To light a candle

Maheshika, seven years old, is a frail, malnourished and limp little girl who lives in a shack by the sea. The sea spray lashes through the many gaps in the wooden planks thus dampening the broken cement floor. The humidity inside the little hut is unbearable. Mahindapala, Maheshika's father ekes out a meagre existence by plucking coconuts.

Her mother, Kumudini, with her sibling, a boy of three, and grandfather Samson all live in a one room shack. Maheshika's weak intestines can take in only beverages like Horlicks and cereals like Nestum, both of which cannot be afforded by the family.

Austin Fernando, father of 17-year-old Deepa, was killed in a bus crash at Moratuwa. Austin worked as a labourer and his had been the sole income for the family. After his death his wife Malini, now works as a seamstress and earns about Rs. 1,000 a month.

Deepa, at the time, a keen and hard working student at Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa, desperately required assistance to complete her studies in order to seek employment to make a better life for her mother and herself.

Ariyadasa is 57 years old. Over twenty years ago he lost his leg and part of his right hand in a train accident. He was married and had a son. His family after the accident abandoned him and he now lives in a shack by the beach. He sells vegetables for a living. Ariyadasa required a hand pedaled tricycle in order to continue earning a living.

The above stories are not unique to Sri Lankans. In a nation where there exists more unfortunates than those who have endless opportunity, Sri Lankans are not ignorant to the various degrees of poverty and misfortune that exist today in the country.

Yet many of us find little time to extend a hand of friendship and kindness to those in need. The Association for Lighting a Candle, (AFLAC) is one such organization today that functions as a link between a need, and an act of generosity. AFLAC was conceived on the premise that most people, irrespective of their circumstances are capable of helping someone in some little way.

A non profit charitable institution, AFLAC projects are based on health, food, clothing, education and community development.

No part of any donation is used to meet administrative costs for this organization. All its workers are volunteers continue tirelessly in their efforts to bring light to those less fortunate individuals and families.

Maheshika was assisted by AFLAC through the mediation of a lady living in Singapore.

Maheshika received the required bottles of Horlicks and Nestum. Her broken cot was repaired and the side walls and roof of the shack were mended with tar sheets to prevent the sea spray from coming in. Maheshika's needs are ongoing and through the facilitation of AFLAC Maheshika continues to receive donations from various parts of the world.

Deepa was given a scholarship by AFLAC amounting to Rs. 500 per month. The money allocated was through a direct donation of a couple in Colombo. Ariyadasa has been provided with a hand pedaled tricycle at a cost of Rs. 4,950/= This money was donated by a foreign lady living abroad. AFLAC has established branches in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

All these branches work with AFLAC international to help the needy in Sri Lanka. AFLAC has provided links for people from all spectrums of life to help the needy and all those who have less opportunities in life than others.

Yet another example is Cyril, a handicapped person with both legs amputated at the knee. His family has abandoned him and he is confined to a dilapidated hand-propelled tricycle. His only shelter is the porch of an old house, where he sleeps at night and spends his day. A British gentleman through the facilitation of AFLAC has provided Cyril with a new hand propelled tricycle.

Cissylin is a woman who makes a living by working as a domestic help on a part time basis. She lives in a shanty by the beach near the Moratuwa railway station. She has two sons, one of whom is in prison. The wife of this son who had gone to the Middle East as a house-maid passed away in Jordan.

Cissylin is the guardian of her two granddaughters, who live with her. Cissylin had no money to pay for the burial of her daughter-in-law when the body arrived at Katunayake.

Through the intervention of AFLAC all funeral expenses were met, enabling Cissylin to carry out the burial of her daughter-in-law.

Edwin was yet another example of falling on hard times. Married with two children, Edwin earns his living by selling fertilizer which he carries on his shoulder all day long till he sells the lot. On a favourable day he makes about Rs. 100/- The family live in a little hut by the beach. Edwin had developed cataract in one eye and he was practically going blind.

He could not get his eye operated, not due to hospital costs which is given freely in the country, but because Edwin would not be able to earn his living for some time during and after his operation and the family would then go hungry. Here too through the intervention of AFLAC and a donor, Edwin's family were taken care of leaving Edwin free to undergo the much needed operation.

The blind colony at Katubedde houses a number of blind people with no one to care for them. Most of these blind people are quite old and their living conditions are badly in need of upliftment.

After being taken around this blind colony, by Dilrukshi Jayawardena, Secretary to AFLAC, I was struck by the humble requests which are made by these old people who are compelled to live alone. Inquiries into what they want are met with humble requests. Mary, Greta and Hema asked for a one burner kerosene stove.

When offered a two burner they refused.

Dilrukshi explained how initially when AFLAC began work in the blind colony, requests were made for various items such as a second hand chair with arm-rests, a second hand bed-pan, a bench to dry their clothes in the sun etc. At present each blind person receives Rs. 300 per month from the Social Services Department and another Rs. 400 per month from the British Housewives Association. A packet of rice and curry is donated for the afternoon meal by Helpage.

AFLAC has undertaken to do some work towards providing better ventilation inside the little houses and supplying their various requirements. In their food programme AFLAC have undertaken to donate a monthly food supplement of Rs. 1000 to families in need.

Seela Ranjini has three children. Her first two children are twins, Ruwan and Nuwan, of whom one was deformed at birth. The father has abandoned the family. The twins are eight years old while the third child Asanka is six.

Seela Ranjini finds it extremely difficult to provide the basic necessities to feed and educate her children.

AFLAC also installs hand operated water pumps in densely populated areas, where people face great difficulties in obtaining their basic requirements of water.

Dilrukshi explained that there are areas where several families comprising about two hundred people share three or four water pumps provided by the State.

AFLAC is different to other organizations in that anyone can be involved. Identifying the various needs of such a broad spectrum is certainly a daunting task.

But AFLAC is guided by the slogan 'It is better by far to light a solitary candle than to curse the darkness.'

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