Coronavirus- Challenges and Opportunities for Bright Days Ahead
View(s):Social Entrepreneur and Executive Director of Rainbow Institute of Communication, Manique Mendis, shares her experience in working at home though the pandemic
The coronavirus monster has cast gloom around all parts of the globe.
We in Sri Lanka are grappling with this unprecedented situation in our own way.
Our vocabulary is enriched with new words- coronavirus, covid 19, pandemic, lock down. A whole new world has opened to us even as we are confined to our homes.
We feel helpless and hopeless as we are inundated with news from the traditional and social media.
Our main focus is how to escape the pervading threat of the deadly virus. Staying at home, Washing hands, wearing masks, drinking hot water, gargling the throat…
Then comes the critical need- food. Neighbours who rarely communicated with one another rise to the occasion and provide alerts on vendors who come occasionally.
PLATFORM FOR DISCUSSION
Social media provides a platform for discussions on where to get essentials, what supermarket online system is working, which food outlets are engaging in home delivery.
Social media provides a platform to vent out anger against online stores that are exploiting the crisis and making huge profits. Wealthy housewives are grabbing the opportunity to post pictures of the exotic dishes they are turning out during this difficult times, indifferent to those who have lost their incomes and are starving,
For those of us who have been working hard most of our lives, lock down provides a rare chance for much needed rest. How wonderful to just stay at home doing nothing but laze away watch movies, eat , peg onto social media and sleep and sleep and sleep !
A little bit of house work is thrown in to ease one’s conscience, as well as some attempts to help lesser fortunate.
TAKE STOCK OF ONE’S LIFE
However even as life goes on in a strange and uncertain way, let us take stock on the very purpose of our existence. The only thing that is sure is that our journey in life is short. Time flies. With or without coronavirus, we do not know when the end for us will come.
Over the last 10 years, Rainbow Institute of Communication and English has been committed to empowering Sri Lankan children, youth and adults with communication skills, English and soft skills. As a social enterprise working with social impact as our prime objective, we have been reinvesting our profits in expansion to reach larger and more diverse groups across the country and change their lives for the better.
CONTINUE TO MAKE AN IMPACT
So what now? How do we overcome the colossal challenges of the coronavirus pandemic? How do we as an organization safeguard and support our students, clients, staff and business? How do we continue to make an impact in these dark days?
Having brain- stormed with our staff and stakeholders, we have realised that this is not a time for us to be in despair.
We have so much to be grateful for. Our staff remains committed to our mission. We at Rainbow Institute have a wealth of talents, skills and knowledge we can continue to share. We can uplift others and bring light to gloomy places.
TIME TO ACCELERATE SERVICE
Even as people are suffering and starving, this is not a time for profiteering.
We at Rainbow Institute of Communication are doing our part by offering our services free of charge to the large number of alumni who have gone through our portals over the last decade. We have started refresher courses in English, Communication and soft skills, using on line platforms. We are also continuing our regular small group training online.
Even as we are piloting these programmes, we realize that students who are confined to their homes are extremely enthusiastic to develop their knowledge and skills and engage in practical learning activities and lively discussions and debates with their trainers. The online sessions are also a providing a vibrant platform for students to interact with one another. All online sessions are carefully planned, monitored and feedback obtained to ensure that objectives are effectively met.
NEW PROGRAMMES
The lock down time at home is also used by our trainers to develop new curricula and for staff to discuss special needs of corporate clients with the intention of tailoring specific programmes to meet their special needs.
We really do not know when this pandemic and current crisis will end. However, we are clearly proving that by being positive and pursing our mission, our own spirits are high. By seeing the fruits of our labour in empowering others amidst the new challenges, we continue to gain enormous personal and professional fulfilment and enjoy working from home.
OPTIMISM AND INNOVATION
WITH SERVICE
Through our experience in working from home, our message is “Be optimistic. Be innovative. Do what you can to help others”
As Sri Lankans representing diverse races, religions, social and professional back grounds, let us unite in our quest to uplift and one another . Together we shall overcome. We shall see bright days ahead in our beautiful island nation.
Act Now. Call Manique on 0777 352118, or 0114380400 for further information to arrange personalized training online.
RAINBOW INSTITUTE OF COMMUNICATION
28, School Lane, Colpetty, Sri Lanka
Web: www.rainbowinstitute.lk
Facebook: Rainbow Institute Lanka Pvt Ltd.