Disaster Response and Peace Building

When the Tsunami struck the Sri Lanka coast on 26th December 2004, the Foundation of Goodness was able to respond quickly to the disaster by mobilising villagers, coordinating volunteer efforts and providing the emergency items needed.

As the months passed, the Foundation of Goodness became a point of contact for donors wishing to help. The good reputation of the Foundation and its Founder, Kushil Gunasekera, as well as awareness raising campaigns by prestigious supporters Murali, Chaminda Vaas and Kumar Sangakkara as well as many others, ensured that the village was able to quickly clean-up and rebuild.

Early achievements included:

With a proven track record in disaster response, underpinned by a commitment to empowerment and skills development, the Foundation of Goodness is committed to peace-building and community development in this new and historic era for Sri Lanka.

5 Year Tsunami Anniversary - A Moment for Reflection
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A Personal Challenge to Help People in Need: One Step at a Time
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FOUNDATION OF GOODNESS IS TEN YEARS OLD!
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‘Same vision from top to bottom of the organization’: Reflections on the achievements of the Foundation of Goodness
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SUSTAINABILITY IS OF ESSENSE
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VOLUNTEERS SWING INTO ACTION
IN SEENIGAMA
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Volunteer action in Seenigama – helping to make a difference
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‘Lahiru’ accommodation centre reopens for FoG visitors
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Volunteer action in Seenigama
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FoG opens first class sports facilities in Seenigama
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FoG opens first class sports facilities in Seenigama
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High tech computers donated to Centre of Excellence
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The MCC Centre of Excellence gets underway
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Aussies show their support as Kuhil tours down-under
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Mission: possible – FoG celebrates the 500th new and 400th restored home  23-December-2006
The Foundation of Goodness (FoG) is celebrating handing over the 500th new and 400th restored home to villagers from Seenigama and its surrounds, who suffered massive loses following the 2004 tsunami disaster......


SACRE COEUR   17th August 2006
In early October Kushil Gunasekera, the Founder / Trustee of the Foundation of Goodness flew to Australia to surprise his daughters on their birthday....

Volunteer Kindness from Melbourne    12th October 2006
Despite the destruction caused by the tsunami the blessings that it has brought have been many fold and varied. One such blessing, to which no monetary value can be attached, has been...

Seenigama Devale Perahera 2006    29th September 2006
From 1st to 7th September 2006, Seenigama celebrated its 39th Perehera, the largest Perahera in the Galle District and one of the most famous Peraheras in the Southern region...

Rebuilding Lives    14th September 2006
Do you think another tsunami will come? It would be great if I didn't have to wear my life jacket to bed anymore. I worry that the waves might come while I'm sleeping...


The Cruse Family - A Tribute    6th September 2006
The tsunami took the lives of my entire family, sparing myself, my sister and our grandmother. Now, we are all that we have, but we have to survive and move on...


From Tears to Pearls    31st August 2006
The rebuilding of homes for the tsunami affected provides them with the opportunity to restart their lives. This also provides them with the opportunity to have a change of attitude towards life...


Rekindling Hopes    17th August 2006
The following is a story about a gentleman who saw the plight of villagers - not necessarily those affected by the tsunami, but those with basic human needs...

In Recognition of a Seenigama Legend    July 2006
Since the tsunami struck the shores of Seenigama, a vast array of inspirational and admirable figures have passed through the region, leaving their mark and brightening lives in their own special and unique ways...


The Waves that Carried Us Across the Globe    July 2006
Less than two years ago, the Foundation of Goodness existed as a Sri Lankan charity on a very small scale. Seenigama, a coastal village where the Foundation is based, was hardly on the map...


Equitable Endowments    June 2006
Although the tsunami tragically swept away homes, lives and belongings, it did so indiscriminately, as nature does, and so our hearts should give...


The True Power of Compassion    June 2006
As a young boy growing up in the small coastal village of Seenigama in South West Sri Lanka, Kushil Gunasekera felt extremely lucky and privileged that he had access to a good education...


A Daily Struggle    June 2006
Three years ago, Ishara Buddhika was like any other child. Gradually his ability to speak deteriorated and now, at six years of age, he cannot speak a single word...

Fame Without the Fortune    May 2006
A good friend of mine recently won a Gold Medal for Backstroke in the 2006 Commonwelth Games in Melbourne. She lives comfortably in a four-bedroom double-storey home with...

Seven Years of Community Development    4th March 2006
On 3rd March 2006 at 5:57am, the Foundation of Goodness celebrated its 7th year of community development ...

Towards a Rural Community Model  
  19th February 2006
Almost seven years ago, things were quite different at the Foundation of Goodness ...

Maintaining the Balance    5th February 2006
Since its inception almost seven years ago, The Foundation of Goodness has been involved in .

Balancing the Generosity    9th January 2006
Over the past year, the magnanimous waves that have poured in to the Seenigama region ...


