AYOMA FERNANDO, ADHIRUPINI TYAGARAJAH AND SURANGIE MUNAWEERA

“When women work together, it’s a bond unlike any other,” Victoria Principal.
For this week’s edition of She Can, I thought of featuring three inspirational women, instead of one; They Can! This trio have dedicated their lives to not just establishing and managing a successful business in the education sector, but also continues to work towards empowering women and underprivileged children in Sri Lanka. They are the perfect example of women being able to do it all; wives, mothers, successful entrepreneurs and philanthropists! Each of them bring an enormous dose of knowledge to the table, and one conversation with them leaves you yearning for more. They are kind, compassionate, warm and gentle, and they all have a very positive aura, that instantly puts you at ease when in their presence. They are creative, innovative, diligent and diplomatic power women with magnetic personalities; Ayoma Fernando, Adhirupini Tyagarajah and Surangie Munaweera.

The Three Founders
Ayoma Fernando, Co-Founder, ABC School of Early Learning, Director, ABC Group of Schools, and Principal, ABC Preschool. Ayoma is married to Rohan Fernando, Chairman, Trade Promoters Limited, for thirty-seven years. She is mother to Talya, Neesha and Alina; three accomplished young women who have all graduated from prestigious universities overseas and now live and work in Colombo. 

Adhirupini Tyagarajah, Co-Founder, ABC Group of Schools, is married to Dilipan Tyagarajah, Managing Director, Energy and Power Development (PVT) LTD, for forty-two years. Together they have one son, Aneeshan, Co-Founder, Honest Greens. 

Surangie Gabriel Munaweera, Directress, ABC Group of Schools, is also the Principal of ABC School of Early Learning. She is married for forty years to Chitral Munaweera, General Manager and Consultant, Sri Lanka All Island Dairy Association, and Director and Agriculture Advisor, Mahaweli Plantations PLC. She has a thirty-seven-year-old son and is also a grandmother to a set of twins. 

Whose idea was it to launch ABC School of Early Learning ?
Ayoma: It was my idea to start a school as there was a dearth of preschools in Colombo that were offering quality Early Childhood Education. I realized that when my second daughter, Neesha, was enrolled in a preschool, and stopped going after a week. This mooted an idea for me to start something of my own.

How has the journey been thus far? Was it easy for three strong-minded women to collaborate and work together for thirty years? Any conflicts?
Ayoma: The journey has had ups and downs both challenging but mostly rewarding. We each have our own strengths and that has held us through. Hailing from an entrepreneurial family my strength was business and marketing and vision of the school. Rupini more on the creative side and education, and Sugi with inclusive education. There have been conflicts of ideas which have always been resolved. 

I quote from Henry Ford who said:
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is SUCCESS.”

We believe that the metric of success is not in the size of your bank account but in the number of people whose lives you are able to make a positive change; that is our success story.

Share with us a summary of your entrepreneurial journey; from classroom to boardroom?
Ayoma: I received my formal education at Ladies College, Colombo, until my Ordinary Level Examinations. Thereafter, I was the recipient of the Rotary Student Exchange Scholarship, which gave me an opportunity to enroll as a junior at a High School in Spring Valley, New York from September 1977 to June 1978. After my brief stint in New York, I attended Wilson College, Pennsylvania, USA from 1978 to 1982, and obtained a BSc. in Economics and Business Administration. After successfully completing my undergraduate studies, I worked as an Assistant to the Company Secretary at Coca Cola Corporation, Pure Beverages Co. Ltd. from 1983 to 1986. Upon my return back to the island, I obtained a Diploma in Montessori Method of Education in 1989, from the Montessori Center in Colombo. I co-founded ABC School of Early Learning on the 07th of January 1992.  I am a Director of Kids Institute (Pvt) Ltd, the parent company of ABC School of Early Learning and I’m also a Director of Kids Academy (Pvt) Ltd, the parent company of ABC Preschool.  

Rupini: I embarked on a few enterprises such as a takeaway Chinese restaurant, and a Baby Layette Store. Although, they were both successful ventures, they did not motivate me, and I wasn’t keen to expand. My love for children persuaded me to go into partnership with Ayoma and eventually, Surangie. My focus was to give the students an innovative and exciting curriculum without regard to the sustainability of the business venture. I soon realized that the management of the school had to take into account the sustainability of the entire operation and the school had to be able to impart required knowledge to the children and be successful, financially.

Sugi: I initially worked as the youngest Manageress at Kandygs, for a couple of years. I was also the youngest participant at the International Business Fair, at the age of nineteen. Subsequently, I quit work in order to get married. A few years after, I joined MS Hebtulabhoy and Company, a renowned tea exporting organization and importers of Bajaj Three Wheelers.  Although, my line of work was always in Marketing, but my passion was in Education, and this led me to be where I am today. 

Share with us a summary of your personal journey?
Ayoma: I am involved in many social service organizations, and for the last fifteen years I have also been an active member of the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan. Within this organization, I have held several positions, including Director, New Generations, In-charge of Interact Clubs, Club Service Director and I have also Co-Chaired the Rotary flagship project, Sunshine Games in 2015; a sports day organized for eight hundred differently-abled students from across the island. I was also in a committee with members of the Visakha Past Pupils Association as an Advisor to build two schools in Habaraduwa and Ahungalla, both of which were affected by the tsunami. I am a trustee of the Sudhaar Foundation, an organization that empowers women and children. Through this organization, for the last fifteen years, I have been teaching English to under-privileged children in Wanthamulla. I am also an active member of the St Michael’s Church Helping Hands Committee which runs a Daycare Center for children in the Polwatte neighborhood in Collpetty. I enjoy singing, and I’m a member of the Choir at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Savior, and the Ladies College OGA Choir. I also have a passion for learning different languages and I have studied French, German, Spanish and Mandarin. 

