‘HopeSong’ initiative raises funds for School Supplies Packs Programme

‘HopeSong’, an event to raise funds for the Foundation of Goodness’ Essential School Supplies Packs Programme (ESSP) was held on Saturday, 21 November at the Barefoot Café. The initiative raised Rs. 400 000 in profit to provide 120 children with school supplies.

The ESSP programme was introduced in 1999 to encourage children from underprivileged backgrounds around the country to attend school by quipping them with items such as uniforms, shoes, school bags and stationery. 22000 school packs have been distributed over the years-this year too, the organizers raised funds for just over 2000 packs. The show was meant to add to this number, and that it did.

Performers at the event included Salvage, Oshan and Friends, Natasha Senanayake, Joshua Vittachi, Cosmogyral, Dineli Sun, Asela Perera, Sanjay Pathmanthan, Larry T Hill, and Suren De Kauwe. The event featured two stages-one for the band and another for the smaller acts-overall, the three hour long show featured ten performances by these artistes.

“More importantly than the amount of money raised it was great see everyone come together to improve the lives of others, no matter their race or ethnicity,” said Sanjay Pathmanathan, Project Coordinator. “For me there is nothing more valuable than offering someone the key to their future, which comes in the form of an education.  And HopeSong facilitated that.  The team and I raised enough money to allow 120 children to have the means to go school and stay in it, at least for the year, which is why we have to keep raising funds for this cause.  Every child deserves to have the opportunity to invest in their future.  Being able to go to school aids this.”

Along with Sanjay, the HopeSong Team consisted of: Shehan Dias, Nisheda Samaranayake, Hasara Kulatunga, Ashni Perera, Isuru Suharshana, Ryan 'Keiloo' Keil and Larry T Hill. The concert was organized by the Foundation of Goodness in partnership with the Rotaract Clubs of Colombo, Colombo Regent and Colombo Millennium City.