We are excited to share the news that the Mahiyanganaya Village Heartbeat Empowerment Centre has officially relocated to a new location in Dambana, Mahiyanganaya. This move marks an important milestone in our ongoing mission to expand access to education, training and resources for rural communities in Sri Lanka.
For years, the Mahiyanganaya Centre has served as a beacon of opportunity for its surrounding villages, offering free courses in computer training, English language, early childhood education and vocational skills training. However, as we reached out to more and more communities, it became increasingly clear that a more accessible location was needed, one that would reduce travel barriers and allow more individuals to participate regularly.
A Step Closer to the Community
Dambana, a village well-known for its indigenous Vedda heritage, is rich in culture and also more centrally located for many of the rural beneficiaries we serve. By relocating the Centre here, we are now able to reach a wider catchment area. This move has already shown positive results: nearly 500 students have now registered at the new Centre and over 1,000 students are actively engaged in learning across multiple courses.
For many of these students, especially those from farming families or remote villages with limited infrastructure, travelling long distances to attend classes was a daily challenge. With the Centre now situated in a more reachable location, attendance has improved.
Empowering Rural Sri Lanka
In rural regions like Mahiyanganaya, opportunities for personal and professional development are few and far between. According to Sri Lanka’s Department of Census and Statistics, areas like Badulla District have significantly higher rates of poverty and lower access to quality education and digital literacy compared to urban areas.
The Foundation of Goodness’ Village Heartbeat Empowerment Centres are designed to bridge this urban-rural divide. By offering free training in IT, English, soft skills, vocational trades and more, we open new doors for youth and adults alike. The impact is not only educational but deeply transformative. Young women gain the skills and confidence to start home businesses, children gain digital literacy that will serve them in school and future jobs and entire families begin to see the possibilities of a better future.
Looking Ahead
As we settle into the new location in Dambana, we remain committed to our mission of empowering rural communities through knowledge, skills and opportunity. We’re also exploring ways to expand the Centre’s offerings to include emerging needs.
To date, the Foundation of Goodness has empowered over 1 million beneficiaries from more than 1,000 villages across Sri Lanka, all entirely free of charge. With every new location, every course and every student who walks through our doors, we are reminded that real change begins with access, the kind that this move to Dambana now makes possible.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported the Mahiyanganaya Centre over the years and look forward to sharing even more success stories from our new home in Dambana.
