Community’s Big Heart: More Than a Meal

When we started this “Pirunu kusak – Pirunu hisak” project to feed our school children, we saw something incredible happen. People we’d never even met began sending us rice and coconuts. It’s a powerful reminder of how willing people are to help when they see a need.

Some people might ask, “Is a simple meal of rice and coconut sambol enough? Doesn’t it lack nutritional value?” And they’re not wrong to ask. But when those mothers, fathers, and teachers see that it’s not enough, they don’t just stand by. They go down to the stream, catch a couple of fish, and say, “Cook this too and add it to the meal.” That’s the spirit of this community.

There are two key elements that make this project so impactful. First, the cooking is a collective effort—parents and community members come together to prepare the food. This isn’t just about feeding children; it’s about building a sense of togetherness. Second, and most importantly, they are feeding their own children. This is an act of empowerment, not charity. Our role is simple: we provide a small amount of assistance to buy the supplies. To them, and to us, that’s a huge help. With just 1,000 rupees, we can feed a child for an entire month.

I didn’t know Amila Weerasooriya, but he sent goods to three schools with instructions to distribute them. When we told rice vendors we were trying to feed a school, they gave us a huge discount. Thanks to this support, we were able to deliver supplies to Maha Ehatuwewa and Hatharaswala and send goods for Herath Halmillaewa by bus.

We distributed two sacks of rice, two sacks of coconuts, and ten bags of lentils to each school and still had some left over. It looks like the rice and coconut sambol will go a long way.

A big thank you to Amila! Please pass on our gratitude to Neville Atthanayake. A huge thank you also to everyone who jumped in to help, from those who enthusiastically loaded the rice to every single person who contributed.

See below pictures, memory of this kindness is all we need.

By Dr. Kiloshini Hendawitharana: :Pirunu Kusak – Pirunu Hisak”

21.08.2022