In the “Festival for the Future” event, award-winning Sri Lankan conservationist Anoka Abeyrathne (Class of 2018) shared insights on her current work to empower women and young girls through eco-social entrepreneurship so they can escape poverty, harassment, and other effectively respond to other challenges. She discussed the importance of supporting women to become self-sufficient so that they can make their own decisions, and not be forced to end their education early due to their families’ financial difficulties or other circumstances. Through eco-social entrepreneurship, they are able to build their own communities to be healthier through conservation, earn a living through eco-tourism and handicrafts while being able to continue their education.