After his mother died and his father abandoned him and his two sisters, life was not easy for 18-year-old Kasun. But he continued to work hard at school and tried to earn some money by working at night.
Being sponsored through ChildFund gave Kasun support and the feeling that he was not completely alone as he continued to receive assistance for his education.
“I struggled through many obstacles to sit the GCE Ordinary Level Examination [an exam secondary school students take in Sri Lanka],” Kasun says. “When I learnt that I had not passed the exam, I was so disappointed. I thought that was the end of the road for me.”
But an opportunity to attend a Vision Camp event organised by ChildFund Sri Lanka helped Kasun realise that there were other opportunities available to him and that failing his exam was not the end of the world. Gradually his disappointment turned to hope.
Kasun was inspired by the many opportunities and ideas shared at the event and became interested in taking up a career in hospitality.
“I was so happy the day ChildFund Sri Lanka offered me training in the hotel trade,” Kasun says. He enrolled in a fully paid four-month vocational training program at a hospitality school. “I finally felt that my life had a purpose,” he says.
While taking the course Kasun also began working as a trainee at a resort in the beach town of Galle in southern Sri Lanka.
After successfully completing his course, Kasun now works at the resort full-time as an assistant cook.
“The guidance I received was timely and invaluable, and I feel that I have chosen a vocation that I enjoy and in which I can succeed,” he says, smiling.
We have spent an incredible two days visiting ChildFund-supported communities in Trincomalee district in north-eastern Sri Lanka.
Day one begun with an introduction at ChildFund’s local partner office in Kuchcheveli where we had the opportunity to meet people; fathers, mothers, grandmothers and children who will be receiving goats through our fundraising and hear exactly why they are just so beneficial for families in this community. Goats are a home-based business which mean mothers can remain at home to look after their young children, they are low-maintenance and low-cost, four goats can become six goats by the end of the year and they are well-suited to the local environment to name just a few reasons!
As we left the project office I could feel the excitement in the bus building. Next up we were to visit a local school (both primary and secondary) where ChildFund supported the construction of a new classroom and provided furniture and learning materials.
As we arrived I peeked out the window to find children big and small lined up at the school gates eagerly waiting for us. As I stepped out of the bus I heard the clapping begin. Following the child-made path to the school we all tried to hi-five as many children as we could. My utter embarrassment at the welcome we were given did nothing to diminish the joy I felt.
After a short introduction by one of the long-term teachers at the school we were given the all clear to go out and relive our childhoods again for a few hours. Howard and Rachel played hot potato with about 30 kids happily squealing. Dave, Jimmy, Alvin, Rebecca, Emma and Chan played cricket (with bats donated from my sport-mad friend, Lenny) with the future Sri Lankan cricket team. Sue and Peter played catch with kids who I am quite certain had springs in their feet. While Hannah and some of the adorable younger children played all sorts of fun games like the hokey pokey.
