THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

On 14th December, "Santa Claus" visited the Malawanne M V and Thotagamuwa M V schools in the neighboring villages of Seenigama.

This was the culmination of a three-month long plan hatched by two strong local supporters of the Foundation - Heather and Stewart Ritchie and a close friend of theirs in Dubai, Gillian Howarth. Gillian, whose son attends the Kings School in Dubai has been involved in raising funds through the school ever since the Tsunami struck and has already sent the Foundation substantial funds which are being utilized for the development of the Sunday School at Seenigama.

Their plan for Christmas was that each of the 300 children from the Kings School in Dubai put together a Christmas box for a corresponding child in one of the two schools here. The Malawnne and Thotagamuwa schools were chosen since the total number of students in these two schools matched closely with that at Kings School. Detailed information of each child was sent from here - the grade in school, age and sex so that the gifts could be personalized. The boxes were further personalized with a caring letter and photograph from each corresponding child in Dubai. This ensured that the recipient here knew exactly who had sent him or her the thoughtful gift.

During the last week of November, TNT, who also shipped two tonnes of Christmas boxes from Dubai free of charge, cleared the goods in Colombo and then transported them to Seenigama on The 14th December. The day was made even more special by the presence of Gillian and her son, Andrew (also a student at Kings School Dubai), a group of parents and a representative from TNT who flew over from Dubai just for the handover ceremonies. Accompanying them were the Ritchie family.

After a traditional welcome at the Lahiru Centre in Seenigama, the group together with the Foundations staff, proceeded to Malawanne school, where they were greeted by the students and teachers who put on a variety of shows for the visitors. And then the big moment - the distribution of the boxes!

Disciplined children seated in rows came up one-by-one and collected their boxes from Andrew and then mayhem broke loose! The children opened their boxes, and the atmosphere changed from quiet to that of a big Christmas party. The excitement was compounded when the kids realized that no two boxes were alike. Stuffed in the boxes was a mixture of presents ranging from toys to books and stationery, clothes and lots of sweets and chocolates. To say the kids were thrilled with their gifts is an understatement. It was indeed a sight to watch and brought many a tear to the eyes of the visitors. It must have also been a truly rewarding finale to a well planned but tiring exercise, which began three months ago in Dubai.

The same could be said of the experience of handing over the boxes at the Thotagamuwa School. At the end of the day, 309 children were extremely happy and excited, whilst a group of well-wishers were also very satisfied with the results of their efforts.

Gillian and her friends left Seenigama exhausted yet joyful, with promises of raising more funds for the children of Seenigama in the near future. We at the Foundation wish them luck in their endeavors with gladness and gratitude in our hearts.