Rupini: I’m an alumna of Ladies College, Colombo. I worked in the Foreign Department of Hatton National Bank PLC, for eight months in 1979, prior to getting married. In 1988, I completed a Diploma in Airline Fares and Ticketing at Belair College, London, and a Management course at the British Airways Training Centre in London.  Upon returning back to the island, I worked at Muller Travels Colombo for a couple of years and travelled extensively. This helped me to broaden my outlook and assimilate various cultures, and I also developed a keen interest in Architecture and interior decorating. I always had a love for children and this led me to follow a course in the Montessori method of Education. It was during this time that I engaged my classmate and dear friend Ayoma, in conversation pertaining to launching our own preschool innovative ideas. For the past thirty years I am an Executive Director of Kids Institute (Pvt) Ltd, the parent company of ABC School of Early Learning, and Kids Academy (Pvt) Ltd, the parent company of ABC Preschool.  

Sugi: I’m an alumna of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya, and Aquinas College of Higher Education, where I completed my higher education in Business Studies. Thereafter, I joined the Claremont Hotel School to train in Hotel Management and Culinary Arts. I worked for a couple of years in Marketing, and eventually gave up my career briefly to look after my child. When my child started first year of school, I joined the Open University of Nawala to qualify myself in Early Childhood Education. I also completed a Basic Certificate Course in Special Education at the Alpha to Omega Institute in India. I joined ABC School of Early Learning as a teacher in 1994, and eventually was promoted as the Principal of the school, and subsequently, also as a Director of the company.

How do you differentiate yourself ?
Ayoma: My daughters and close friends often tell me that I am a strong resilient woman who perseveres and copes with difficult circumstances and family challenges. Come what may, I do not let my organization down. If I take on a job or make a commitment to somebody, I will always see it through come what may.

Rupini: I am blessed with a very easy personality which cements relationships within an organization and helps to maintain contacts with external entities. 

Sugi: I am a very emotional person and is always willing to lend a hand to the less fortunate. I am a trainer and a motivator, who can keep a team well motivated.
How does ABC School of Early Learning differentiate itself from other competitors in the city?
Ayoma, Rupini and Sugi: At ABC, ‘Your Child as an Individual Comes First.’ Our team of well-trained staff and their humane attitude, provide a warm and comforting environment to the students. Our staff are an asset. We are a mainstream preschool and a leader in inclusive education (at preschool level). We have a professional unit of highly qualified Speech and Behavior Therapists working in-house to support students with different abilities. Our tried and tested curriculum has enabled many children to walk through our doors and become exemplary young men and women.

Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?
Ayoma: I get my inspiration from God and my mother is my mentor.

Rupini: My immense faith in God, my family and friends constantly inspire me. I have worked towards achieving my personal goals without attempting to emulate anyone in particular.

Sugi: My faith in Lord Jesus, and all his teachings, have inspired me to do the right thing always.

Your biggest regret?
Ayoma: My biggest regret is that I couldn’t continue my Masters in Early Childhood Education because of family commitments, and my duties as a mother.

Rupini: No regrets. I have done what I like and won’t touch anything I know I cannot pursue.

Sugi: No regrets. Every day is a new learning experience.

What is your biggest fear and how do you manage it ?
Ayoma, Rupini and Sugi: Our biggest fear was during the start of the global pandemic. We were uncertain about the future of our schools. Would we be able to sustain the schools owing to the long periods of lockdown, etc. But, today, we are thankful for all our blessings. We managed to stay afloat and here we are celebrating thirty years of the school. 

How do you keep your team motivated despite conflicts and obstacles?
Ayoma, Rupini and Sugi: We keep the team motivated by acknowledging their strengths and by encouraging them to be innovative and creative. We give them the freedom to use their ideas and work together for the betterment of the organization. We always ensure everyone works as a team.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Ayoma and Rupini: The highlight of our career has been the establishment of two preschools, establishing a unit for inclusive education and hearing the gratitude from parents  for thirty years. Nothing brings us more joy, than hearing parents tell us that their kids are doing well because of the sound foundation they received during their Early Childhood Education.

What do you want to achieve next ?
Ayoma, Rupini and Sugi: We would like to be the pioneers in preschools that established a physical exercise programme for under six-year-old children, to develop agility, balance and encourage self-confidence and self-esteem as an extra-curricular activity. We will be launching this programme on the 14th of January 2022.

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career, what would it be?
Ayoma, Rupini and Sugi: Each of us have unlimited potential, and we can do anything we set our minds to.

Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Ayoma and Rupini: In ten years, we will hopefully be handing over all our duties to the Deputy Principals of the two schools. 

How do you want to be remembered one day?
Ayoma, Rupini and Sugi: We want to be remembered as kind, compassionate, caring, loving and patient women, who guided, molded and prepared many young minds to be able to face the world with confidence.