PIMP MY TUK TUK CHARITY RIDE

PMTT is made up of an eclectic group of professional individuals who are dedicated to giving back to those less fortunate.

Most PMTT members have had the good fortune of living and working in Asia over their individual careers, and therefore as a group have a focus on raising money for charities committed to helping  people in need.

By 2013, 20 individuals had committed their own time and money and signed up to drive in teams of 2 over 1,200 km from Chennai to Goa in order to raise money for charity.

Following the success of PMTT 2013, 40 committed individuals gave up a week of their time to raise money and awareness traversing across the ‘Land of Lions’- Amazing Sri Lanka in 2015 and once more in 2017 raising funds for a variety of projects including Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Plants and sustainability funding for various FoG run sectors.

 

AUSAID / AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION

Our relationship with the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) began as a result of their Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) Program.

This AusAID funded program places skilled young Australians, aged 18-30, on assignments for between 3-12 months, in developing countries throughout the Asia Pacific region. Youth Ambassadors use their skills and expertise to actively contribute to international development. They gain an increased understanding of the development needs of Australia's neighbouring countries and broaden their experience by living and working in a cross-cultural environment.
Verity Slee and Ynys Onsman were the previous intake through AusAid’s Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) program. They arrived in beautiful Seenigama late November 2006 and worked with the Foundation of Goodness for 12 months.

Having worked with various primary health care services and in community development work, Verity was placed with the Foundation of Goodness as a Community Health Project Officer to coordinate the Rebuilding Lives Project and The Rainbow Clinic.

Ynys’s role was in communications help share the stories of the Foundation and Seenigama’s people through the website, brochures and other promotional activities. She also provided support for community health projects.

Our previous Australian Youth Ambassador’s for Development were Lauren (from Queensland) who worked with the Foundation of Goodness from October 2005 until October 2006. She assisted us with our Communications, particularly the management and development of our website, and a variety of other projects and general coordination matters.
From September 2004 to September 2005, the Foundation of Goodness hosted Jillian Ray (from Western Australia) as our first Australian Youth Ambassador for Development. Jill lived in Seenigama for three months prior to the Tsunami and after the disaster she became involved with the management of numerous relief and rebuilding programs for the Foundation.
Our relationship continues to grow with AusAID and we are very privileged to have their ongoing support.

AVIVA

AVIVA is the world’s sixth-largest insurance group, and the largest in the United Kingdom. WNS Global Services, contracted by AVIVA (the holding company of Norwich Union Insurance in the UK), has designed and co-ordinated an exemplary project in Seenigama - the construction of a model village called 'AVIVA Village'.
The establishment of the AVIVA village in partnership with WNS to construct a special village of 10 houses is the first of its kind in the area with modern amenities such as a grocery store, a stylish community centre, an IT centre, a library, a village bank and a post office, all accompanied by beautiful landscaping.
The Aviva/WNS Village was opened by the Managing Director of WNS, Mr Dushan Soza, and other colleagues on the 26th December 2005, as part of the Tsunami One-Year Anniversary events.
AVIVA and WNS were major supporters of Seenigama as it recovered from the tsunami and these houses, shops and facilities have uplifted the lives of all the villagers, not just those that are re-housed. The resources benefit everyone in the area and provide a sense of community.
AVIVA and WNS continue to provide support for the residents of AVIVA Village through workshops and programmes such as the recently launched internet project for children Under 16, and an annual WNS Challenge Trophy where WNS staff plays local netball and cricket teams. They also arrange regular free screenings of Singhalese movies, the first of which – ‘Millasoya’ – was screened in May 2007. Thanks to their involvement, the village moves from strength to strength.

Visit the AVIVA website

Read a story about Seenigama on AVIVA's global website

 

---

BRYAN ADAMS

World renowned singing sensation Bryan Adams pledged GBP 75,000 to the Foundation of Goodness to construct a brand new swimming pool at the Sports Academy in Seenigama. This Academy was officially opened on 01 July 2007.
Thanks to the generosity of Mr Adams, we were able to construct a 25m 6 lane swimming pool along with a kiddies’ pool. It has attracted children and youth from a large number of villages in the Seenigama region. They have been able to experience the benefit of learning proper techniques in the pool environment, rather than relying on sea swimming to train.

Construction of the Bryan Adams Swimming Pool Complex began in February 2006 and has successfully been completed with the opening taking place on 01st July 2007.

