Children supported by inspiring work of The Lotus Foundation
Kingsley founders Daya and Sumi Thayan were heartened to see the good work being done by their charity, The Lotus Foundation, on their trip to Sri Lanka.
They launched the foundation in the wake of the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami to support orphaned children and displaced families in Sri Lanka.
In the intervening years, the charity has undertaken a huge number of projects that have been a real difference to communities not just in Sri Lanka but other countries around the world.
On their most recent visit to Sri Lanka, Daya and Sumi dropped into a school in Omatta and opened a new IT suite that has been funded by the foundation.
Daya said: “It is really nice to see how keen these kids are to embrace new technologies.”
They also visited a nursery in Omatta where the foundation is about to begin work on a major refurbishment of facilities to include play areas, more modern accommodation and a library.
Daya said: “We have been supporting nursery facilities for younger children in Omatta for many years.
“This has been the only good place for the kids in the area as there aren’t many good facilities around. Most of the kids are from the area known for its rubber estates.
“In the same premises we run after school and weekend classes at GCSE level.”
He said Covid had a devastating effect on the vulnerable in Sri Lanka and it was uplifting to see the good work of the foundation.
“We have come back after two years. Our colleagues here in Sri Lanka are really a nice bunch. They continued to do whatever they could support our work,” he said.
Author: Stephen Pullinger
