HELP A POOR CHILD Sri Lanka brings joy to over 350 poor children
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27th January 2008
The Sri Lanka branch of Help A Poor Child organised a book donation programme on 19th January 2008 for 380 poor children from remote villages of Weligepola and Opanayake in the Ratnapura District from the Sabaragamuwa Province.
HAPC Volunteers packing the school books (left) and some of the invitees at the event.
This program was organised jointly with the support of the School Principals, and Pradeshiya Saba (Village Council).
HAPC Sri Lanka Chairperson, Hemanthi Goonasekera (left) addressing the invited guests in readiness for the books distribution and lighting the traditional oil lamp
Children from seven schools were selected by the Principals of the schools based on their income levels. Children who could not afford the school books and who did not attend school in the new year were eligible to receive these donations.
The village poor children patiently waiting for the distribution to begin while the school Principal addresses them.
Children represented both Sinhala and Tamil Communities which also promoted HAPC’s main ideology working towards betterment of children without racial or any other discrimination.
Hemanthi Goonesekera (above) helping with the distribution and (right) Chairman of Pradeshiya Saba the Village Council, Mr. Kelum Helapalla, addressing the gathering.
HAPC Volunteers Ruwan, Dhammika, Priya, and Anila supported the event by collecting donations from other friends.
The total cost of the project is LKR 88,897.50. The branch managed to collect LKR 66,500/- from supporters and well wishers. The balance LKR 22,397.50 came from the HAPC fund.
It was very encouraging to note the contribution given by the Pradeshiya Saba Chairman Mr. Kelum Helapalla and his staff by organising the event, providing refreshments for more than 500 participants and lunch for the HAPC volunteers and the rest of the people. They also arranged several meetings to invite special guests from the Clergy, Government Agents, Principles, Teachers, Parents and other members of the council.
HAPC Sri Lanka Chairperson, Hemanthi Goonasekera, was justifiably proud of the success of this programme and is extremely grateful to the many volunteers and donors, who came forward to lend their support. Hemanthi believes that the HAPC Sri Lanka Branch has, by this programme, strengthened its working relationship with the community and will be looking for the Government to support their future activities.
Hemanthi has already started planning her branch’s next project – renovating the Pre-schools in the same villages who benefitted from the book donation programme.