Another new partnership on livelihood development initiated during the year in review is the Foundation’s collaboration with John Keells Group hotel, Cinnamon Lodge Habarana in an environment cum community development initiative.

This project primarily involves the installation and operation of a paper recycling plant in the premises of Cinnamon Lodge in partnership with Maximus, a pioneer company in paper recycling which exports approximately 90% of their products. Whilst the main objective of the initiative is to produce value added products using recycled paper manufactured in the paper recycling plant, it is at the same time designed as a livelihood development initiative seeking to provide direct employment and training to operators selected from in and around Habarana. Moreover, the livelihood component is planned primarily as a women’s empowerment initiative which would train and equip women from selected low income families who could be developed in the longer term to potentially work from their homes. The project is also intended to have the added benefit of educating children and the rural community on the paper recycling process as well as environmental friendly practices.