Embracing our environmental and social responsibility, we at SA Ventures continue to fund two key initiatives that are embodied in our organizational constitution. These initiatives namely The Gnanam Education Trust (GET) and Socio-Economic Enterprise Development Trust (SEED) are a testament of our commitment towards posterity.
Gnanam Education Trust (GET)
The Gnanam Education Trust (GET) was established in 2011 by Mr. E.J. Gnanam in memory of his father, the late founder Deshamanya A.Y.S. Gnanam, to provide free education. As its first initiative, a site was established in Vavuniya for the provision of classes in English, Sinhala and IT. A second site was started in Jaffna in 2020 with two classrooms and a 20 seat IT Lab. This facility provides computer courses certified by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) and the Northern Province Tourism Board in addition to English, Sinhala and IT. Many thousands of students have taken advantage of the free facilities to further their knowledge.
GET also provides financial support for the education of the children of SAVL group employees up to high school and even higher education. Furthermore, it provides financial support for the higher education of these employees.
Socio Economic Enterprise Development Trust (SEED)
The Socioeconomic Enterprise Development (SEED) Trust is a long-term initiative fully funded by St. Anthony’s Ventures (Pvt) Ltd (SAVL). SEED is committed to empowering underserved rural communities and promoting sustainable development in Sri Lanka by providing training and development, financial capital and market access. Such communities include rural farmers, fishermen, artisans, and small businesses. SEED also sponsored a free online marketplace with call center support whereby farmers connect with consumers. Education is a key focus area, with free courses in ICT, Sinhala, and English provided through a collaboration with the Gnanam Education Trust for such communities and their children.
SEED Trust is also dedicated to environmental sustainability, with projects like coconut tree planting, mangrove replanting, and forest restoration to enhance biodiversity and reduce carbon footprints. Further, community health and well-being are integral to our work, with initiatives to improve access to clean water and sanitation.
