of the students do not qualify for higher studies and are compelled
to leave school at 16 to 17 years with no training for any form of earning,” explains Kashmira
Edirisinghe the President of the Z Club. “Thus the majority is compelled to seek jobs as
domestic aids or unskilled labourers and we are told that at most times they are unsuccessful in
securing any type of job.”
Accordingly, the project will focus on upgrading the Home Science room into a comprehensive mini- vocational training centre where the children will be provided with the opportunity to receive training in cookery, tailoring, secretarial and housekeeping. In addition to this, the project will target the enhancement of sanitary facilities including a Sick Room and clean
drinking water.
Designers Ishany Balder, Charith Heenpalla, Avishka Galhena, Rajitha Tennakoon, Sarah
Dean Ismail, Chairperson of the project- Sheshaya Surtani, Ronela Edisinghe were joined by
Zontians Purnima Abeyratne and Dharshi Keerthisen. Ayathi- boutique saree shop and Carlo
menswear were the other retail shops which showcased their clothes voluntarily. Hair and
makeup was done by Capello Salon as their sponsorship for the project. The Models were the Z
Club members and their friends, who performed their task to perfection despite this being their
amateur attempt. The show was choreographed by Tarja de Silva and past Z president Umeshi
Rajendra.
“We felt that the response to the event was really great, and the organizing committee- Sheshaya
Surtani, Uma Rajendra , Tamara Fernando , Sameena Mohamedally and Deshani Dharmadhasa
did a very good job,”says Kashmira. “I’m happy to say that we achieved the goal we set out at
the beginning of the event, and look forward to the successful completion of the project.”
Currently comprising a member base of 30 schoolgirls from the ages of 14 to 18 years, anyone
of this age who is interested in working towards making a difference in the lives of the less
privileged, can join the club through personal contact or by logging onto the Facebook page of
the club- The Z Club of Colombo. |
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