Mr.Adams has also approved using the remaining funding from the pool project to build an indoor multi-sports centre as part of the Seenigama Sports Academy, which will include a gymnasium, indoor cricket practice nets, change rooms, clubhouse, offices and toilets (sponsored by Surrey County Cricket Club), as well as the pool. The entire Academy borders a cricket ground (also sponsored by Surrey County Cricket Club).

We thank the Sri Lankan High Commission for their very kind introduction and recommendation that will now pave the way for better opportunities to the rural disadvantaged youth.

Seenigama Swimmers Excel

Seenigama dives in to new swimming program

FoG opens first class sports facilities in Seenigama

View pictures of the Bryan Adams Swimming Pool

Visit the Bryan Adams website.

Laureus sports projects at The bryan adams swimming pool complex

 

---

CHILDREN ACTION

"...it was a fantastic experience for us to share those 3 days with you and your team. Meeting the families and visiting each home was… an enlightening experience I have to admit that of all the projects we are doing, this one is a truly emotional one. When you give a house to a family it is another story than doing surgery... so we learned." - Bernard Sabrier, Children Action

Children Action, a Swiss charitable foundation with the mission of providing practical aid to children around the world, has provided immeasurable support to residents in the Seenigama region whose homes were badly damaged by the tsunami.

Thanks to their sponsorship, 200 homes have been restored for families whose homes were badly affected by the tsunami, and 200 brand new homes have been built for families living in the 100m buffer zone – the greatest donation received from a single donor. The supply of electricity, water, a landscaped garden and essential household items were also provided.

Highgate Pre-prep school touches the hearts of Malawenna school students

 

---

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FOUNDATION (IYF)/NOKIA

The International Youth Fund (IYF) was established in 1990 to bring opportunities and resources to young people, and currently has projects in close to 70 territories around the world.

IYF works in four main areas – education, employability, leadership and engagement, and health education and awareness – so that youth have greater opportunities to succeed in life.

Their vision is of ‘a world where all young people achieve their full potential and shape the future with power and confidence,’ and they work toward this goal through partnerships with a global network of organisations – including the Foundation of Goodness.

In 2006, IYF launched their Tsunami Reconstruction Initiative which aims to provide more than 4,400 tsunami affected youth (ages 16 to 29) with access to job and life skills training, apprenticeships and job placements.

As part of this initiative, they are funding the Women’s Enterprise Division and Business Skills Centre at the Foundation of Goodness’s MCC Centre of Excellence. Through these programs, over the next three years 2,160 young people in Seenigama will receive training in areas such as beauty culture, patchwork, sewing, beralu lace-making, industrial sewing machine training, cookery, starting up small businesses and improving on existing businesses.

CAREER TRAINING AT FOG

‘NO RESERVATIONS’ IN SEENIGAMA

Women’s Enterprise Centre celebrates graduation day

IYF visits youth training program at Foundation

More Women Gain Competency For Income Generation

US AMBASSADOR OPENS TWO NEW SPORTING FACILITIES IN SEENIGAMA

BUSINESS SKILLS & ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT IN SEENIGAMA

Visit the IYF website

Read about the IYF Tsunami Reconstruction Initiative

 

---

KPMG

KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. They operate in 148 countries and have more than 113,000 professionals working in member firms around the world.

While their reputation and status is far reaching, they still have a local focus and so have come to provide an amazing amount of support for rebuilding Seenigama post tsunami.

Thanks to the funding and support from KPMG, the Foundation of Goodness was able to buy land within the village of Seenigama without having to relocate tsunami-affected families to unknown or far away areas. 25 brand new homes have been built on this land to house families displaced by the 100m buffer zone as part of the KPMG/LOLC Village.

The KPMG Housing Complex is a magnificent new housing complex for these families to live in. For most of the recipients, their homes – which come complete with modern amenities, household items, landscaped gardens and community facilities - are an amazing gift that would have been unimaginable in the times before the tsunami.

The KPMG Housing Complex was officially opened in February 2005 by the International Chairman of KPMG, Mr. Mike Rake, on his visit to Sri Lanka. Mr Rake was accompanied by his wife as well as the Chairman, Directors, Management Staff and colleagues from KPMG Ford Rhodes Sri Lanka.

KPMG STAFF SHOW ONGOING SUPPORT

KPMG delegates take time out to visit village

KPMG staff visit Seenigama on fundraising trek

Read more about the opening of the KPMG/LOCL village

---

In August 2005 Laureus Sport for Good Foundation gave us a generous grant to fund a sports programme for young people aged 6-26 in Seenigama and surrounding villages.

