Citi-CandleAid Lanka hold youth career guidance workshop

4 December 2015 06:30 pm Views - 3179

As part of Citi’s CSR initiatives in Sri Lanka, 26 undergraduates attended a career guidance workshop where they were taught about career choices and entrepreneurship. The workshop held over two weekends was conducted by CandleAid Lanka, an approved government charity, and Forte, a consultancy for people development.
CandleAid Lanka, with its motto ‘It is better by far to light a solitary candle than to curse the darkness’ developed the methodology to streamline the applications and coordinated the entire effort on behalf of Citi.
Citi Country Officer for Sri Lanka Ravin Basnayake, who attend the event, said, “We are certain that this workshop raised awareness on the importance of career guidance. It also highlighted the need for youth to choose their own career path and learn how to achieve the kind of career they want, thereby contributing to the economic development of Sri Lanka.”
Forte Chief Executive Officer/Program Facilitator Rozaine Cooray said, “The highlight of the programs was the mentoring group structures, where trained mentors worked with groups of four participants throughout the four days to make sure that everyone’s growth was facilitated. The entire programme was designed after studying the sample and according to a psychological methodology where learning is encouraged gradually and progressively.”
The activities aimed at creating self-awareness took the approach of one-on-one coaching sessions conducted by trained coaches. Amongst the themes covered were team work, business etiquette, as well as interviews and presentations skills.
Citi employees actively leveraged their professional skills and experience by volunteering as facilitators during the workshop. Many felt that providing the right career education at an early age was the foundation to providing a better future for the youth of Sri Lanka.