Sundayobserver.lk: Spectrum |"Lending Hands" - another Royal College project

“Wealthy men can't live in an island that is encircled by poverty. We all breathe the same air. We must give a chance to everyone, at least a basic chance”. This goes for the benevolent students of Royal College, Colombo who shed their sweat and toil to improve the underprivileged schools and communities in the country.

‘Lending Hands’ is another project initiated by the Royal College UNESCO Club with the collaboration of Jinasena (Pvt) Ltd and South Cerney Sri Lankan Community Support Fund. The main idea of forming the ‘Lending Hands’ is to identify the immediate needs of underprivileged schools and to provide concrete solutions.

“It is a well known fact that most schools in Colombo benefit more than the schools in rural areas.

"The resources have not been distributed equally and sufficient attention has not been given, especially to develop schools in rural areas. However, we as Royalists believe it is our responsibility to look after our friends and communities who have the similar dreams as us,” said the Project Chairman Malka Denetthi.

“Therefore, we took the initiative to go beyond the orthodox community service projects to serve our unfortunate sisters in the Mulleriyawa Mental Hospital. The Mulleriyawa Mental hospital was in dire need of help because they were facing financial issues to initiate their home gardens and the inmates at the hospital needed good quality food and meals and more importantly, as a rehabilitation activity for the inmates.

"Therefore we took the initiative to bolster the Hospital to achieve better nutrition standards while providing the inmates with an outdoor activity,” Malka said.

So far through the ‘Lending Hands’ project, the UNESCO Club of Royal College was able to lend their helping hand for three water supply projects in Boossa Maha Vidyalaya, Galle, Kottawa Junior School, Galle and Ihala Halmillawa Maha Vidyalaya.

Jinasena (Pvt) Ltd Chairman
Rohan Jinasena

“After the Tsunami in 2004, I personally engaged in several CSR projects such as Tsunami relief project in Kosgoda village, rehabilitation and upgrading of facilities at Mahawannammaduwa Vidyalaya. In early 2008 I came to know about a project which is being done by the students of Royal College and the Principal of Royal College, Upali Gunasekera at the Mental Hospital in Mulleriyawa.

The moment I heard about this project I felt this project would go beyond the orthodox community service projects that I’ve heard before,” Chairman of Jinasena Pvt Ltd Rohan Jinasena said.“I arranged a meeting with the students of Royal College through a staff member in my company. While talking to them I noticed that the students had potential and very real vision towards community projects. After that meeting I decided to sponsor their community service projects with the South Cerney Sri Lanka Community Support Fund. We provide water supply to the home garden in Mulleriyawa mental hospital.

“The South Cerny Sri Lanka Community Support Fund gave me a huge support to fund such projects on the request made by the RC students. That was the beginning of a never ending triangular partnership of our three organisations.

“After the rehabilitation project in Mulleriyawa mental hospital, we were able to provide pure drinking water to schools such as, Boossa Maha Vidyalaya, Galle, Kottawa Junior School, Galle and Ihala Halmillawa Maha Vidyalaya”.

“All three schools were undergoing a severe water problem with their day- to-day lives. Boossa MV, Galle was in need of a water development system for their school agricultural garden. Without this development they were facing issues regarding their school lawn and their backyards, even though they could clinch some titles in agricultural competitions.

"Thus, we stepped in to help this underprivileged school by providing them with a fully functional water distribution scheme, where their gardens and lawns would receive a positive output. Similarly, Kottawa Junior School, another underprivileged school in Galle, did not have a clean drinking water system.

With the generous support of Jinasena (Pvt) Ltd, we succeeded in providing them with a water management system to quench their thirst,” said the project’s Treasurer, Diswa Denetthi.

‘Lending Hands’ did not forget the people who suffered the 30 years of conflict in the Northern and the Eastern provinces.“We have initiated another project to empower those affected in Vavuniya.

"This project is currently headed by the Principal of Royal College, Upali Gunasekara with the full cooperation of Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena.

The student base of Royal College is also pro-actively participating in this great venture to improve sub-standard conditions in Vavuniya. "Those affected in Vavuniya would be able to experience proper accommodation, sanitation and education,” Malka said. Royal College UNESCO Club is also willing to support the immediate needs of underprivileged schools and communities. They invite the rural schools to come up with their problems and Royal College of UNESCO Club is willing to do the best in their capacity.