Volunteering in Sri Lanka
Donation protected
Swiping furiously to get the new high score on the Basketball game in your Facebook group chat… Nervously gripping the handle of a softball bat as you squint into the beating sun…Gasping in delight the very first time you see the whoosh of flame as the gas alights your Bunsen burner…
We live in a society of privilege. School and sports are very much integrated into our way of life here in Australia. Perhaps you were one to groan as you pulled on your sneakers in PE class, or you whined loudly at the extra 2kg your laptop meant you had to lug from class to class.
But picture, for a moment, if suddenly these privileges were to disappear. Picture your world suddenly not having the resources to form a baseball team, nor to discover the exact boiling point of water, let alone snapchatting the process.
This is unfortunately a harsh reality for many young children growing up in isolated village communities in Sri Lanka. We are partnering with the Foundation of Goodness to make a difference. This year, a small team of UNSW students are travelling to the village of Seenigama, Sri Lanka to help share our privilege. Providing a fundamental education in areas such as health, science, computers, and public speaking, we hope to set up basic foundations that will encourage further volunteering programs and aid in learning.
To help us make a difference, please consider donating today. Your dontations will go towards the foundation, funding the necessary resources to run the programs.
Please let us know who you are so we know who to thank :)
Meet the team:
Genevieve Fair:
4th Year Medicine
I've always had a passion for helping out the people who need it most, both locally and abroad. But I've been acutely aware of the need to do this carefully, and through consultation with and empowerment of local communities, rather than a 'top down' approach. I believe Global Village encompasses this by partnering with grassroots community organisations such as the Foundation of Goodness. Our short time volunteering in Seenigama will be part of a much bigger picture of improved access to services and quality of life - as determined by the local community, not outsiders. I hope to contribute some of my knowledge of health and wellbeing to the community. But I also hope to learn a lot - about a different culture, about community, and about myself and where my future career might take me. If that sounds at all worthwhile to you, please donate to help the Foundation of Goodness.
Vaishnavi Rudra:
1st Year B Actuarial Studies/ B Economics
Born to a privileged family in Sri Lanka, it has always been my passion to reach out and help the underprivileged back at home. Having left my home land for higher studies, I realized global village, UNSW would provide the perfect platform to further my efforts in Sri Lanka. The Foundation of Goodness is a recognized charitable foundation in Sri Lanka, developing many rural communities. My group and I hope to transfer our skills and make a lasting impact in these communities. Please extend your generosity towards this great cause. Every dollar matters!
Shakila Fernando:
3rd Year B Commerce/ B Science
I strongly believe that everyone has a calling to give up their time and talents to help people who are less fortunate than ourselves. I have lived a comfortable life and my parents have been able to provide me with all the opportunities I’ve ever wanted, from playing basketball to attending UNSW. Therefore I’ve decided to be a part of Global Village, travel to Sri Lanka and teach English and other skills in rural and isolated villages. I hope to pass on my passion of science and leave a long lasting impression on the lives I’ll help so that the community can continue to grow. Thank you for your donations and know that every dollar brings us closer to our goals.
Anindya Sood:
2nd Year B Mechatronic Eng/ M Biomedical Eng
Global Village is a great way to connect with other communities from across the world and help those who are not as fortunate as ourselves. This is why I chose to be a part of this wonderful program. Equality in education is something I'm very passionate about, which is why in particular I am keen to assist the Foundation of Goodness in Sri Lanka to help promote language proficiency to allow for a better future for this community. In particular, I'm looking to impart skills that the children there can pass on and keep long after my time there so the community can keep building and growing upon what we start there. I hope you can help me and the team in reaching our goal, knowing every dollar helps!
Anita Niu:
2nd Year Medicine
I've often given gold coin donations to causes helping those living in less developed communities around the world where children are deprived of basic needs such as healthcare and education. However what else can we do to make a difference? Thinking about this, I decided to volunteer with Global Village to actively help in rural communities in Sri Lanka by providing further education in healthcare and language skills which can be built upon in the future. Although two weeks isn't enough to make significant changes, I hope that I can at least make a small difference to the lives of children in these villages so that they can have a greater opportunity to pursue their dreams, a privilege that many of us have been fortunate to have. Please help us share these privileges by making a donation, even with just a gold coin as every dollar counts and is much appreciated!
Michael Li:
2nd Year B Commerce
I like to identify myself with three traits, which are: persistence, ambition and altruism. The third trait is why I've decided to join Global Village this semester. To make a positive social impact for others in Sri Lanka, specifically the Foundation of Goodness. Speaking to two close high school friends involved in the program last year, I've been incredibly encouraged to challenge myself, and devote my volunteering hours to teaching English and various computer software (eg SQL and Excel) to those in need overseas. Two weeks may not be enough to teach everything I know, but it's definitely a start, and I hope to maintain a legacy that other future GV volunteers can pick up on. Please donate and help us make a difference to those less fortunate in Sri Lanka!
Marcus Chan:
3rd Year B Commerce/ B Law
Having been raised playing multiple sports, I had gained both a passion and interests for sports from a young age. It is something that has allowed me to learn important life skills, as well improving general fitness and wellbeing. To be able to share this passion with others, especially to those with less access is a great privilege, and is one of the reasons I've chosen to volunteer with the Foundation of Goodness to help coach sports and get more children involved with sport. Sport is unique in that it can be enjoyed by all, and participated by all regardless of what language one speaks. Please help us to improve the lives of others.
