Sri Lanka Orphanage & Child Development Center
Donation protected
*UPDATE* - This fundraiser is now closed.
In light of all the sad events happening in Lanka, I wanted to share some good news about the impact that many of you helped make through the Sri Lanka orphanage and child development center fundraiser.
At the end here, the fundraiser has accumulated nearly 4000 US $$ which is absolutely astounding and far greater than I had imagined. With the incredible help of PMGY and PMGY volunteers, we were able to purchase many goods, make many repairs, and create a lot of happiness.
Firstly, we were able to fully renovate 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 1 kitchen. Every room got plastered, new paint, wall decor, CURTAINS, necessary goods (pillow cases, furniture, dish racks, etc.). We also were able to fix all of the electrical and plumbing of the house which was not working before. This means that the girls will no longer have to take showers outside with buckets (now have working and private showers), no longer have to sleep on the ground (bc have both standing and wall fans to manage the heat), have proper lighting & plug sockets (so can see/still do activities when night falls), have proper bathrooms, and lastly places to wash their hands / brush their teeth! We were also able to provide the house with a washing machine (so the 30 girls will have their clothes properly washed - not with mud water outside) & a printer (necessary paperwork can b done in the house!). We also provided them with furniture - chairs, dining tables, storage containers, clothes racks, and shoe racks (no more stuff or eating on the ground!). They also got water filters so they have access to cleaner drinking water (no more drinking mud water!!!). In addition to all of this, we provided basic needs on a personal level - every girl & caretaker got a hygienic bag, a towel, a teddy bear and hanky (shown below). Caretakers also received extra spending money and a fixed sewing machine (can make & sell goods = more income!!) We collectively got them also more basic goods - FIRST AID KITS!, badminton, chess, cards, ENGLISH- SINHALA DICTIONARIES (education !!!!!), board games, paint, jump ropes, puzzles, volleyballs, cleaning supplies, office materials, etc. We also provided them the resources to fully renovate the rest of the center with paint & plaster & local workers- one important purchase being fixing 3 water leaks- which sadly I could not see but will provide photos when they come. We also were able to start savings accounts for some of the girls so when they turn 18 will have access to $$$!!! The cool thing is- this isn’t it. I have tried to list out everything in the photos best as I can below.
However, at the end of the day, it’s important to recognize that you guys are the reason this all happened. I graciously from the bottom of my heart thank all of you who have donated and supported. The impact made at this orphanage through your donations is something the orphanage has never come across before. I wish I could share the happiness, love, tears, and joy that the center showed me. Yet, they know that there are people across the world that care for them and love them. I also want to especially thank Lucia Twitchell, Ashika Senevirathna Pmgy, Pmgy Manoj, Ishan, and every single PMGY volunteer and staff member that dedicated their free mornings to come help work on the renovations, answer my annoying 1 million questions, translate for me & / or helped buy/manage purchases. It truly takes a community & I could have never done this on my own.
If anyone is interesting in continuing to learn more or help at the girls orphanage, I will continue to keep the fundraiser open. I will be making periodic transfers to the girls personal savings accounts. Sri Lanka’s interests rates are very high so investing money now can help accumulate a lot of money for these girls (& remember just $30 could buy them a simple phone & more) by the time they get the money at 18.
Thank you guys again - the impact YOU made has changed these girls lives forever.
*Old POST*
When I first came to Sri Lanka I did not ever imagine that I would participate on the child care orphanage project. Although a goofy person, I never felt I connected well with children of young ages. I was initially more interested in other projects, yet I decided to fill one of my afternoons at the local girl’s orphanage and child development center as one of the volunteers had to miss the day. On my first day I was blessed to work with a twelve year old girl who did not know English well and was quite shy as she was very new to the place. Through homework time, we instantly connected with each other as I watched her take on english and math homework writing in her only notebook while I tried to share with her the knowledge I have been blessed to learn. Not only was I surprised that I connected with someone but was also astounded by how incredibly intelligent she was as I gave her advanced bits and pieces of information which her brain absorbed in seconds. In that moment, I envisioned her potential at my university (UC BERKELEY) and felt that she could go so much farther with it than I probably ever could. We proceeded to spend all of play time and to the last minute (total 3 hours!) doing homework. She taught me so much about her skills and her passions, but also the extraordinary abilities she has especially in her circumstances where she is not promised higher education, not given many resources outside of government school, and is not educated in all subjects. After this day, there is not a single day I have missed the orphanage and for the past one and a half months, I have fully committed myself to this project.