The programme, Seenigama Sports, aims to enhance the lives of the young people in the area through creating opportunities for them to interact with others from surrounding villages, learning new skills and gaining confidence in their abilities.

Seenigama Sports has been a huge success, especially since the building of the Sports Acedemy, running sports training sessions and weekly competitions in a variety of sports including volleyball, softball, cricket, beach football, beach volleyball, cross country running, swimming, and badminton.

It has evolved to cover more sports and more villages, even to the extent of running competitions for the wider Galle District.

Background

This amazing sponsorship was made possible following the visit of cricketing legend Ian Botham when he came to Seenigama in April 2005. He was so impressed with the work of the Foundation, and the young people's enthusiasm for sport, that he supported our application for funding. Since Botham's visit we were also privileged to host a visit from Steve Waugh and Kapil Dev in December 2005, who witnessed the positive impact the project was having on the young people in the area. All three cricketing legends are Laureus Academy Members-a dedicated group of the world's greatest sports men and women volunteering their time in support of the organization’s worldwide projects which promote the use of sport as a tool for social change.

Seenigama Sports

View images from the ‘soft opening’ of the Centre of Excellence, please click here.

To view an article on Roger Knight's visit, please click here.

To view a story on Roger Knight's travels in Sri Lanka on the Lord's website, please click here.

To read a report by Tom Seabrook please click here.

 

---

THE MIRCHANDANI FOUNDATION

At a time when the Foundation of Goodness was running short of funds to sustain programmes under the 30 management sectors, The Mirchandani Foundation came forward in mid 2008 with a very generous grant to support the teaching of computer literacy and English language.

History
The Mirchandani Foundation is the charity arm of the Favourite Group and was established in 2007. It is named after the founder of a small trading company that grew to become the Favourite Group, as it is now know. The Group has interests in Sri Lanka, India and Maldives.

The Favourite Group aims to make a difference by actively participating in causes that positively impact the community.

The Mirchandani Foundation is administered by a board of eminent independent trustees, and aims to provide assistance in the areas of education.

SUSTAINABILITY IS OF ESSENCE

 

---

MR DAVID CRUSE OF KNOX FOOD & BEVERAGE

It is with immense gratitude that we thank Mr David Cruse and his family for their continued assistance towards the Foundation of Goodness, bringing about numerous resources, supporters and networks to the Foundation which has made a significant impact on the village and its people.

Mr David Cruse is a Sri Lankan born Australian and owner of the Knox Restaurant in Australia who has been extremely helpful, generous and selfless. He has been assisting the Foundation since the devastating tsunami in 2004 through promotional and fundraising activities for housing, the distribution of cricket equipment, grocery supplies and provision of scholarships and addressing other ad-hoc needs.

David has brought in many contacts from Australia who have done significant projects from schools and public institutions to individuals, adding value in so many ways. David has also formed a network to assist a few burn victims in the region of Seenigama, to help them receive appropriate medical treatment and surgery options which have been a dream come true for them.

He was also the President of the AUSLMAT, a charity set up for medical services which has been active in Sri Lanka with their voluntary group of dedicated team of doctors.

A great friend of the founder/trustee Mr Kushil Gunasekera and each time he visits Australia, the amount of support he extends to create awareness of the foundation is incredible, not forgetting his time, effort and resources.

 

---

MR HARRY SOLOMONS OF KINGSGROVE SPORTS

Harry Solomons is a Sri Lankan born Australian resident who was once a top cricketer in his day. Having bought a small sports store in Sydney, specializing in cricket and soccer equipment, which presumably is the largest sporting warehouse in Australia he is now the Managing Director of Kingsgrove Sports Centre. Kingsgrove centre Months after the tsunami, Harry came to the rescue in supporting to rebuild the lives of the badly-affected villagers. His networking with other generous supporters brought relief to their lives through the provision of alternative and suitable means of employment. Additionally he has negotiated with many individuals and parties in gaining funding towards the progression of the projects carried out by the Foundation of Goodness.
It is with the utmost appreciation and gratitude that we thank Harry Solomons, his Project Manager, Stephanie Coory, the Sri Lanka Disaster Relief Fund of NSW, Doug Crosby, Cricket NSW (particularly David Gilbert) and the numerous other contacts that Harry has connected us with for their generosity and compassion.

