Colombo, 24 July 2019 – UNDP and Citi Foundation, through its flagship entrepreneurship initiative – Youth Co:Lab Technopreneurship for Social Change Programme – recently conducted a programme for persons with disabilities at The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon. Youth Co-Lab, co-created in 2017 by UNDP and the Citi Foundation, aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youth through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship.

In Sri Lanka, the Youth Co:Lab programme supported by Cisco Networking Academy, which is currently in its third year, uses innovative e-learning modules to connect young people, which make up over 4.4 million of Sri Lanka’s population, with up to date learning material to improve their digitization capabilities in contributing to the economy.

Through tailor made sessions conducted at 20 locations across Sri Lanka targeting over 1000 young people a year through the National Youth Services Council, the programme aims to encourage entrepreneurship amongst young people by providing them with the necessary leadership, financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills.

Going a step further on the premise of leaving no one behind, a tailor-made programme was conducted for 14 persons with disabilities in Colombo. Delivered through sign language interpretation and in other accessible formats, the programme is the first of many sessions to be held this year to enhance the entrepreneurial skills of those who otherwise do not have access to such trainings in Sri Lanka.

Speaking about this, Ms. Manique Gunaratne, Manager, Specialized Training and Disability Resource Center of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon stated “This is a great opportunity – giving persons with disabilities an opportunity to be exposed to entrepreneurship and gain some entrepreneur skills. Inclusion is very important especially to change mindsets from sympathy to empathy, dependence to independence, hidden to open, segregation to integration, exclusion to inclusion, to create a disability friendly environment”.

Also speaking about the programme, Shanaka Waduge, Head of Corporate Affairs of Citi Sri Lanka stated, “People with disabilities and their families often have to make critical and complex financial decisions almost on a daily basis.  Citi’s partnership in such specific programmes aims to leverage their role in society. We aspire to help improve their knowledge on financial literacy so they can engage in meaningful employment and help take Sri Lanka towards a progressive nation.”

Pushing the inclusivity agenda forward, Kasunjith Satanarachchi from UNDP Sri Lanka stated, “As a person with disability I am pleased to see UNDP Sri Lanka taking steps to ensure inclusivity and leave-no-one-behind. As such I’m very excited to be a part of this programme which was conducted for the first time for the PWDs.”

**Ends**

UNDP:

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.
www.lk.undp.org

Contact: Socialmedia.lk@undp.org | 0774177837 | Ext. 1501  Get in touch: UNDP on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

About Citi:
Citi offers a full set of products and services to corporate clients from its branch in Colombo. Since its establishment in 1979, Citi Sri Lanka has led local market innovation in terms of cash management solutions, trade financing, corporate finance, and most recently risk management and hedging. Citi Sri Lanka is rated "AAA" by Fitch Ratings Lanka, and has maintained this rating since 2003. Citi Sri Lanka plays a vibrant role in the community.

Cisco Networking Academy:
Cisco Networking Academy is an IT skills and career building development program for learning institutions and individuals worldwide. The Cisco Entrepreneurship course aims to develop an entrepreneurial way of thinking to improve their job opportunities and career advancements.

About the NYSC:
The Youth Services Council was established under the Volunteer National Youth Services Act No. 11 of the year 1967 and was revised by the Act No. 52 of 1968. Over the years, activities of the Youth Council were expanded beyond volunteerism and subsequently the scope was revised again under the Youth Services Council Act No.69 of 1979 giving the status of a fully pledged youth development organization.