Like this encounter, I have had many other experiences with the other girls at the orphanage & child development center. From post food fight cleanups by the children themselves to sharing with me snacks to them jumping off of the swings instantly when I seem tired so I can sit down to the younger girls showing me the value of playing in the dirt and the amazing artwork/ beautiful flower necklaces you can make to the older girls teaching me the value of good and real conversation (even with the language barrier) and much more - these experiences and more have been unlike anything I have ever come across before and I have never had something as meaningful and important as this. This group of girls exemplify such respect, joy, sincerity, and appreciation. Given the bare minimum, they never ask for anything and they appreciate everything they have and are given. I could go on and on about the countless moments that they portray these traits.
Today, I am reaching out to various communities in hopes to raise money for this orphanage & child development center - my very first personal fundraiser. I will be with them for the next 2 and a half months and my goal is to raise enough money to provide them with some things that they desperately need- proper beds, hygienic products, cleaning supplies, dishes, towels, etc. - and get them some things that I know at their age I treasured and took for grant (board games, art materials, hair ribbons, sports equipment, music player, etc.) which they have little to none of (what do you do on a rainy day???). I will personally receive all proceeds, buy the goods, and deliver to the orphanage & child development center.
I would also like to a raise some money to help provide the caretakers their basic needs. They are often overlooked but these incredible women gave up their lives to care for the place by working extensively all day to keep the orphanage & child development center running while living off of the smallest income you could imagine.
The US dollar is extremely valuable in comparison to the Sri Lankan rupee so 1 US dollar goes very far here. I would give all my money to this place if I could and I know it’s very annoying to ask for money from people, but if you feel called to donate, it would from the bottom of my heart be absolutely appreciated. This project means so much to me and the smallest of money can go so far here and impact their lives immensely.
**Also, if you are interested in helping the children on a longer time scale, please message me about that & I will be happy to explain some options!!!**
I apologize for the long post and I could go on and on but thank you for reading. If you have any messages/questions/concerns about anything !! you can contact me directly by cell, private message, or email. Thank you very much.
more pictures of girls & orphanage are posted on my Facebook ‘Sri Lanka’ album & instagram page!! :-) + I would be happy to send you all some :)
In light of all the sad events happening in Lanka, I wanted to share some good news about the impact that many of you helped make through the Sri Lanka orphanage and child development center fundraiser.
At the end here, the fundraiser has accumulated nearly 4000 US $$ which is absolutely astounding and far greater than I had imagined. With the incredible help of PMGY and PMGY volunteers, we were able to purchase many goods, make many repairs, and create a lot of happiness.
Firstly, we were able to fully renovate 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 1 kitchen. Every room got plastered, new paint, wall decor, CURTAINS, necessary goods (pillow cases, furniture, dish racks, etc.). We also were able to fix all of the electrical and plumbing of the house which was not working before. This means that the girls will no longer have to take showers outside with buckets (now have working and private showers), no longer have to sleep on the ground (bc have both standing and wall fans to manage the heat), have proper lighting & plug sockets (so can see/still do activities when night falls), have proper bathrooms, and lastly places to wash their hands / brush their teeth! We were also able to provide the house with a washing machine (so the 30 girls will have their clothes properly washed - not with mud water outside) & a printer (necessary paperwork can b done in the house!). We also provided them with furniture - chairs, dining tables, storage containers, clothes racks, and shoe racks (no more stuff or eating on the ground!). They also got water filters so they have access to cleaner drinking water (no more drinking mud water!!!). In addition to all of this, we provided basic needs on a personal level - every girl & caretaker got a hygienic bag, a towel, a teddy bear and hanky (shown below). Caretakers also received extra spending money and a fixed sewing machine (can make & sell goods = more income!!) We collectively got them also more basic goods - FIRST AID KITS!, badminton, chess, cards, ENGLISH- SINHALA DICTIONARIES (education !!!!!), board games, paint, jump ropes, puzzles, volleyballs, cleaning supplies, office materials, etc. We also provided them the resources to fully renovate the rest of the center with paint & plaster & local workers- one important purchase being fixing 3 water leaks- which sadly I could not see but will provide photos when they come. We also were able to start savings accounts for some of the girls so when they turn 18 will have access to $$$!!! The cool thing is- this isn’t it. I have tried to list out everything in the photos best as I can below.