Harry is very supportive of Sri Lanka, especially to uplift those who are from disadvantaged rural communities, always caring for their well-being. Harry’s generosity has extended to also making personal donation such as packages of cricket equipment, comprising of top-of-the-range essential cricket items required for a cricket team to be used by the Seenigama Sports Club teams.

SEENIGAMA SCHOOL CREATES VOLLAYBALL HISTORY

With charity in his heart

Village celebrates as cricket legends open ‘Seenigama Oval’

 

---

MR MILOS STANKOVIC – UK

Mr. Miloš Stanković from UK is a co-sponsor of the Business Skills and English Centre at the MCC Centre of Excellence in Seenigama. He provided a great deal of support towards the Foundation, immediately following the tsunami, assisting during the toughest times. He went to great lengths in order to raise funds and raised the initial funds and awareness for the Centre through a sponsored solo 315 mile marathon race against time in the Cumbrian Mountains called the Greystoke Mountain Marathon. He achieved this amazing feat in record time, raising enough funds to set plans for the Centre in motion. To do something of this kind takes a rare individual for the worthy cause that it is and someone who obviously like to take the path that only a few can emulate.

Since then, numerous supporters have joined in from across the globe – in playing a part in making this project come to fruition. Thanks to this generous support, the MCC Centre of Excellence continues to make a significant difference in the lives of the rural community.

 

---

MR RANJAN DE COSTA – USA

Mr Ranjan de Costa, a successful businessman from USA has been a great supporter of the Foundation of Goodness. His generosity was extended towards the computer training centre at the MCC Centre of Excellence, for which ten new state-of-the-art computers were donated to enable local youth to increase their computer knowledge and better their chances for employment.

The computers feature Dual Core Processing, DVD burners for high capacity data back-up, Gigabyte Ethernet for very fast networking and 17 inch LCD flat screens, and are believed to be the only ones of their type in Sri Lanka.

Thanks to the high capacity of these computers, the Foundation has been able to offer training in advanced level design and development programs through the computer courses offered at the MCC Centre of Excellence, focusing on internet, email, web background, HTML, DreamWeaver and Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop and CorelDraw.

This is a rare opportunity for rural students in the Seenigama region, who face unemployment and lack of access to training. Thanks to the kindness shown by Mr Ranjan de Costa they are now able to take their IT skills to new heights and gain opportunities to succeed.

Ranjan’s generosity had extended even further to the provision of sponsorships, gifts and the support extended to sporting stars from rural communities who have required assistance to help them achieve the best they possibly can. The sponsorship of computer skilled students has created opportunities to explore an individual’s graphic design ability which is empowering and capacity building.

IT learning takes a new curve at the MCC Centre of Excellence

High tech computers donated to Centre of Excellence

 

---

PERTH CITY COUNCIL

Under the initiative taken by the Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass of the City of Perth, Western Australia, the Perth City Council, via its 'Adopt-a-Village' program, decided to focus their resources on assisting the reconstruction of the Seenigama Village. It has worked with the Foundation of Goodness to achieve its objective of 'contributing to the redevelopment of the tsunami-affected village of Seenigama and building friendship and bilateral relationships between the two communities'.
As the first step in this direction, the City of Perth funded the construction of 30 new houses. These 30 houses, combined with additional donor support, have helped to relocate families in Seenigama who were affected by the '100 metre regulation' which prevented the construction of houses 100m from the coastline. Thus, these 30 homes were provided to village families who had previously lived in the 100m zone and were left destitute after the tsunami.

Of the 30 houses, nine of these were constructed just beyond the 100 metre zone in a property that the Foundation purchased to showcase a complex equipped with modern amenities, (including an internet cafe, children’s library, communications centre, grocery store and a well-equipped community centre), funded by the AVIVA/Norwich Union bank. This modern housing park accommodates 19 homes altogether, including the nine Perth City Council houses. The other 21 houses are located beyond the 100 MT zone on their own lands.

All of these homes were completed by early 2006. To the recipients, these homes are their absolute pride and joy and something which they have never witnessed before. Residents have beautified each home according to their own personal tastes and skills as a sign of their utmost appreciation of this gift.

To view photographs of the nine-house cluster housing complex, please click here.

To view photographs of the 21 individual homes provided, please click here.

Read an article about the Perth Lord Mayor's recent visit to Seenigama

 

---

PLANET WHEELER FOUNDATION

In July 2008 the Australia-based Planet Wheeler Foundation came forward at a timely moment to support the sustainability of certain areas of the 30 management sectors of the Foundation of Goodness.

