John Keells Foundation (JKF) conducted a successful campaign against gender based violence on 25th November 2019 to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, for the fourth successive year.

This year’s campaign was under the theme ‘Report for Support’ with the objective of raising awareness, both internally among the employees of the John Keells Group, and externally among selected communities on police helplines and support for victims of violence. The public campaign was carried out in five selected locations in collaboration with Sri Lanka Police and businesses of the John Keells Group – namely, Colombo 02, Elephant House factories, Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon, Keells Food Products and Keells Supermarkets.

Over 30 staff volunteers of the Group engaged in distributing approximately 10,000 information cards and 200 posters and creating awareness throughout the day amongst the police stations, government and private institutions and members of the community in Colombo 02, Ranala, Hikkaduwa, Kalutara and Ja-Ela.

The annual public campaign is one of the many initiatives carried out by JKF as part of ‘Project WAVE’ (Working Against Violence through Education) – a long-term initiative launched in 2014, to combat gender-based violence and child abuse through education and awareness creation encompassing employees of the Group, strategic target communities and the general public. Whilst external interventions have included sensitisation and training for police officers, lawyers, school children and community members, public transport campaigns have targeted both bus and train commuters of the City. JKF has also just completed its first train-the-trainer programme for volunteer staff resulting in 15 trainers who will be mobilized in future awareness creation within and outside the Group.

The John Keells Group firmly believes in promoting inclusivity and diversity in the workplace as an essential means of attracting talent and enhancing the productivity and wellbeing of its workforce. Its enabling policy framework includes Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination, Policy Against Sexual Harassment and HIV & AIDS Workplace Policy which are accompanied by ongoing awareness creation and a clear grievance handling mechanism.