15 Years of Laureus: A watch to change the world
May 14, 2014
Hasanga lives in a small town in Sri Lanka.
Like many 12 year olds in the country, he loves cricket and even takes part at a Laureus-supported project near his home town.
But that’s not his most unusual achievement.
Last year, he helped design one of the world’s most beautiful and exclusive watches.
This is because Hasanga was voted from hundreds of entries the winner of the Laureus IWC watch drawing competition.
In a tradition that goes back to 2006, every year Laureus Global Partner IWC Schaffhausen create a limited special edition watch for the benefit of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Engraved on the reverse of the watch each year is a design by one lucky child from a Laureus-supported project who has illustrated the winning picture.
The engraving is a reminder that a portion of the proceeds from sales is destined to help Laureus Sport for Good Foundation projects in some of the world’s most problematic regions.
The participants of the drawing competition are given a new sport theme every year as their inspiration. In 2012, the year Hasanga won, that theme was ‘Time to move’. This theme encouraged Hasanga to create his design showing a runner crossing a finishing line and throwing up his arms in jubilation.
Talking about the competition, Laureus Academy member Morné du Plessis said: “It is a perfect example of how Laureus can give opportunities to young people that they would not normally get. I would also like to thank IWC Schaffhausen for their support in this splendid initiative.”
Head over to IWC to learn more about their work with Laureus as one of our Global Partners. And check out the video of when young Hasanga won the competition below.
