It is this arm of Laureus that has been sponsoring coaching camps for a number of sports in Seenigama and its region, through the Foundation of Goodness (FoG).

The Laureus sponsored ‘Badminton Training
& Development Camp’ in full action

In early May, Hikkaduwa Sumangala Vidyalaya hosted the first Laureus-sponsored event which was a ‘Badminton Training & Development Camp’ for selected sporting youngsters from eight schools in the region.

Ashoka Welagedera designed the Camp that saw fifty participants, including nine girls, train under the age group categories of U-11, U-13, U-15 and U-17.

Volleyball enthusiasts take advantage
of the Laureus sponsored
‘Training & Development Camp’

Badminton wasn’t all. The Laureus’ Sports for Good Foundation also sponsored a ‘Volleyball Training & Development Camp’ during May.

The boys were grateful for this unique opportunity
to harness their Volleyball skills

This time the Seenigama Wimala Buddhi Maha Vidyala played host to the Camp for a sport which drew a massive participation of 140 players from eight schools in the surrounding region. The biggest participation was from the host school and Thotagamuwa Vijayaba MV which had 34 players each.

Once again the ‘Training & Development Camp’ was conducted under age categories U-13, U-15 and U-17 under the guidance of coaches Ananda Wannitilaka and Channa Jayasekara.

All Laureus funded sports have shown a great level of success during the time period the project has been in operation. Latest to the list of victories is the championship that U-15 and U-17 volleyball teams won at the Southern Province School Volleyball Competition in May.

The Laureus sponsored Swimming Camp in session

In June, a Laureus sponsored Swimming Coaching Camp was held. 65 Boys and 30 girls from 07 schools encompassing 13 villages in the region benefited from this event. It was conducted at the Bryan Adams pool complex in Seenigama, which was named after the magnanimous and legendary rock star to help nurture swimming and aquatic talent in Seenigama and the surrounding region. Experienced swimming coaches K. Janakalal and W.K. Yamuna Sharmalie conducted this Swimming Coaching Camp.

More Laureus funded ‘Training and Development Camps’ and competitions are planned for July and these include softball cricket, volleyball, x-country racing and beach volleyball. All these Laureus sponsored events encompass the youth of 16 villages.

Commenting on the ongoing Laureus sponsored 'Training and Development Camps' Kushil Gunasekera FoG's founder/trustee said "it's all about providing good facilities and exposure for hidden talent and skills to emerge for better things to begin. We need to now teach these talented sportsmen and sportswomen different skills and impart knowledge outside their respective sporting prowess with the aim of making them complete, gearing ahead for the future." He said "sustainability of all this is hard to describe but with sponsorship from the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and many other exceptional donors of the calibre of Surrey County Cricket Club, UK and The Bryan Adams Foundation to name a few, are making the waves of change in that right direction."

One of Laureus’ aims is to inspire hope and positive change for children around the world, using sport as a unique social vehicle. Laureus believes this brings people together and unites them. Laureus has definitely been making an encouraging change in the lives of the sporting youngsters of Seenigama and the region.

“Sport is a universal language
that unites and inspires”
-Laureus