More information:
http://www.unconditionalcompassion.org/indexc.php
We live in a society of privilege. School and sports are very much integrated into our way of life here in Australia. Perhaps you were one to groan as you pulled on your sneakers in PE class, or you whined loudly at the extra 2kg your laptop meant you had to lug from class to class.
But picture, for a moment, if suddenly these privileges were to disappear. Picture your world suddenly not having the resources to form a baseball team, nor to discover the exact boiling point of water, let alone snapchatting the process.
This is unfortunately a harsh reality for many young children growing up in isolated village communities in Sri Lanka. We are partnering with the Foundation of Goodness to make a difference. This year, a small team of UNSW students are travelling to the village of Seenigama, Sri Lanka to help share our privilege. Providing a fundamental education in areas such as health, science, computers, and public speaking, we hope to set up basic foundations that will encourage further volunteering programs and aid in learning.
To help us make a difference, please consider donating today. Your dontations will go towards the foundation, funding the necessary resources to run the programs.
Please let us know who you are so we know who to thank :)
Meet the team:
Genevieve Fair:
4th Year MedicineI've always had a passion for helping out the people who need it most, both locally and abroad. But I've been acutely aware of the need to do this carefully, and through consultation with and empowerment of local communities, rather than a 'top down' approach. I believe Global Village encompasses this by partnering with grassroots community organisations such as the Foundation of Goodness. Our short time volunteering in Seenigama will be part of a much bigger picture of improved access to services and quality of life - as determined by the local community, not outsiders. I hope to contribute some of my knowledge of health and wellbeing to the community. But I also hope to learn a lot - about a different culture, about community, and about myself and where my future career might take me. If that sounds at all worthwhile to you, please donate to help the Foundation of Goodness.
Vaishnavi Rudra:
1st Year B Actuarial Studies/ B Economics Born to a privileged family in Sri Lanka, it has always been my passion to reach out and help the underprivileged back at home. Having left my home land for higher studies, I realized global village, UNSW would provide the perfect platform to further my efforts in Sri Lanka. The Foundation of Goodness is a recognized charitable foundation in Sri Lanka, developing many rural communities. My group and I hope to transfer our skills and make a lasting impact in these communities. Please extend your generosity towards this great cause. Every dollar matters!
Shakila Fernando:
3rd Year B Commerce/ B ScienceI strongly believe that everyone has a calling to give up their time and talents to help people who are less fortunate than ourselves. I have lived a comfortable life and my parents have been able to provide me with all the opportunities I’ve ever wanted, from playing basketball to attending UNSW. Therefore I’ve decided to be a part of Global Village, travel to Sri Lanka and teach English and other skills in rural and isolated villages. I hope to pass on my passion of science and leave a long lasting impression on the lives I’ll help so that the community can continue to grow. Thank you for your donations and know that every dollar brings us closer to our goals.
Anindya Sood:
2nd Year B Mechatronic Eng/ M Biomedical EngGlobal Village is a great way to connect with other communities from across the world and help those who are not as fortunate as ourselves. This is why I chose to be a part of this wonderful program. Equality in education is something I'm very passionate about, which is why in particular I am keen to assist the Foundation of Goodness in Sri Lanka to help promote language proficiency to allow for a better future for this community. In particular, I'm looking to impart skills that the children there can pass on and keep long after my time there so the community can keep building and growing upon what we start there. I hope you can help me and the team in reaching our goal, knowing every dollar helps!
Anita Niu:
2nd Year MedicineI've often given gold coin donations to causes helping those living in less developed communities around the world where children are deprived of basic needs such as healthcare and education. However what else can we do to make a difference? Thinking about this, I decided to volunteer with Global Village to actively help in rural communities in Sri Lanka by providing further education in healthcare and language skills which can be built upon in the future. Although two weeks isn't enough to make significant changes, I hope that I can at least make a small difference to the lives of children in these villages so that they can have a greater opportunity to pursue their dreams, a privilege that many of us have been fortunate to have. Please help us share these privileges by making a donation, even with just a gold coin as every dollar counts and is much appreciated!
Michael Li:
2nd Year B CommerceI like to identify myself with three traits, which are: persistence, ambition and altruism. The third trait is why I've decided to join Global Village this semester. To make a positive social impact for others in Sri Lanka, specifically the Foundation of Goodness. Speaking to two close high school friends involved in the program last year, I've been incredibly encouraged to challenge myself, and devote my volunteering hours to teaching English and various computer software (eg SQL and Excel) to those in need overseas. Two weeks may not be enough to teach everything I know, but it's definitely a start, and I hope to maintain a legacy that other future GV volunteers can pick up on. Please donate and help us make a difference to those less fortunate in Sri Lanka!
Marcus Chan:
3rd Year B Commerce/ B Law Having been raised playing multiple sports, I had gained both a passion and interests for sports from a young age. It is something that has allowed me to learn important life skills, as well improving general fitness and wellbeing. To be able to share this passion with others, especially to those with less access is a great privilege, and is one of the reasons I've chosen to volunteer with the Foundation of Goodness to help coach sports and get more children involved with sport. Sport is unique in that it can be enjoyed by all, and participated by all regardless of what language one speaks. Please help us to improve the lives of others.
More information:
http://www.unconditionalcompassion.org/indexc.php
Organizer
Shakila Fernando
Organizer
Kensington, NSW