Huawei ‘Seeds for the Future’ programme launched for second time

Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) company has once again teamed up with the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure to launch Huawei’s global CSR programme ‘Seeds for the Future’, following its successful venture into Sri Lanka last year.
The aim of the programme is to support local ICT talents by presenting them with full sponsorships from Huawei where 10 selected Sri Lankan students from universities will get the chance to visit China on an ICT and Chinese culture influenced study trip.

The study trip is scheduled to take place for two weeks, from 4th to 18th November, and will allow the students to experience China’s traditional culture and engage in Chinese calligraphy and painting at the Beijing Language and Culture University during the first week in Beijing. The students will also have opportunities to study cutting-edge ICT technologies such as 5G, cloud computing and have hands-on practice at Huawei Headquarters’ most advanced labs located in Shenzhen, the Silicon 
Valley of China.

Huawei’s aim is to provide educational support to aspire youth in the field of ICT in the hopes of further empowering Sri Lanka’s digital infrastructure and thus give back to the economy. Over the recent year, Huawei has been instrumental in aligning a pathway towards empowering ICT in Sri Lanka through the introduction of the Customer Solutions Innovation and Integration Experience Center facility and paving the way for stronger global ICT knowledge exchange. Commenting on Huawei’s approach with their CSR programme for the second year running, Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando stated: “’Seeds for the Future’ initiative by Huawei is another contribution to ICT industry in Sri Lanka. Last year’s study trip enhanced students’ abilities to adapt to the ICT industry as they learned more about state-of-the-art technologies and skills, as well as the innovation needs of Sri Lankan market. We appreciate Huawei’s contribution for this great programme which benefits local communities, universities, students, and Sri Lankan ICT industry.”
‘Seeds for the Future’ is Huawei’s flagship CSR programme which was first initiated in 2008. Over the course of the programme, Huawei shares its ICT expertise and experience in managing a multinational with young ICT professionals, and helps fuel the development of local ICT industries.
Adding his insight into the importance of such a programme for a country such as Sri Lanka, the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang speaking at the event highlighted that Sri Lanka and China have a long history of friendship and that he appreciates that Huawei as a global Chinese multinational has come forward to help Sri Lanka’s future development by way of technological transformation.

He further said that he believes that the students will gain the opportunity to learn about Chinese culture while bringing in technological innovation they gain from the study tour to the future development of Sri Lanka. Speaking at the launch of the CSR programme for the second time in Sri Lanka, Huawei Sri Lanka Chief Executive Officer Shunli Wang said: “ICT has become a crucial growth engine for many different industries. As a global ICT leader, Huawei is committed to promoting ICT industry development in the countries it operates, and aims to drive long-term economic, social, and environmental sustainability. This year, we sponsor another 10 university students to develop local ICT talent and enhance 
knowledge transfer.”