| December Highlights
The Foundation of Goodness is still raising funds for our annual Essential School Supplies Programme for the 2017 school year to help rural disadvantaged children stay in school and excel at their studies by providing everything from a school bag, books, box of mathematical equipment and stationery to their uniform, shoes, lunch box and water bottle etc. for just USD 30/-
The Foundation of Goodness in partnership with Anchor Milk launched the ‘Only Good News Paper’, the first of its kind, tri-lingual paper containing only good news distributed across Sri Lanka free of charge to motivate and inspire everyone. You can download a free copy at: http://onlygoodnews.lk/en/
The Goodness Rhythm Dance Troupe began weekly 'Dance for Good' Charity Shows at the Bansei Hotel in Hikkaduwa every Saturday at 7.00 pm. The shows are open to the public and are an effort to raise sustainable income for the Foundation of Goodness to secure the longevity of our many humanitarian activities and showcase Sri Lanka's cultural heritage.
The Bryan Adams Foundation Swimming Pool Complex has been newly renovated with the kind sponsorship of the Bryan Adams Foundation to mark their 10th anniversary. The construction of this complex, which has helped develop the talents of many rural swimmers in the Seenigama region extending to 86 surrounding villages, was one of the first projects undertaken by the organization.
The Foundation of Goodness commemorated 12 years since the devastation of the Indian Ocean Tsunami which destroyed Sri Lankan coastlines including the village of Seenigama in 2004, while also looking back on the journey that helped rebuild the village stronger and better than before.
Micro-Finance grants were presented to 4 ladies by Givers League International- USA in partnership with the Foundation of Goodness to encourage rural women to enter the job market, gain financial independence and improve the living standards of their entire family, securing a path to escape poverty.
Special workshops this month included Physiotherapists James Benoit and Aravinth Nallathamby from Australia organizing a physiotherapy program at the Seenigama Sports Academy while Karen Benoit (also from Australia) ran a women’s health programme for pregnant ladies. Meanwhile Chamal de Silva from Singapore conducted a self-defence programme for the students at the Business Skills Unit.
5 UN Volunteers from India spent five days working across various FoG sectors in Seenigama including visiting the Wellawatta Elders' Home along with our Medical Centre staff to help conduct their monthly wellness clinic.
Outstanding students from the Business Skills, Women's Enterprise and IT classes attended a special workshop on Life Skills, Life Values, Leadership, Financial Management and Social Integration conducted by FoG Founder Kushil Gunsekera, staff members, Psychologist Dr. Shanthi Hettiarachchi and Financial Consultant Mr. Prithy De Silva.
Special visitors to the MCC Centre of Excellence this month include Comic Relief Consultant Mr. Kevin Cahill (pictured above), Former British Minister of Sports & MCC Member Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Atkins and MCC Community Development Manager Ms. Laura Brown, who were all able to experience first-hand the large variety of programmes conducted by FoG to bridge the gap between the rural and urban sector.
Kids from the FoG Elocution Class took part in a talent show, displaying their skills and proficiency in the use of the English Language through drama, poetry and song before their teachers, parents and Chief Guest Mrs. Damayanthi Fonseka who is a teacher at Asian International School- Colombo.
The FoG Children’s Goodness Clubs have also been busy this month. Kids from the Udumulla CGC spent their holidays creating beautiful items to display at their handicrafts exhibition while in Akurala the children organized a kids fair and in Kahawa they came together for a cooking programme creating mouthwatering dishes to be tasted by everyone attending.
Congratulations to Sasith Nipun Piyumantha and Thisal Manjith Piyumantha, from the FoG Chess Team who both won Silver and Bronze Medals at the Western Asian Chess Championship held in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sasith (who was ranked 1st in Sri Lanka - Under 15's) was the 1st Runner Up at the U14 Blitz Event and 2nd Runner Up at the U14 Rapid Event while Thisal (who was ranked 1st in Sri Lanka - Under 11's) was the 1st Runner Up at the U12 Rapid Event and 2nd Runner Up at the U12 Blitz Event.
Community aid sports tours this month included visits by the Sabu Weerasuriya Cricket Academy - SL and Harrow School - UK. These friendly matches are a valuable experience for the local and visiting teams because of the opportunity to play and learn from each other. We are happy to announce that a total of 54 teams have visited us over the course of 2016.
Special training for the Sports Academy this month included the monthly coaching camp by Sri Lanka's National Women's Coach Hemantha Devapriya sponsored by Tokyo Cement for 31 cricketers and 8 coaches while daily fitness training was conducted by Victor Celestine for all FoG sports squads to help improve their performance.
Special beneficiary community aid programmes conducted this month included the monthly wellness clinics at the Wellawatta and Madampagama Elders’ Homes by the FoG Medical Clinic Team and a community cleaning programme conducted at the Monaragala Village Heartbeat Project Empowerment Centre by its students.
Ongoing monthly projects include Recycling4Smiles bi-weekly oral hygiene programmes made possible by Sonali Ranaweera- the remarkable teenager from USA who has now sponsored over 2,500 rural kids to enhance oral care and hygiene, which is a great achievement and an example for us all and the sponsorship towards the Navodaya Centre for Special Children by FoG Trustee Muthiah Muralidaran. Such projects provide ongoing care to ensure the continued well-being of a wide cross section of beneficiaries.
FoG donors have gifted various items to benefit rural kids and youth including cricket equipment from Gray-Nicolls, 25 boxes of books from ‘Help A Child, Donate A Book’- Singapore initiated by Mr. Albert Teo, two laptops by Dr. & Mrs. Stanley and Suramya Rajapakse and food & stationary items by Mr. Janaka Weerasinghe to improve the lives of rural beneficiaries.
The Foundation of Goodness is delighted to have 12 volunteers with us this month from UK, Australia, Sri Lanka, India, France and Germany all of whom are adding value to our work.
16 Village Welfare projects (which are in addition to the monthly ongoing sector programmes) amounting to Rs. 113,864.62 (USD 750/-) divided among areas such as healthcare, education, elders' care, water, electricity and general welfare were facilitated this month to uplift the living standards of rural villagers to ease their burden in addition to the ongoing campus style of operation in place. Over the course of 2016 welfare projects to the cost of Rs. 13,466,696/- (USD 89,500/-) have been carried out by FoG.
To learn about our activities in the North and East this month, please visit our North Journey So Far Update (Click for more).
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES
16+ years in the South : 300,000+
5+ years in the North and East: 28,000+
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Major Upcoming Events:
Fundraising for the FoG Essential School Supplies Programme for the 2017 school year is still underway. 1 school pack containing everything from uniform material, shoes, books, stationery, mathematical equipment, lunch box, water bottle and a school bag costs only USD 30/-. Click here to DONATE.
4 overseas cricket teams will visit the FoG Sports Academy in January for friendly matches.
Graduation ceremonies across various FoG sectors to take place in January.
Shelton Gunasekera Memorial Swimming Competition to take place in January at the Bryan Adams Foundation Swimming Pool Complex.
Decathlon beach games to be introduced in Seenigama.
FoG partnership with 'Spirit of Soccer' for Mine Risk Education.
FoG’s 7th Village Heartbeat Centre to be introduced in Mathagal (North) in early 2017 while plans for more centres in Oddusuddan and Bandarawela are in discussion.
Rural pre-school development & expansion in Ambanpula, Anuradhapura and pre-school renovation in Welikanda.
New and innovative enterprise avenues for sustainable income generation underway to attain self-sustainability by the year 2020.
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