OUR DAYS OF VOLUNTEERING AT THE FOUNDATION OF GOODNESS SEENIGAMA SRI LANKA
JULY 6TH – JULY 19TH 2010

 The HELPING HANDS YOUTH GROUP, a small group of four high school kids and three adults from Minnesota USA, went to Seenigama Sri Lanka to do volunteer work at the Foundation of Goodness.

The Group was formed by three of the kids who came from Sri Lankan heritage.  They decided to go do volunteer work in Sri Lanka, especially since the tsunami had affected a great part of Sri Lanka and people are still in need of help.

Not knowing exactly what to expect, they decided to bring teaching materials for the pre school and the English classes at the Foundation. They also collected several projects to do with the ‘CHILDRENS GOODNESS CLUB’

The kids did some fundraising projects here in the US to buy the materials the Foundation needed; such as medical supplies for the medical center, English flash cards, learning materials, games and craft supplies.  They also collected a sum of money to donate once they got there.

When they were at the Foundation they found out that the village school nearby needed a class - room painted. So they bought paint and supplies and painted the class- room and an outer wall of the nearby school.

The first couple of days were a bit hard. The kids were nervous about working in the pre-school and teaching the little - ones as they did not speak any Sinhalese. But very soon they became very comfortable with the little Sri Lankan kids. Even with the difficulties they had with communication, they were able to relate to them and they all had a lot of fun lots of laughs, hugs and smiles.

They walked every day through the village, from the Sports Center to the MCC Centre of Excellence and they felt very comfortable being a part of the community. They enjoyed the walks to the beach, and the three - wheeler rides to the village to get groceries and supplies. The kids just embraced the environment and the people that they met on these outings, as if they belonged there.

They hope that they truly were able to influence and help some of the kids they worked and played with, that they were able to ‘touch their hearts’ and make a difference in their lives. In return these kids learned so many things too, like living a simple life, humility, love and compassion for all but more importantly with numerous difficulties they are still content, smiling and happy.

The best of all was how they could have a lot in common with other kids clear across the world, speaking a different language and of a different culture and being on equal level breaking all barriers. They all became friends promising to meet again next year.

This experience that they had at the Foundation and the lessons they learnt will be remembered and cherished always.

Kushil, the Founder/Trustee was full of praise for the group to have undertaken such a worthy initiative especially for the young adults to whom this experience will stand in good stead  for a future with less complaints more to share and sincerely care for the well being of those in need which is what counts at the end.

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good”

Inspiring the Pre-school kids to move forward in their English by writing their names.

Through sports, we broke language and cultural barriers and built friendship with the Children’s Goodness Club.

Interacting with the Goodness Club through crafts and knitting.

Children are the same all over the world. No matter what the differences are, friendships
can be made.

English is the universal language.  So by teaching the English classes,  we are helping to
connect the world together.

No language is necessary when making crafts and having fun!

When we come together changes can be made. United we stand. (A new look to our village school)

The students are older than the teacher’s ha! Ha! Ha!

You can never have too much fun!  Playing with the preschoolers was fun, this was the ice-breaking moment

Introducing a new craft (latch hook) to the women’s enterprise.  They went bananas!

• Helping Hand Youth Group from Minnesota, USA

2010.09.13