Taking Care of 50 Vulnerable Sri Lankan Children

Since establishing The Sunshine Charity in December 2004, the trustees have continued to search for innovative ways of raising funds to support the work we do in taking care of vulnerable children living in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Achieving short-term goals was easy at the time especially as our work related to the tsunami recovery process. The generous funding received at the time locally and internationally was overwhelming. It led to a paradigm shift in the art of giving among many. Volunteering time and sharing knowledge forms part of our culture but giving to a good cause has grown in Sri Lanka ever since.

From the very beginning, the trustees made sure funds raised was for the cause meant. The objective was to take care of vulnerable children living in the Eastern Province where at the time the need was. As our work received recognition many asked us to replicate the project elsewhere in the country. We knew that it meant raising more funds. Since all the trustees are employed in different fields of work, taking care of vulnerable children was a personal journey for all of us. Going beyond the original objectives would have challenged us beyond our skills and time. Almost eighteen years on, we are still primarily a trust committed to taking care of vulnerable children. That has been the focus and will always be.

 The Sunshine Charity while raising funds, raises awareness on the concerns and needs of the children. This has contributed significantly to encouraging many to be engaged with the beneficiaries. When a human contact is made between the donor and the recipient, further giving is possible. This has been a guiding principle in our work. We see so many wanting to participate in the process, volunteer their time, share their resources and talent. We have welcomed each one to be part of our work and to participate in the programmes implemented. Being connected has helped in raising awareness and funds for the causes.

Today, the 50 children attending the Sunshine Day Care Centre include orphaned and vulnerable children and those affected by poverty – still keeping within our mandate. With generous funding received from local philanthropists and international donors, the centre has provided the children with not only their basic needs like nutritional food and clothing but more importantly with creative opportunities, medical and health care, pharmaceutical drugs, worming treatment, foot wear to prevent worm infection, learning skills and educational tools – again within our mandate.  

Teacher training programmes conducted for members of the staff have encouraged them to be engaging, committed and understanding of the children's needs. The Sunshine Charity has also conducted numerous workshops for the mothers of the children on oral hygiene, nutritional needs and medical programmes with follow-up advice. Through its programmes, the organization seeks to strengthen the capacity and improve the lives of the children served.

The Sunshine Charity has a definite goal and a definite description of the organization, which is used in all our communication material and presentations. The audience we speak to hears our story whether through the print, electronic media or social media. We know that when our donors give they have heard the story. Above all, they know that their giving will be utilized for the children whose stories they hear.

To mark the milestone of her 16^th birthday, Neriah Nugara from New Jersey, USA chose to use her birthday celebration to raise funds for The Sunshine Charity. With parents of Sri Lankan origin, Neriah has travelled to Sri Lanka on over twenty occasions to visit relatives and friends.  She has a strong bond to the island and deeply cares about children who are less fortunate than she is, especially those living under challenging conditions in Sri Lanka.

Neriah’s birthday invitation to her friends read: “To mark this milestone in my life, I would like to do something special for children and families who don’t have the same opportunities I have. I am hoping that by supporting these underprivileged children and families, it may be possible to create opportunities for them to achieve their highest potential.  There will be a box out at the party to collect any contributions towards my project collaborating with the Sunshine Charity”.

Neriah corresponded with The Sunshine Charity about how best the money raised from her birthday party could be utilized, inquiring what the greatest need would be and how the funds would impact the children. She was keen to improve the physical infrastructure of the Sunshine Charity Day Care Centre - an area often overlooked as a funding option - and the trustee of the Sunshine Charity were delighted with her idea. The physical environment of a learning space, playground, or any area that children spend time in, including the surrounding neighbourhood, is crucial to children’s safety and security.  Therefore, Neriah felt that what the day care centre needed was a proper wall around the compound to reduce risks and increase protection.

In April 2018, Neriah was in Sri Lanka during her school break and her visit to the day care center gave her the opportunity to experience how the wall has helped create a child friendly environment where the children feel safe and secure. During her visit, Neriah found the time to meet the kids and engage with them through a creative story-telling hour. She listened to their stories and shared with them her own.  It will be a day to remember for the Sunshine Kids. Thank you Neriah for understanding the needs of vulnerable children.