A national NGO and US registered charity the Foundation of Goodness was established in 1999 by Kushil Gunasekera, a local entrepreneur and humanitarian. Gunasekera’s vision was to bridge the gap between rural and urban development through the provision of services and training for rural communities.
http://www.unconditionalcompassion.org
Following the devastation left in the wake of the tsunami the foundation focused on post-disaster recovery which was enabled by increases in international and national donations. As the country gradually recovered from the tsunami the foundation began to return to its founding goals of the provision of essential services, training and employment opportunities for rural communities.
The foundation has over 30 ‘empowerment sectors’ which include a medical clinic, physco-social support, English and Tamil lessons, a sports academy, technology training, pre-school childcare and a women’s empowerment programme. In May alone the foundation provided services to over 4,500 beneficiaries in 50 villages throughout the country. All services are provided free of charge to the beneficiaries funded by individual and corporate sponsors.
The foundation also has a number of sustainable income generating projects through the brand ‘Goodness Works Global’. Building these income streams are key to future sustainability for the foundation as it reduces reliance on donor contributions.
The sustainable income programs include
- Dive Tourism. At our dive shop Dive Seenigama, Dive Lanka which provides diving and water sports for tourists.
- Gourmet Goodness. A range of spice blends in partnership with UK supermarket Tesco
- Plates of Goodness that provides Sri Lankan cooking classes for tourists.
- Business Processing Outsourcing or BPO – which provides outsourcing services to business including data entry and back office processes.
The reception area at the medical and physco-social unit.
Our ‘Shop Goodness’ where the foundation sells ethically produced local products.
Some of the foundation’s management team working hard in the office.
The Lahiru pre-school which provides child care and education for over 30 children between the ages of 4 and 5.
The playground at the pre-school
The technology classroom. All computers donated by corporate sponsors.
English lessons with Mr. Thripal one of the foundation’s English teachers.
Shy smiles after class.
The main classroom at the MCC Centre of Excellence.
English class in progress.
The cricket pavilion at the Sports Academy.
The cricket grounds at the Sports Academy.
The finals of the foundation cricket match at the Sports Academy.
A volleyball tournament for southern teams held at the Sports Academy.
The organisation is supported by an impressive board of business executives and cricketing legends including Muthiah Muralidaran, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara and Russel Arnold.
Some cricketing memorabilia at the MCC Centre of Excellence.
Some more cricket memorabilia.
…did I mention that there is a bit of a cricket theme around here!
It goes without saying that if you work it helps if you know a thing or two about cricket!
Bliss. Sunset at Seenigama beach just near our dive shop.
Sunset at Seenigama beach.
Written at Budde’s guesthouse, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka.
Budde’s guest house Hikkaduwa beach, Sri Lanka.
Adventures in life, travel and teaching 