Out Reach was born on May 2009 when a few young people from all over the country came together to help some children who were orphaned during the conflict and at that time were under the care of a school in Jaffna.
“There were only five of us when we started our organization,” said Natalie who is one of the first members of the organization, “We basically started to help the young people of the needy communities.” In their first project Natalie told us that they contributed school supplies to around 200 children from Jaffna who started their education again after a long pause.
Now there are 15 young people altogether that are voluntarily helping Out Reach to help more and many people as they could. Through these volunteers they spread the word to their friends, acquaintances, doctors and others who are willing to help.
In 2010 they’ve contributed school items to children in a rural school in the Kandy district. When they got to know that there was another such school in Anuradhapura district who were in need of their help the young enthusiastic helpers wrote to those who would help them and in 2011, ten Out Reach members made the journey to the school to contribute the collected school supplies.
The young members of Out Reach said they had no words to express how they felt. The group spent the day with the school children who were altogether 170 in number, interacted with the children playing games and bonding with the community.
“In 2012 we plan to get together with some doctors who are willing to help and put a medical camp to the youth and also older people,” Natalie told us. She further explained that they plan to include a facility where the people can get their eyes checked in this medical camp. Natalie also said that their plan is to do this in the middle of this year. They also plan to work on collecting funds to help another school. The school however they have not decided yet.
Since Out Reach is a self-funded organization they are on the look out for anybody else who would be willing to hold their hands out to help more people in need.
You could view their group page on
www.facebook.com/outreach or contact them on outreach outreach@yahoo.com. |
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