ANITRA PERERA: BREAKING BARRIERS TO CREATE A PROGRESSIVE FUTURE

Education and skills development are crucial to creating opportunities for women as we head towards a more equitable Sri Lanka.

Anitra Perera is not an activist. She is not looking for controversy, but “I care,” she expressed. “I care about human rights, and I equally care about animal rights. My passion is working with people, both kids and adults.” She is the Managing Director/ Coordinating Principal of Alethea International School & Alethea School, whose leadership transformed the school into a leader in technology-driven new-age education. In this interview, she shares with Echelon the story behind her inspiration to become an educator and how education helps create opportunities as Sri Lanka inches towards becoming a more progressive nation.

Being a member of several organizations, including the Rotary Club of Colombo, WCIC, SLID and the National Council for Child and Youth Welfare, why is volunteering important to you and your way of contributing to society?

I come from a family that has been in education for a long time, and community service is a treasured part of our lives, from my late great-grandparents, and my mother, to us. For me, community service is fulfilling and helps you familiarize yourself with your community and connect with people.

It helps people obtain a different perspective in life, making it a valuable opportunity to grow as an individual, and learn how you fit into the world and community around you. We can only give our best in the short time we have, and volunteering to support worthy causes is something I’ve always been passionate about and will never regret. Giving back to the place you call home helps to unite the country and bridge some of the social, economic and political gaps we face in Sri Lanka currently.

Is it this dedication to serve that inspired you to become an educator?

I always wanted to be a pilot when I was a young girl at school, but that changed as I continued to see my mother’s example. Seeing how the kids looked up to her and the impact she made on those children’s lives, helping them reach their highest potential inspired me to become an educator. I discovered my passion for education and teaching through her.

It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but constantly learning and growing, seeing the unique perspectives children have on the world, and being able to make a positive impact on your students is very fulfilling, and the tiniest thing could go a long way and change someone’s life. I enjoy being around kids and find them to be a source of constant learning and growth. Children have a unique perspective on the world, and they can teach us valuable lessons if we’re open to learning from them.

How have you approached the demanding task of being an educator and a leader while maintaining a healthy work-life balance?

It’s challenging but essential, especially as a leader. Leadership, work-life balance and well-being don’t go well together, according to some leaders. But figuring out that Gordian knot has to be your goal if you want a long and productive leadership career, and you want to support your team in becoming successful as well.

I always talk with my team about how important it is to set expectations and communicate openly. Being transparent with your deadlines is especially important when you’re a leader, even in your personal life.

Being in the education sector can sometimes be stressful when prioritizing the tasks at hand with the available time. Following an organized schedule has helped me keep on top of my daily, weekly and monthly goals because you have to lead by example and set the tone for your team as a leader. We are all here for a brief period, so we have to make it productive and impactful without leaving room for anybody to say anything negative.

How has this perspective influenced your unique brand of leadership?

When you’re in the education industry, all eyes are on you. You have to lead by example in every step you take.

For me, leadership is about creating a team that supports each other to achieve set goals. It’s also about being there for them, for work or even a personal thing, and being happy because only then can you lead others to be happy too. I have to thank my late mother, as my role model she pushed me to reach my potential and I will always look up to her. She always had a unique leadership style where she got work done at the end of the day while everyone enjoyed working with her. She always said people should work with you and not under you, that’s how a team works well. Finally, I look forward to what the future holds for me and am excited about the changes to come.

What are your thoughts on Sri Lanka and where we are as a gender-inclusive nation?

I believe this is a challenge that every country faces, and Sri Lanka has its unique obstacles and progress levers just as any other country does. We have made some progress in becoming more inclusive, but there is always room for improvement. Sri Lankan women face challenges in gender-based violence, limited access to education and healthcare and low representation in decision-making positions, from the political to corporate fields.

Sri Lanka needs to provide equal opportunity for women and empower them, allowing them to take on greater responsibilities and leadership roles. We need people and organizations that take action rather than deliver lip service, especially on subjects including gender-based violence.

If we can remove these barriers, I’m confident we can create a better Sri Lanka where women have equal opportunities and contribute to their communities in more ways than they do today. Doing that will require much stronger legal frameworks and increased consideration for women. It would require greater access to education and people helping and empowering each other.

I believe that Sri Lanka is slowly heading in that direction, but we need to accelerate this, and we can do that by working together and moving towards a common goal.

While we work towards reaching that goal, how can women create opportunities for themselves to become the best they can be?

A lot of what I do is the result of following my mother’s example late Kumari Hapugalle Perera, who was my role model. I saw how she created better opportunities for herself and others to reach their full potential.

Obtaining an education and developing skills is crucial for women to create opportunities to grow. Many scholarships are available for women. Women should encourage other women to advance in their careers and develop using these opportunities.

Another important thing would be to build a strong network and support system in your relationships. Be brave and stand up for what you believe in; be your advocate against all the challenges we face, and don’t be afraid to take risks. These things have helped open up new opportunities and helped me reach my full potential.