#BackToSchool

Let them smile once again

By Rtr. Imasha Yapa

“On the 15^th May 2016 Sri Lanka was hit by a severe tropical storm that caused widespread flooding and landslides in 22 districts out of the 25 districts in the country, destroying homes and submerging entire villages. At least 104 people are known to have died following this disaster; 99 people are still missing, the majority due to a landslide in Aranayake, Kegalle District, which devastated three villages. An estimated 301,602 people have been affected by this disaster, including at least 21,484 people who remain displaced from their homes. As a result of the floods and landslides, 623 houses have been completely destroyed and 4,414 homes have been damaged; however, given that many affected locations remain underwater and others too dangerous to access due to the possibility of further landslides, it is likely that this number will rise once further assessments have been completed. On 25 May the Government of Sri Lanka estimated that a total of 128,000 houses could have been impacted by the disaster, with 30,000 in need of reconstruction or rehabilitation.”

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20ROAP_SL_Sitrep2.pdf

It was eight months ago.

We heard them cry, we saw their tears, and we felt their grief.

Back then, we did what we could; we collected and distributed donations, we prayed for them, we

cried for them and above all we cared for them whole heartedly. We stood together as one nation.

But that was 2016. Let bygones be bygones.

“So why not start 2017 with a smile and joy filled in your heart?” I ask you.  “Of course, why not?” you would answer, without any hesitation.

Indeed, they would love that idea too. These families still don’t have a proper roof above their heads. Parents cannot afford to provide their children with new cloths, a new pair of school shoes, a new school bag or even the book list for the new school year.

These families had a perfect life eight months ago. They had their very own “Home Sweet Home” filled with laughter. Those happy memories are all they are left with now.

Thus the Rotaractors of the Rotaract Club of College of Chemical Sciences, stepped forward with a determination to help these children out. It wasn’t an easy task for us all, being students – as chemistry undergraduates who are known to be bookworms spending most their lives in the lab and the library. But we accepted the challenge for the sake of our brothers and sisters.

So last September a few of us set out to Aranayake, to see the condition of these families with our own eyes; to hear their stories with our own ears and to get to know what they need. 

The floods and landslides were indeed a tragedy. We realized that no one deserves such a life.

At the end of this journey we decided we’d do whatever we could; to do something for them.

 As they always say, we believed something is 

better than nothing. 

All they want is a better life. A better tomorrow. So we asked ourselves, “Why not let them start their new year with new hopes?”

 Since then, after four months of hard work, we finally went to Aranayake and Karawanella on the 30^th of December again.

Not empty handed like last time, but with a lorry full of school kits for the children. We managed to distribute 263 school kits among school kids in the Aranayake and Karawanella areas.

It was such a heartwarming scenery to see their smiles; to listen to then laugh again, dampening our eyes as well. I must say those happy little eyes made our hearts fill with joy. But then we knew, that was not only our hearts; their hearts too. Finally, we could take some deep breath and relax. We made them happy; we made them smile. They still don’t have a proper roof above their heads, they still don’t have their perfect life they had back then. But, they will go “Back to School”.

With a new school bag, a new pair of shoes, a book list which their parents couldn’t afford and with all other necessary school items, they will go back to school.

And we know from the deep within, we made them smile. We gave them a new hope. On the journey From Dreams to Reality, we passed one mile stone with far more to go!

A very special thanks goes out to our very own parent club, Rotary Club of Colombo Regency, for supporting us, guiding us and for being our backbone throughout this worthy cause. Also a huge thanks should be extended towards our sister club, the Rotaract Club of Colombo Regency, for helping us out with the packaging and everything else.

Cheers to the Regency family, for another successfully completed project!!!