Heart of a village gets a kick start with new
community activity centre
The small village of
Udumulla was joined by cricket stars,
businessmen and volunteers to celebrate the
opening of a new community activity centre,
built by the Foundation of Goodness as its debut
‘Village Heartbeat Project.’
The community centre is designed to
provide educational and cultural
opportunities for the people of Udumulla,
particularly for children and youth who
face major disadvantages due to lack of
resources in inland rural areas such as
theirs.
Young people and their parents can now
take free classes in English and
computing labs, use the library, enhance
their cultural knowledge as part of a
children’s goodness club and undertake
workshops held by visiting supporters
who stay in the volunteer’s cottage and
share their skills.
The Foundation of
Goodness’ Founder and Trustee Kushil Gunasekera
devised the project as a platform for the
younger generation to develop their potential to
its full extent, and he is passionate about
creating equal opportunity through education.
‘Even as a young boy,
I felt it was unfair that children from rural
areas were restricted from succeeding simply due
to their circumstances, no matter how talented
they might be,’ said Mr. Gunasekera.
‘I have worked for a long time to develop a way
for these children be given the chance to make
the most of their own future, and I believe that
the Village Heartbeat Project will do just
that,’ he said.
The community centre was officially opened on
the 18th August by Mr. Gunasekera, along with
Mr. Rienzie Wijetilleke, Chairman of Hatton
National Bank and former test cricketing star
Mr. Sidath Wettimuny. Buddhist monks offered
their blessings to the project, which could see
hundreds of people receive education free of
cost each year.
Over 60 children and
many parents crowded in to listen to the guests’
addresses which encouraged them to take
advantage of this opportunity and create a
brighter future for themselves.
Many have taken those words to heart, with 166
students showing up for the four English classes
in the first week, along with 108 for computer
training, which highlights the desperate need
for such a facility in the rural villages.
The volunteer cottage is already being used by
the community centre’s first volunteer, Miss
Upekha Weerasinghe, a first year University
student from the University of Chicago, studying
Economics, who is assisting in the teaching and
training programmes in the village.
Although born and bred in the United
States, she has decided to give back
what she has been blessed with to a less
privileged community, which is most
commendable.
She reports that the first week of
teaching was a great success, as the
teachers’ encouragement helped students
remain enthusiastic and eager to learn.
Access to computers was particularly
exciting for the children, and they are
already gaining confidence in operating
programs themselves. They have also
welcomed the opportunity to learn a
language other than their native
Sinhalese.
‘The week was a success…the students
were definitely excited to be there and
the teachers encouraged this enthusiasm.
Many parents even stayed and watched
proudly as their kids demonstrated what
they had learned,’ Miss Weerasinghe
said.
For Mr. Gunasekera, seeing the Udumulla
community centre underway was the
fruition of a lifelong dream – a dream
he hopes can spread to other villages in
need.
‘There are so many bright young people
whose chance to excel is blighted by
circumstances beyond their control,
particularly poverty. The Village
Heartbeat Project is proof that with a
little effort and support from generous
donors, this situation can be changed,’
he said.
‘I am extremely proud
that the Foundation of Goodness has facilitated
a step forward for the village of Udumulla, and
I believe that its success will show that this
project can be replicated around the nation, or
even across the globe, in developing nations, to
help make real change a reality.’
This project would never have materialized if
not for the following caring donors of
exceptional kindness and concern in harnessing
the talent and skill of the less privileged
community for better prospects:
• Muralidaran, Vaas &
Gunasekera Foundation
• Mr. Ivan Sovis/Dubai Consortium
• Village to Village, Upper Slaughter,
Cotswolds, UK
• Dr Naj Nagendran/Sember Trust, USA
• LCF Montessori Tsunami Relief Fund, USA
• Ladies’ Circle, City of Nottingham, UK
• Geneva Global, USA
• Highgate School, UK
• Shelton Trust, UK
Programmes:
• English teaching
• Computer training
• Library
• Youth & Women’s empowerment programme
• Children’s Goodness club activities
• Children & youth skills development work
• Village/ environment improvement plans
• Spiritual training to enrich the quality of
life
• Volunteer expertise oriented programmes
• Volunteer accommodation cottage
