Mathagal, Jaffna gets a Foundation of Goodness Empowerment Centre
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The library at the centre in Mathagal
When Rajiv and Kiran Radhakrishnan in the UK offered their ancestral property to be gifted for the community to benefit, it resulted in the opening of the Foundation of Goodness’ 7th Village Heartbeat Project Empowerment Centre in Mathagal, Jaffna. This is the kind of example that bears testimony to the South – North reconciliation initiative, as both parties came together to make that major difference towards rebuilding a shattered community.
Then came co-trustee Ashan Malalasekera, Chairman of Arinma Holdings, who understanding the vision of the Foundation’s other Village Heartbeat Empowerment Centres towards empowering rural students, gifted the total building cost to make this dream of the 7th VHP empowerment initiative a reality.
The Mathagal VHP Centre offers Computer/ IT, English Language, Sinhala Language, Science, Mathematics, Women’s Enterprise & Empowerment and Volleyball programmes to the 280 children, youth and women currently enrolled from among eight surrounding villages who find it difficult to access educational and vocational resources to develop their skills. The Centre also has a library to help the beneficiaries broaden their knowledge base and is home to a Children’s Goodness Club to ensure that the children and youth attending programmes understand the importance of doing good deeds that can help and benefit their community, for a brighter future.
The architectural drawings to resurrect the building where the VHP Centre is located were done free by renowned architect, Anjalendran.
The longevity of this Centre is secured through the sponsorship of a group of donors who are eager to give rural but talented beneficiaries a chance to prosper. Dr. Sangarapillai Nagendran from USA has been a strong donor and supporter of the Foundation of Goodness for many years, with special care for promoting educational success as a building block for a secure and prosperous future, such as through the FoG Essential School Supplies Programme, and presenting bikes to students in the North and East who walk incredibly long distances just to get to school. Together with his brother Dr. Sangarapillai Asokan also from USA and friends Dr. Anton Sebastiampillai and Emil Kumar, both from UK, as well Ms. Rashantha Devanesan from Singapore they stepped up to cover the cost of running the centre and all its programmes.
The Foundation of Goodness first introduced its Village Heartbeat Project concept to bring Empowerment Centres offering a selection of its key courses and programmes to distant rural villages where opportunities and access to resources are scarce.
Children enjoy a game of volleyball at the premises of the centre
Many of the courses offered at the VHP Centres are crucial for the development of women, children and youth, giving them the opportunity to build their talents and gain more skills. The aim here is to give these groups an opportunity to take control of their future, rather than to remain victims of circumstance, by providing them with the necessary tools for success.
FoG’s very first Village Heartbeat Centre opened in Udumulla – Galle District (2007) followed by five more in Rathgama – Galle District (2010), Hingurukaduwa – Moneragala District (2014), Gandara – Matara District (2016), Eravur –Batticaloa District (2016) and Thirukkovil – Ampara District (2016).
The Foundation of Goodness was established in 1999 and has worked extensively following the 2004 tsunami that devastated the lives of thousands of Sri Lankans to develop a one of a kind holistic rural community development model which today delivers a wide range of programmes to over 35,000 beneficiaries from 200+ villagers in the South, North and East of Sri Lanka annually, free of charge, via 30 empowerment activity sectors.
Since the end of the war, the Foundation of Goodness has extended its development activities to the North and East of Sri Lanka and has been working in the North since January 2011, reaching over 34,000 beneficiaries to date, with uninterrupted monthly visits to introduce, maintain and expand a variety of welfare and development programmes.
For more information see www.unconditionalcompassion.org