Menike’s life is not easy. She is an orphan and she is coping with the trauma that brought her at the Child Care Institution, an orphanage based out in Sri Lanka. The Child Care has other children with whom Menike is slowly making friends, as her little 6-year-old self tries to make sense of her reality. The other children have had similar experiences and she can relate to them.

Now these children have another challenge to face. Meal-times are getting fewer and the portions are getting smaller. Menike knows very well about hunger and what it is to fall asleep while her empty stomach is gnawing inside of her. Hunger is a very painful experience – and these children live with this experience daily – a basic human need that we all take for granted.

Unfortunately, Menike’s story is not unique. This is the story of over 10,600 children in 379 Child Care Institutions across Sri Lanka. As seen in the news, the country is now experiencing a very difficult period. The year 2022 brings a greater challenge for Sri Lanka and the country is devising ways and means to fight the economic conundrum.

 

Fortunately for Menike and her friends across Sri Lanka, the Colombo Expats Cultural Association  (CECA) has a very soft corner for the “not so fortunate” kids like Menike and has provided support to these children in the past (to learn more about our past initiatives, please see below).

CECA Sri Lanka is a multi-national community comprising of members from different South Asian countries e.g., India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Nepal who strive to uphold the traditional cultural ethos of our respective countries and also make a positive contribution to the community at large.

At this time, CECA is aiming, with your support, to find ways to contribute to the community of Sri Lanka and especially to these wonderful children. We are organizing this fund-raising campaign to provide basic amenities to these children so that they can get the opportunity to make their mark in our beautiful planet.

 

With your contributions – however big or small (even $1 or $5 would go a long way), CECA will provide food items and other essential goods to these Child Care Institutions across Sri Lanka. We need your support to help this most vulnerable population in our community. Any contribution you make, will go a long way in fulfilling the dreams of these Menikes and her friends.

During the course of this campaign, we will updating the progress on our Facebook CSR page  and once mission is accomplished, we will audit all 3 accounts through an external auditor and reports will be shared on the social media platforms.

 

CECA’s Past Initiatives:

 

• In 2020, when COVID struck and Orphanages across country was reeling with scarcity of supplies, CECA in all its capacity came forward to contribute essentials as well as computers for online education to 52 Orphanages in the country.

• In 2021, CECA organized an all island-wide painting competition for Orphanages across Sri Lanka. We didn’t stop there, rather ensured that these talented kids were brought to Colombo and given an opportunity to present their paintings. The decorated recognition of their talents left in them confidence and memories which will inspire them for greater things in life!

For more information about this cause and the fundraising campaign, please contact:

Bhadra Durgabakshi [Fundraising Coordinator]
CECA Volunteer
Email: [email redacted]

Captain Anirban Banerjee
President
Colombo Expats Cultural Association
Email: [email redacted]
Phone: +94 76 [phone redacted] [Sri Lanka]