Ensuring further commitment to the people aspect of the triple bottom line, AFC has undertaken a project to support social businesses, by partnering Ath Pavura – a reality TV program.
Ath Pavura (Elephant wall) is a pioneering initiative of Lanka Impact Investing network (LINN) and Social Enterprise Lanka to support social enterprises with a notable positive impact on the environment and/or society. It is a reality TV program in the format of Shark Tank- USA and Dragon’s Den – UK, which specifically supports social entrepreneurs to kick-start their businesses. The impact investors known as Tuskers who represent this forum are the successful entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka, with a strong track record of doing business in their industry sphere. AFC has invested in several exclusive social enterprises during mission I and II in the following categories.
- Organic Aloe vera cultivation
- Value addition to underutilized local fruits and vegetables
- Healthy breakfast for nation
- Tree Nursery
- Natural mosquito repellent
In Sri Lanka there are not many forums that support the emerging social entrepreneurs, thus valuable ideas tend to die prematurely, with their invaluable outcomes never reaching the society and the environment. Ath Pavura has been formed to bridge this gap and encourage social entrepreneurs to voice their products and bargain for investments, to develop their businesses whilst creating the desired impact for the social and environmental wellbeing. It is a forum that enables sustainable value creation which is also a prime objective of AFC. It also enables AFC to contribute towards the number of Sustainable Development Goals, for which the company has pledged by signing the Karlsruhe resolution.
