Unconditional Compassion | Foundation of Goodness

Picture courtesy of Highgate School

A prestigious British school has raised more than GBP £53,500 for the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) to support its work improving the lives of children and the wider community of the Seenigama and Malawenna region in Sri Lanka.

On 20th October 2006, 1200 students, teachers and parents from Highgate School in London, UK, collectively walked 8,000km – the distance from the school to Malawenna – to assist children and the wider community who were affected by the tsumani.

Event co-ordinators Julia Challender, Principal of the Junior School, and Matt Price, Head of Geography, were delighted by the achievement of the students and supporters who made a huge effort to find as many sponsors as possible.

‘Such generosity was inspired by the work of the Foundation of Goodness to improve the lives of children and adults whose lives have been blighted by tragedy and poverty, and a desire to contribute to its work and to help create a brighter future for the community,’ Ms Challender said.

Pictures courtesy of Highgate School

The school has a long history of charity work including support of earlier projects in at Malawenna School, which Ms Challender viewed first-hand on a visit to Sri Lanka last year.

The sponsored walk contribution will make a substantial difference to a range of important projects, including:

• Restoring and improving tsunami damaged Malawenna School, including a new play park and playground, and a computer lecturer for two years
• Providing 100 essential school packs for children in need
• Restoring and improving other schools in the area, including provision of sports equipment and salaries for specialist teachers
• Partly sponsoring building accommodation for volunteers
• Providing interest-free loans for village livelihood opportunities
• Fulfilling numerous requests for Children’s Committee Development Fund and after-school clubs.

FoG’s trustee and founder Kushil Gunasekera visited Highgate School last year to speak with students about the impact of the tsunami. He has applauded the enormous effort made by Highgate, in particular Ms Challender and Mr Price, who were instrumental in organising the walk.

‘The Foundation of Goodness is overwhelmed by what Highgate has done in to raise an unprecedented sum of money that will add so much value to our ongoing projects, and elevate the standards in the schools for the future well being and prosperity of disadvantaged village children,’ he said.

With many of the projects starting this month, it is clear to see how much difference the donations raised will benefit the area. Thanks to the efforts of Highgate School, the lives of the villagers will be immeasurably improved.
View article on Highgate School website.

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