Healing the minds
by Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
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Concy donates a parcel of dry rations to one of the disabled war
heroes at Ragama. Pic: Saman Sri Wedage
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It all started off in a very formal way when she took on the
responsibility of devoting a chapter of her life towards healing the
minds and nurturing the starving and needy. Soon a group of equally
compassionate souls joined her mission and she was able to lead them in
many of the activities organized by the team. This was the spring of
life which formed the Jeewa (Life) Foundation in which she is the
chairperson today. For Concy Perera the programs and relief schemes put
together by the foundation had become part and parcel of her daily life.
Her ability to recognize the pulse of the depressed was inherited
from her father F.D. Steven Perera. Though his family encompassed eight
children, from which Concy was the fifth, many more children took refuge
in their home.
Her father was driven by a passion to help the needy and his love for
children was no exception. Many homeless and hungry children would visit
their place seeking shelter and food even from her youngest days. A past
pupil of St. Joseph's Balika, Grandpass, and Good Shepherds Convent,
Kotahena, Concy had brought the roots of her parent's worthy intentions
throughout her journey in life. She had married early and has three
children: two daughters and a son who also help her in her charity
projects.
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