Sri Narada Foundation extends helping hand to needy students

by Rohan Pradeep Vitharana

The 'Sri Narada Foundation' has been set up with the goal of helping low-income students. The organisation founded by Ven Kolonnawe Narada Thera, the chief incumbent of Sri Bodhirajarama in Colombo 10, provides assistance to a large number of low-and moderate-income students by way of financial scholarships and education material until they complete school education or if qualified for higher education at University.

These scholarships are confined to children who are needy from all parts of the country. Students qualify for the grants based on their family income, assets and talents shown at education.

Ven. Narada Thera with the help of the members from the Dayaka Sabha and other stakeholders has turned the few perches the temple has, in close proximity to the Hulftsdorp courts complex into a school which conducts numerous educational activities to students in the afternoon and weekends.

According to Ven Narada Thera the foundation is also a unique organisation in another way as it does not believe in maintaining big funds of its own to spend for these initiatives. The foundation adopts a foster program to fund the scholarships and has volunteers to conduct classes on various subjects.

Those who are willing to be a part of the foster program are given the task of directly funding a child's education, chosen by the foundation after carefully perusing the details submitted by the child's parents or the guardian. Here members of the foster program sends a monthly allowance and educational material to the child to further his education.

Most of the equipment at the temple used by the students have been donated by individuals and organisations. A number of computers have been provided by the UN Volunteers which are now used by the students with the help of the teachers to improve their IT literacy.

The foundation also conducts various competitions in many disciplines to bring out the hidden talents of needy students. Ven. Narada Thera in future plans to have a crafts exhibition to showcase the talents of the students.

Ven Narada Thera said already the work of the foundation has produced many eminent students who have excelled in both studies and extra curricular activities.

Needy students, their parents or guardians could contact the organisation for help. They can contact the foundation at Sri Bodhirajaramaya 75, Adhikarana Mawatha, Colombo 10.

The writer is the media secretary of the Sri Narada Foundation.