Never have rural children had such opportunities to sample so many sports. Often even the basic training in school sports is limited due to a lack of facilities, equipment and skilled coaches. But at the Seenigama Sports Academy, children have access to first class facilities and an ever-broadening range of sports to try.

Thanks to the help of skilled volunteers, over the last few months, the children and young people from Seenigama and the region have had access to Yoga, Pilates and Karate classes.

Yoga classes were held on the 17th December 2009 at the Sports Complex. Gitan Rajapakse, the well known Sri Lankan Yoga Instructor organised the visit by Yogacahrini Maitreyi from Chennai. The class involved all the coaches - cricket, volleyball, netball, swimming and badminton so that they could continue Maitreyi's teachings,  along with a selected number of students for this programme, with a total number of 50 people aged 13-35 taking part.

Later in December we were very lucky to have the expertise of Laureus Sport for Good Foundation staff member and enthusiastic volunteer Rebecca Malcolm, from the UK, who spent three weeks in the village teaching Pilates to the netball and cricket ladies. They were amazed at the difficulty of the stretches and commented that it was one of their favourite programmes of the year.

To introduce 2010 in good style, the Foundation of Goodness has been fortunate to have the help of Shakila and Chandana, a Sri Lankan-American couple who have spent two days a week in Seenigama since January. While they hoped to help with IT and English classes, they found their niche giving Karate classes to a group of enthusiastic children at Aviva Village, at Udumulla Village Heartbeat Project and at Seenigama Sports Academy. In total 90 children took part in at least one class, with 15 taking part in 3 or more of the 9 classes held.

Shakila and Chandana completed their time in Seenigama by ensuring classes can continue, by recruiting and supporting the costs of a local instructor to ensure that the skills of the young people can continue to develop over the next 12 months.

In a low-key event to mark the handover to Mr Sumith Ginige, a class was held at the Aviva Community Centre for 15 enthusiastic students, and the handover of karate kits to eight children from Seenigama who had shown the most commitment over the previous months.

 This was followed by a demonstration by Mr. Ginige’s existing students, which was both exhilarating and unexpected in the skills that the students were able to demonstrate, including breaking bricks with their hands.
These classes that are accessible to the children of the villages help to build confidence, healthiness in mind and body and also bring the community together.

Kushil, Founder and Trustee of the Foundation of Goodness is keen to explore how sport can open up new opportunities for village children and youth, and help to bridge the gap between the rural and urban. “The work that the volunteers do in Seenigama, for the children of the region, is remarkable and I know that the experiences will be remembered in years to come and they will feel the happiness that comes from helping those in need. These sports in particular are great for the children because of the combination of mental discipline with physical control. We wish to reiterate to all who have been involved our sincere thanks and hope they will return to the village to see the fruits of their labour as the children go on to excel - as they surely will.”

“You give but little when you give
of your possessions.  It is when you
give of yourself that you truly give” 
~Kahlil Gibran

2010.03.08