Looking Ahead - One Year Since the Tsunami   
 27th December 2005
An unbelievable year has passed since that fateful day when the tsunami hit Sri Lanka ...

 Generosity Knows No Limits    20th November 2005
Undoubtedly one of the most enriching times that the region has experienced...

We Salute the Rotary District 5150 of San Francisco    31st October 2005
The Foundation of Goodness salutes the Rotary District 5150 of San Francisco, USA...

New Industries Provide New Incomes in Seenigama    17th October 2005
Last week we opened a fantastic new factory in Seenigama...

Seenigama Honors Jillian Ray for a Year of Service and Friendship    10th October 2005
On August 28th, the Villagers of Seenigama hosted a ceremony

A New Van to Help Seenigama    4th October 2005
The Foundation of Goodness has been gifted its first official vehicle !

Our Salute to Australian Support    27th September 2005
The Foundation of Goodness has been overwhelmed by support from Australian individuals, businesses

Shali Runs with Hope    27 September 2005
Miss N.H. Samanmali or 'Shali' as she is known is a 10 year old Seenigama girl

Highlights of the 7 months    19 September 2005
Houses Completed - Over 90 homes have been rebuilt

Tribute to the Outstanding Volunteers   
 19 September 2005
Volunteers from near and far have made an incredible impact on the rehabilitation

Positive Feedback from Volunteers and Donors   
 12 August 2005

Mondo Challenge    29 July 2005
As we have reported previously the Mondo Challenge organisation has


Proud of our Progress    29 July 2005
The Foundation of Goodness staff, volunteers, Village Management

Charity Evening Hosted by Muttiah Muralitharan    
15 June 2005

Young Donors Making a Difference    29 May 2005
The Foundation of Goodness would like to highlight the generous contribution of some of our youngest donors.

Lefarge Mahaweli Cement    28June 2005
The Foundation of Goodness would like to especially thank Lefarge Mahaweli Cement

Wesak Poya Day Lights Up Seenigama    3 June 2005
The day of Wesak is the most important, beautiful and solemn of the Buddhist

MondoChallenge Helping Seenigama    15 May 2005
The Foundation of Goodness is deeply appreciative to the Sri Lankan branch of Mondo Challenge

SARAID    1 April 2005
The Foundation of Goodness would like to make special mention of the wonderful

Operation Phoenix    1 April 2005
People all over the world have taken action to help victims of the Tsunami,

Cricket star Muttiah Muralitharan warns that post tsunami relief in Sri Lanka needs to be stepped up    16 March 2005

Sinhala and Tamil New Year Brings Seenigama Together    21 April 2005
Seenigama was again alive with spirit over the "Avurudu" period, from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 April.

Village Management Committee    12 March 2005
The set up of a "village management committee" was a major step forward last week.

Livelihoods    4 March 2005
Five cement block machines have been purchased and are being set up in the village.

Volunteers    1 April 2005
In a volunteer we are looking for committed and dedicated people


In Kind Donations    1 April 2005
The Foundation would like to make special mention of the following Individuals and


Scotsman's Love for SriLanka helps Village School Get Back to Basics    16 March 2005
Scotland's Stewart Ritchie and his wife Heather first fell in love with Sri Lanka whn they arrived in April 1985.


Arts and Drama group helps Village Kids Cope    20 March 2005
A team from UK-based FUN FOR LIFE (www.funforlife.org) is currently spending one month in Sri Lanka


Shane Warne Visit a Massive Success    3 March 2005
The Foundation of Goodness was enormously privileged


Children’s Needs    20 March 2005
Kushil and Rushmi met with the principals of the five schools in the area


International Volunteers    28 March 2005
In addition to the vast number of local volunteers


New York Board of Trade Serendipidous Giving     20 February 2005
It is with enormous gratitude that we thank the New York Board of Trade


Disaster Counseling    28 March 2005
The Foundation of Goodness has agreed to collaborate with a US mental health organization called ‘Disaster Psychiatry Outreach’.


Elderly Needs – Spectacles     25 February 2005
The elderly committee identified that many people had lost their spectacles and


Women’s Needs    14 February 2005
Underwear for 75 women was delivered by the women’s committee volunteers.


Update 6 February 2005    
Seenigama Camp Winding Up for the Benefit of All : It is easy to imagine how difficult it is for families to live with no privacy and space for a long period of time. As such, the Foundation of Goodness and village people have agreed that the camp run out of the Seenigama Temple will be officially coming to an end by 15 February 2005.


Update 22 January 2005    
Kushil’s Bungalow Transformed : The Relief Centre Secretariat has now been moved to Kushil’s Bungalow in Seenigama. Thanks to the hard work of USAID and local volunteers Kushil’s bungalow, has been cleaned is the new hub of communications and co-ordination of relief in Seenigama.


Update 15 January 2005    
Cleaning: The most striking update in the Seenigama area is the improvement in appearance of the villages as a result of the ‘clean-up’ project, facilitated through the Foundation of Goodness and the USAID Office of Transition Initia