Our Peoples’ Market happened last night in a riot of colour, festivities and fun.
Kindness is what defines us as humans, and when it comes to kindness towards less fortunate people, as important as the deed itself is the dignity of the beneficiary. I don’t mean charity, because charity doesn’t always help – it can create dependence, a state that is nearly as bad as poverty itself. Dignity is supporting someone who needs help, with a crutch, as part of a programme that is designed so that one day it will be taken away and that person will walk alone, eventually running and hopefully, sprinting to lend a crutch of their own to someone who needs it. This is the simple principle that runs through the work of our MJF Foundation.
There were runners in abundance and even some sprinters at the MJF Foundation’s Peoples’ Market last night. Artisans, designers, cooks, gardeners and many more representing the diversity of life – youth, senior citizens, people with down syndrome, some in wheelchairs – all gathered to present their extraordinary ability. The young aspiring Chefs of our Empower Culinary school showed off their skills in cooking, supported by the musical talent of some of the students in the current batch.
Empower Culinary supports less fortunate youth with scholarships for free or heavily subsidized culinary training, with theory and practice leading to monitored industry placement. The rationale is to give youth the skills they need to benefit from the growth of Sri Lanka’s tourist industry. The current batch of 17 youth includes several who will be supported by our Resplendent Ceylon luxury hospitality business with opportunities beyond anything they could have imagined.
72 micro and small entrepreneurs offered their services, craft and produce to over 800 visitors who patronised the event at the MJF Centre West, on the outskirts of Colombo. Most of them were beneficiaries of the MJF Foundation’s Small Entrepreneur Programme which started in 2004 to seed hope into communities devastated by tsunami and poverty.
Our MJF Foundation’s Womens’ Development Programme regaled the visitors with some of Sri Lanka’s finest traditional sweets and pastries amidst the herbal plants, honeys, healthy burgers, costume jewellery, childrens’ books, ayurvedic pain relief, carpets, clothes and more that was on offer.
As my father insisted, business must serve humanity and for the success of this event I thank our customers around the world for helping us to make every cup of Dilmah, a cup of kindness.
Join us for the next Peoples’ Market, our extra special Christmas Market, on 29th November.
