The Foundation of Goodness has been providing services and facilities to uplift the lives of rural communities along the southwest coast of Sri Lanka since 1999. After the 2004 Tsunami, work has focused on empowering local people through opportunities for education, employment and healthcare, enabling rural communities to tackle poverty through positive activities.
The Tsunami not only swept away houses and loved ones, but livelihoods too. The worst hit were those who used to dive for coral which was then burnt in village kilns to make quicklime. Research found that in areas where the coral reefs had been decimated by generations of coral miners, the waves hit with greater ferocity and traveled up to 2km inland, as was the case in and around Seenigama.
The Foundation of Goodness spotted an opportunity to harness the skills of young coral divers from the Seenigama region, when IYF-Nokia expressed interest in funding a micro-finance programme in the area. After discussions with Mr Jean-Pierre Isbendjian, the Program Director of IYF, who was already working with the Foundation of Goodness to deliver the Women's Enterprise and Business Skills Centres, the plans were approved and rapid progress was made to make ready this vital facility to upskill and empower rural youth.
The Seenigma Diving & Training Centre sponsored with the kind courtesy of International Youth Foundation (IYF) – USA/ Nokia, was declared open by the US Ambassador His Excellency Robert Blake on 08th August 2008.
The Diving & Training Centre delivers 3 month long professional diving courses including Professional Diving Class III & under water Welding/Cutting. At a cost of $400 per student, this is a high quality, value for money facility, the like of which has probably never been seen to benefit rural communities. The Head Instructor is Mr Alan Sahabandu and Mr A H Atula, Mr Raski Wijesiri and Mr D M Ubeysiri are the Sub Instructors.
The first graduation ceremony was held on 27th March 2009 and the Guest of Honour was Mr Jean-Pierre Isbendjian, the Program Director of IYF. Mr Kushil Gunasekera, the Founder/ Trustee of the Foundation of Goodness, also graced this occasion.
12 students graduated on this day in Professional Diving Class III & Under water Welding/ Cutting.
There were 3 students who graduated only in Professional Diving Class III course as they found job opportunities as soon as they completed the course and so were unable to continue with the Underwater Welding Course.
Currently 26 students are following the courses at the Seenigama Diving & Training Centre. They will graduate at the end of May 2009.
Commenting on the Diving & Training Centre, Jean Pierre said “I had my reservations about this project at the beginning because we wanted to support a micro-finance programme. But after discussion with the Foundation of Goodness I agreed to try this new concept, and today it is one of my favourite projects funded by IYF”.
Kushil Gunasekera notes that “it is because of the generosity and sometimes the willingness to try new things of our donors and supporters that we are able to respond directly to local needs. We have an understanding of local conditions and culture and this Diving Centre is evidence that with the right facilities and opportunities, our youth can excel, so that they can have all the chances for employment that are usually only available to those educated and trained in more affluent urban areas.”
Story filed by Suranga Jayasekare Arachige, Sector Manager for the Diving & Training Centre, Women's Enterprise, Business Skills and Environment Management and Quen Geuter, Development Management.
High Society support for Foundation of Goodness
The traditional Cannonball Run at Galle Face Hotel {http://www.gallefacehotel.com/}, Colombo, brought a touch of glamour and high society fun to the Foundation of Goodness's quest for sustainable funding this week, .
Harnessing his cricket connections, Kushil Gunasekera, joined Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda De Silva at the event which has been a long-standing tradition at the stunning hotel, a throwback to the days when British gentlemen made their entertainment, far away from home, in all sorts of strange activities and social events.
Jayasuriya and De Silva made history to be the first competitors to finish in tied place in their run down Galle Face Green, the challenge: to be the first to touch the eponymous cannonball. Even off the pitch these two Sri Lanka Cricket superstars practice the highest art of sportsmanship and teamwork.
In a gesture of great generosity the Galle Face Hotel took the opportunity to make a donation of R100,000/- towards the Foundation of Goodness's work, which has been recognized by leading research university RMIT, Melbourne, Australia as one of the best post-Tsunami reconstruction projects they have seen.
- Quen Geuter, Development Management
2009.04.06 |