However, at the end of the day, it’s important to recognize that you guys are the reason this all happened. I graciously from the bottom of my heart thank all of you who have donated and supported. The impact made at this orphanage through your donations is something the orphanage has never come across before. I wish I could share the happiness, love, tears, and joy that the center showed me. Yet, they know that there are people across the world that care for them and love them. I also want to especially thank Lucia Twitchell, Ashika Senevirathna Pmgy, Pmgy Manoj, Ishan, and every single PMGY volunteer and staff member that dedicated their free mornings to come help work on the renovations, answer my annoying 1 million questions, translate for me & / or helped buy/manage purchases. It truly takes a community & I could have never done this on my own.
If anyone is interesting in continuing to learn more or help at the girls orphanage, I will continue to keep the fundraiser open. I will be making periodic transfers to the girls personal savings accounts. Sri Lanka’s interests rates are very high so investing money now can help accumulate a lot of money for these girls (& remember just $30 could buy them a simple phone & more) by the time they get the money at 18.
Thank you guys again - the impact YOU made has changed these girls lives forever.
*Old POST*
When I first came to Sri Lanka I did not ever imagine that I would participate on the child care orphanage project. Although a goofy person, I never felt I connected well with children of young ages. I was initially more interested in other projects, yet I decided to fill one of my afternoons at the local girl’s orphanage and child development center as one of the volunteers had to miss the day. On my first day I was blessed to work with a twelve year old girl who did not know English well and was quite shy as she was very new to the place. Through homework time, we instantly connected with each other as I watched her take on english and math homework writing in her only notebook while I tried to share with her the knowledge I have been blessed to learn. Not only was I surprised that I connected with someone but was also astounded by how incredibly intelligent she was as I gave her advanced bits and pieces of information which her brain absorbed in seconds. In that moment, I envisioned her potential at my university (UC BERKELEY) and felt that she could go so much farther with it than I probably ever could. We proceeded to spend all of play time and to the last minute (total 3 hours!) doing homework. She taught me so much about her skills and her passions, but also the extraordinary abilities she has especially in her circumstances where she is not promised higher education, not given many resources outside of government school, and is not educated in all subjects. After this day, there is not a single day I have missed the orphanage and for the past one and a half months, I have fully committed myself to this project.
Like this encounter, I have had many other experiences with the other girls at the orphanage & child development center. From post food fight cleanups by the children themselves to sharing with me snacks to them jumping off of the swings instantly when I seem tired so I can sit down to the younger girls showing me the value of playing in the dirt and the amazing artwork/ beautiful flower necklaces you can make to the older girls teaching me the value of good and real conversation (even with the language barrier) and much more - these experiences and more have been unlike anything I have ever come across before and I have never had something as meaningful and important as this. This group of girls exemplify such respect, joy, sincerity, and appreciation. Given the bare minimum, they never ask for anything and they appreciate everything they have and are given. I could go on and on about the countless moments that they portray these traits.
Today, I am reaching out to various communities in hopes to raise money for this orphanage & child development center - my very first personal fundraiser. I will be with them for the next 2 and a half months and my goal is to raise enough money to provide them with some things that they desperately need- proper beds, hygienic products, cleaning supplies, dishes, towels, etc. - and get them some things that I know at their age I treasured and took for grant (board games, art materials, hair ribbons, sports equipment, music player, etc.) which they have little to none of (what do you do on a rainy day???). I will personally receive all proceeds, buy the goods, and deliver to the orphanage & child development center.
I would also like to a raise some money to help provide the caretakers their basic needs. They are often overlooked but these incredible women gave up their lives to care for the place by working extensively all day to keep the orphanage & child development center running while living off of the smallest income you could imagine.
The US dollar is extremely valuable in comparison to the Sri Lankan rupee so 1 US dollar goes very far here. I would give all my money to this place if I could and I know it’s very annoying to ask for money from people, but if you feel called to donate, it would from the bottom of my heart be absolutely appreciated. This project means so much to me and the smallest of money can go so far here and impact their lives immensely.
**Also, if you are interested in helping the children on a longer time scale, please message me about that & I will be happy to explain some options!!!**
I apologize for the long post and I could go on and on but thank you for reading. If you have any messages/questions/concerns about anything !! you can contact me directly by cell, private message, or email. Thank you very much.
more pictures of girls & orphanage are posted on my Facebook ‘Sri Lanka’ album & instagram page!! :-) + I would be happy to send you all some :)
Organizer
Dalan Laughlin
Organizer
Berkeley, CA