US Visit 2010
During November of 2010 Founder Trustee and leader of the Foundation of Goodness Kushil Gunasekara went on a speaking and fund raising tour in the United States. He was eager to meet Sri Lankan Diaspora who would be interested in partnering and contributing for the empowerment institute in Northern Sri Lanka. He was also eager to speak to and inspire university students from the universities he was invited to speak. Both the above were becoming important aspects about his work:
Northern Development / reconciliation and mentoring and inspiring future social entrepreneurs.
These are also key issues for the Foundation of Goodness and Sri Lanka in general in the years to come. Northern Development and reconciliation initiatives will most certainly take center stage in the next few years. Building relationships with those who want to partner and also ensure a sustainable model of development in our project for the North is an absolutely essential. Many Sri Lankans living in the States are eager to partner and help with rebuilding and reconciliation initiatives and we at the Foundation of Goodness are eager to keep people informed about our passion to serve rural communities and especially the north in post war Sri Lanka. During Mr. Gunasekera’s time in the States he met many Sri Lankans who were passionate about the work of the Foundation of Goodness and extremely happy to hear about our vision for northern empowerment institute. Mr. Gunasekara too was equally inspired and encouraged by these individuals and their commitment to make a difference.
The aspect of mentoring and inspiring future entrepreneurs is, as Mr. Gunasekera would say, “highly rewarding”. During his visit to the States he spoke to students at the Ringling College of Art and design in Florida and Hult International Business School in San Fransisco. The key message in all his lectures was about the importance of giving back to society and helping those who are much less fortunate than us. He shared his story of pre tsunami and post tsunami humanitarian work and his desire to continue to serve. The students had many intelligent questions on how to be more effective in doing good for society and also about having a balance in life.
From the experience Mr. Gunasekara is now exploring the possibility of having a mentoring program for future social entrepreneurs. To be open for both Sri Lankan and international students who are seriously considering living a life committed to humanitarian causes. He is eager to share lessons from his long years working in rural communities in Sri Lanka and seeing sustainable models for development. He believes that if we are to reach our goal of narrowing the gap between urban and rural Sri Lanka and tackle poverty we need reinforcements….a new generation that is passionate and determined to make a difference, not by words alone rather by simple action.
The following are some notes of feedback from the students of Ringling College of Art & Design, Florida
“Poverty is the worst form of violence.”
Mahatma Gandhi
The Foundation of Goodness is just as it sounds, turning the horrific events of the tsunami into something positive. During Gunasekera’s presentation I have learned quite a bit about the standard of living in Sri Lanka as well as the impact that the tsunami had. It is easy to hear a story on the news however it is quite another to understand it. Gunasekera’s firsthand account of the events leading up to and during the disaster made it all the more real in my mind; he does not stop there but rather pushes through the tragedy to form something beautiful and helpful to so many people, the Foundation of Goodness.
The foundation made its aim to help all those who had lost their homes and livelihoods and from there expanded even further to give healthcare and education. The basis of the foundation is to offer people opportunities to move on more easily from their misfortune. Each person in that village needed medical attention, sanitation, clean water and electricity and the foundation was there to help out those they could. The simple idea of providing equal opportunities to those who are less fortunate is something we have heard about so often yet this is one of the actual working models I have come across to date. The mission of the Foundation of Goodness is to create a model community and begin the transition from the destruction of the aftermath of the tsunami into the progressive future of Sri Lanka.
The presentation itself by Kushil Gunasekera was absolutely inspiring. Gunasekera’s words were spoken with such emotion about his experience in creating the Foundation. It was very clear to me personally that he is very passionate about his work, though he was able to express to our class that he himself witnessed the whole effect of the tsunami from beginning to end, the sights that he saw from the land that he lived on and the people that he was so close to saving that were changed forever in such a short time. It seems like a monumental task to carry on with one’s life needless to say the strength it would take to not only pick yourself up but those around you as well, to change this horrific experience into something positive, and into something that everyone can benefit from seems almost impossible.
I was absolutely blown away by Kushil’s presentation. I was lucky enough to have had Kushil visit two classes, in which he spoke about different issues. In Business class he spoke about his foundation and village. I was so inspired by the stories that he told. He seems to just ooze goodness. It was so inspirational how he felt the need to impact peoples lives in such a big way. I cannot believe that he gave up working and his business for the betterment of others. I cannot imagine how much strength it must have taken to get through such a traumatic event. It was amazing how he spoke of the past without even getting emotional. I cannot fathom what he must have seen during this time.
In my Changing Cultures class Kushil spoke about his faith in Buddhism. During his talk he spoke about Karma and the dedication it takes to be Buddhist. He told us that he reflects each morning or night on his day and the things he could have done better. With all that he does for people I cannot see what Kushil needs to change. He also encouraged the class to spread goodness without expecting recognition for your good deed. If you do good, goodness will eventually find its way back to you.
What I got from Kushil’s visit is to try to be a good person and good things will come to you. He also mentioned that karma is like a bank account. The more good you do, the more good goes into your bank. The less you do then more come out of your bank. In the end I want to take Kushil’s challenge and try to do one good thing a month. I am going to take this even further and try to do something good every day. From Kushil’s visit I realize that I need to focus on how I can make myself a better person, taking baby steps to my goals every day.
Having the chance to listen and talk to Kushil was so motivating and inspiring. He is a perfect example of a creative leader who motivates the people he works with and inspires others to volunteer and give their time to help people and do goodness. Kushil says, goodness is the only investment that never fails, and therefore we should invest our time in doing good for others. There are so many people in the world in need of help, that if we spend a little bit of time and resources on them we could make a difference in the world.
People always talk about how they want to accomplish something huge and make the world a better place, but few people actually act on what they say. I really liked Kushil's advice of starting small. He mentioned that he started by going to a school and just seeing what it is that they needed the most. If we all started by doing simple, small things we could change the lives of the people around us. I especially loved when he said that a good thing to do could be to just smile at someone when you walk past them. I am always doing that, and like Kushil said, it is funny seeing people's reactions and what they do when you smile at them.
I think that doing good can bring happiness into people's lives. It feels great to know that I helped someone by doing such a simple act of goodness or just volunteering a bit of my time. I think that what Kushil said, The beauty in life does not depend on how happy we are but how happy others are because of us. This is a great quote to live by. I think that real happiness comes from helping others and making them happy.
Many of his views and quotes have helped me throughout my daily life. For example, “hang in there the best is yet to come” and “this too shall pass” are things that I have heard my whole life but it has never really meant much until I heard him say it. Thinking that everything too shall pass is a great thing to live life by because I am aware that whatever bad time I am going through will eventually pass. The good times will also pass so I will take time to enjoy them as best as I can. I like the idea of saying yes to everything and not letting any opportunities pass me by. There is so much to learn and experience in the world that we should not let any opportunity go by without experiencing it. Being scared of new things is something that holds me back, but if I force myself to do something, I learn that there was nothing to be afraid of. Kushil states that “adversity helps meet challenge” It is true because, while it feels good to receive praise for something, I learn the most when I receive criticism. I want to know what I need to improve in or what I do wrong so that I will not make those mistakes again.
Meeting Kushil was an amazing opportunity. He is such an inspiring person and I really wish to follow in his steps and someday accomplish something half as amazing as what he has done. He is a great leader, leading such a wonderful organization that does so much and it is important to learn how he does it. His advice and quotes are things that I will forever keep in mind and integrate in all aspects of my life, personal and professional.
2011.03.22 |
