March for a Cause

In a situation where a covid pandemic has restricted most of our households, family and friends are the one thing that keeps us running. Will it be the same for some less fortunate people? We, the members of the Rotaract Club of Colombo Central took into our hands the responsibility to aid such less fortunate people now in distress, namely the children in the SOS villages. Thus, brought the project “March for a Cause” into life.

Across Sri Lanka, many children are orphaned, abandoned or vulnerable. The nine SOS villages provide a home and a family for these less fortunate, as one big SOS family. This one big family has been struck hard because of the pandemic. Around 40 children in the SOS village in Piliyandala have contacted covid and are now quarantined in the village buildings. The physical and mental impact of this has been a major hurdle for these beautiful souls. Hence, we contacted Mr Dhananjaya Gamage, the Director of Programmes at SOS villages Sri Lanka, who requested a session spanning a couple of hours to engage these children through the online platform with the aim of both elevating the mental status as well as motivating them. We were more than happy to get involved.

The enthusiastic project team got together and planned the process in a very caring and careful manner. It was brought to our knowledge that this type of work would be very sensitive and that we need a professional with good experience in the field as a resource person as well. This made us choose Miss Poornima Kulawansha who is a well-trained individual in the field. Added to that she has worked at the SOS village in Piliyandala as well. Along with her session, a few more surprises were in store to let them feel like it is family again.

September 5th marked the plan coming to fruition as over 600 attendees from 60 logins joined the event through the Zoom platform. Our very own member, Rtr. Ishan Douglas welcomed the crowd with his harmonious melodies and the children were encouraged to sing along. With their attention focused on us, it was Mr Eranda Siriwardana who took the stage with a couple of coins and a pack of cards up his sleeve as he amazed the whole crowd with some mind-bending magic that awed the whole crowd. It was a subtle way of giving insight to the young minds that there is always more to see. By the end of these two sessions, the children were one big happy family once more.
Then came the hour of our guest speaker, Miss Poornima Kulawansha who spoke to the hearts of these children. Relating to the metamorphosis of a butterfly, she enlightened everyone with what we are capable of doing if we put our hearts and mind into it. This was the much-needed motivation that every single soul needed. Following that encouraging session was a session by Mr Yasiru Niroshana who creatively engaged the children making them run, jump and fly through an interactive story of an eagle. By the end of it, the children were spreading their wings into a new day, just like the eagle of the story.

A magical evening that brought everyone together came to a close as the faces in the Zoom screen turned glum. It was the indication that these couple of hours was more than a motivational session for them and that we, as the members of the Rotaract Club of Colombo Central were successful in brightening up their world. Though it was sad to leave them, even though the virtual screen, it was clear that this mere session would pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.

Written by :

Rtr.Sachindra Mendis