As I grow older, I resonate with Albert Einstein’s words of “only a life lived for others is worth living.” I believe there is much more to life than a 9 to 5 job, and time spent with family, and friends in our daily ruts. I have been fortunate enough to travel and volunteer in my past and have come to realize that stepping out of my comfort zone is the first step to discovering a new self and the true meaning of life. Gandhi profoundly stated that "the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others," which cannot be more true, in my case.


As a first-generation student in Canada, I am grateful for the many opportunities that I have access to and to identify as a bi-cultural individual with Sri Lankan ancestry. One of the many sacrifices that my parents among others have made was fleeing from their homeland during the civil war, not only to find safety but also a place to raise their children without worrying about their well-being. This was the case for many families overseas resulting in a large Tamil diaspora. Having active connections with our place of origin helps us recognize the challenges and the unfortunate circumstances that arose that we left behind. I grew up listening to stories of what life was like in Sri Lanka, the political turmoil which resulted in the war, discrimination, rape culture, and the forceful enlistment of young children to battle at the age where they should have been playing with toys. I try to understand what life would have been like if the war had not transpired or if my parents had not fled to Canada and I continuously find myself more grateful for everything I have today. As a result, I hope to cultivate and maintain active connections with my ancestry to discover and learn about the rich cultural history and social fabric of my homeland.



It is with my deepest gratitude that I have the opportunity to work as a Youth Facilitator at Organization of People for Engagement and Enterprise (OpenE Hub) in Mannar, Sri Lanka. As part of my work I will be focusing on Soft Skills Development through organizing fun and engaging activities to foster teamwork, leadership, collaboration and many more skills. In addition, I will also be teaching English and  Information Technology (IT) to the students in the community. This mission would have not been possible without comdu.it! Comdu.it  is an independent and growing global network of diaspora change makers with a vision of leveraging technical assistance for sustainable development with the primary focus of the North and East of Sri Lanka. They utilize effective diaspora engagement by creating awareness of the history and heritage of our ancestry in addition to giving us the means of connection to our roots.



With many members of the diaspora living in developed countries all over the world, there is a plethora of skills and resources to share with the Sri Lankan Tamil communities. I intend to use the strengths, knowledge, and resources gained from my education and livelihood in Canada to share with those still living in a post war-torn state that my family members among many left behind in search of a safe haven to call home. Although it is helpful to go for a couple of months and provide support, the community, the children, and the local organization are not able to sustain long-term changes when we are not there which can seem counterproductive Therefore, having effective diaspora that is sustainable is vital to help them stand on their own and rebuild a stronger community for future generations and for those living there now. Not only are we building connections that can last a lifetime but also sharing possibilities and knowledge such as teaching English and soft skills, which helps them build their community to become stronger both locally and globally.



Instead of going abroad to seek opportunities, I hope to empower the local Tamil community and children to educate themselves and seek opportunities to evolve and inevitably advance into successful positions. Not only will this give me an opportunity to teach children necessary skills to succeed but will also allow me to expand my knowledge of the Tamil culture and ways of being. I am looking forward to my two months in Sri Lanka to play a small role in empowering these children to become stronger, educated, and more resilient.



I would appreciate your help and generosity towards this initiative. Your contribution will go towards funding for the program in Sri Lanka and other subsidiaries I may require. As my placement will involve working with students of the community, I hope to raise enough to buy stationary items, school supplies, and materials I may need for my lesson plans and possibly IT related equipment. If you believe in my mission and would love to help me out I would greatly appreciate it. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information.

Thank you,

Ahiraa

 
Figures courtesy of Organisation of People for Engagement and Enterprise (OpenE Hub) via: https://www.facebook.com/OpeneHubEducation/