In 2016 with the extraordinary generosity of the community, we fundraised over $3500 for Lankarama Buddhist Youth Group’s Annual Rural Schools Project. This is a fantastic achievement and double the amount fundraised in most years!

Last year we fundraised for Gamini Halmillewa Vidyalaya (65 students) and Maanewa Vidyalaya (150 students). Both schools where located in the rural Kekirawa area in Sri Lanka.

On the 27th December 2016, seven LBYG members had the privilege to visit these schools. We were told that the severe drought in Kekirawa had caused a chronic shortage of drinking water, frequent wild elephant incursions & the destruction of crops, leaving farmers with crippling debts.

Despite these adverse conditions, the villagers organised a heartfelt & warm welcome. We were entertained by a series of dances, songs and speeches from the talented children, parents and teachers. We were also treated to a delicious morning tea and lunch prepared by the villagers.

Our Youth Group provided 225 children with a package containing their entire school booklist, stationary, story books, socks and custom made shoes. Various youth group members also provided personal donations for the school such as sporting equipment, uniforms & a water tank to provide the children with a clean supply of water.

For over 10 years our youth group has fundraised for rural schools in Sri Lanka. It was so touching to see how those children’s faces would light up with joy when we handed them their new pair of shoes. Their wide smiles made us realise how something as simple as a pair of shoes could be so precious to these disadvantaged children!

On behalf of LBYG, I would like to express a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this possible by either providing a donation or volunteering their time at our numerous fundraising initiatives (Vesak cake stall, Cadbury chocolate fundraising and Sri Lankan short eats stall). A special thank you to the hardworking School Project Team (Piyumi Jayasekera, Lashnika Bandaranayake, Lahiru Yapa, Tara Vithanage and Sidath Bandara)!


With metta,

Sachini Wijesena
LBYG President 2016/17

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