Rukshan & Kusala Wijesekera, Sri-Lankan expats in the US, were looking for a way to help some children in Sri Lanka. His sister, Padma contacted Dilly, Devika and Yasmin and asked them to find two children that they could help. They found two boys (Suranga age 15 and Sumudu age 12) living in a fishing community on Angulana beach who needed help in Math and English. Rukshan generously agreed to sponsor the monthly tutoring fees for Suranga and Sumudu so that they could receive individual attention in these subjects. Rukshan & Kusala also paid for all their school materials - uniforms, school bags, shoes, socks, books, pens, pencils, and more.

 

The two young boys now attend school with a bit more confidence. The boys' mother informs us that his teachers have commented on how much better they are doing after the extra lessons.

Doing something good for someone can often lead to a transfer of kindness and giving that you didn't expect. Through this tutoring project we met Amila, the boys' tutor, who is also from the same poor fishing community in Angulana. Amila is an amazing young man. His father has suffered from drug addiction and is unable to support the family, and his mother supports him and Amila's two siblings by cleaning houses. Studying and education are generally not high priorities in a situation such as this, where it is a struggle just getting by. But somehow, from a young age, Amila discovered in himself a passion to learn. His passion carried him through his primary and secondary education. He passed his advanced level examinations with one A and two B's, and has since been admitted to the University of Colombo to study Physical Science.

 

Amila is an inspiration to his community! He gives tuition to kids from his area at a very nominal fee, and supports his own education with the money he has earned. Although university education is free in Sri Lanka, there are many incidental costs that students must bear; his parents would not have been able to support Amila through university.

 

After meeting Amila and working with him to help the two other boys, we discovered a way to help him as well. Although there are computer labs on the Colombo campus, usage is limited due to high demand. Amila told us that having a computer would help him a great deal. With a computer he could download his subject matter, bring it home and study it at his convenience. Getting a computer for Amila is our next project. Please contact us if you have a way to help.

Many thanks to Rukshan & Kusala. Through their kind actions, they help not only the two boys they sponsor, but also a young man who's passion for education both humbles and inspires.