The generous grant will be disbursed over a one year period and will fund programmes under healthcare, computer training, English language training, environment management, village welfare and other sustenance.

Background
Planet Wheeler Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Lonely Planet travel publisher, which was founded by Maureen and Tony Wheeler following a trip From London to Australia via Asia and Europe that resulted in a guidebook Across Asia on the Cheap. In 1975 the couple wrote their second book South-East Asia on a Shoestring, which was also a success. Lonely Planet went on to become a publishing icon with offices in Australia, UK and USA. In 2007 BBC Worldwide bought a majority 75% stake into Lonely Planet.

Maureen Wheeler has been the driving force behind Lonely Planet’s corporate contributions program - established to provide financial assistance for humanitarian projects in developing countries. The next step of her philanthropy was creating the Planet Wheeler Foundation by funding it with money from the sale of Lonely Planet to the BBC.

FoG’S ‘GREEN ENDEAVOUR’

SUSTAINABILITY IS OF ESSENCE

 

---

ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT NO. 5150

The Foundation of Goodness is deeply grateful to the Rotary Club of San Francisco District 5150 for their amazing contribution to our housing projects.
In total, this organization has funded the construction of 50 houses in and around the Seenigama region. This is a remarkable achievement, made up of a multitude of contributions from citizens in the district, including children who broke their piggy banks!
The project was launched on 15th August 2005 and was completed by the end of the year.

 

---

THE SHANE WARNE FOUNDATION (TSWF)

Australian cricket legend, Shane Warne, originally came to know the Foundation through his connection with Sri Lankan cricket great, Murali. Since Shane's visit to Seenigama in February 2005, he has supported the Foundation of Goodness in a number of ways.

The Shane Warne Foundation was one of the first major donors in on the scene shortly after the tsunami, which contributed a large sum for the emergency relief of the area.

But Shane's support did not stop there. Thanks to his promotion, the Foundation gained support from a number of large organizations, including the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

We are continually grateful for the amazing support from Shane and his Foundation.

Read about the Laureus Sports for Good Program

 

---

SUDATH PERERA & ASSOCIATES

Sudath Perera Associates have continuously extended their assistance and support towards the Foundation of Goodness in rebuilding the lives of those who were so badly affected by the tsunami. Their generosity has been enormous, from endless contributions towards our cause, in particular the desperate requests made by those less fortunate.

In addition, Rushmi Perera has assisted with many school development projects and children’s activities for the well-being and happiness of children who were traumatized by the destructive tsunami. Rushmi single handedly drove this programme which resulted in thousands of children and more than ten schools being upgraded with better infrastructure facilities. Her commitment, dedication and giving of herself has been most exemplary, whilst her husband Sudath has been a tower of strength with his legal expertise for the Foundation of Goodness to make good progress smoothly.

 

---

SURREY COUNTY CRICKET CLUB

USAID

USAID is an independent federal US government agency which extends assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.

It is with so much gratitude that we acknowledge the significant contribution made by USAID, not only post-tsunami but also pre-tsunami, to modernize and develop 10 remote village schools in the South of Sri Lanka, by collaborating with the Foundation of Goodness.

USAID played a major role in post-tsunami recovery by assisting with the clearing of rubble and debris in Seenigama, Thotagamuwa and Werallana. We were honoured to be the first recipients of a Grant for the clean up campaign.

USAID provided both the equipment and the ‘people power’ to undertake the clearing by recruiting volunteers who usually live in unaffected areas of Sri Lanka. The USAID Office of Transition Initiatives fosters volunteers in the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa areas. When they heard about the tsunami, many of these young people were eager to help their brothers and sisters in the south. About 75 of these volunteers worked with around 50 Foundation of Goodness volunteers to clear and tidy the worst affected areas.

On 11 January 2005 a delegation of US Senators and Congress men, including Senator Jon Corzine from New Jersey and Senator Sam Brownback from Kansas, visited the volunteers’ site. The delegation was touring tsunami-affected areas of Seenigama, Hikkaduwa and Galle. They were impressed to see the volunteers working together to start the cleaning and rebuilding process.

It is apt that USAID collaborated on this project, as they worked with the Foundation previously to develop and modernize ten schools in the Seenigama and Kataragama regions.

The five schools in the Seenigama region were completed and declared open in August 2004. It is unfortunate and heart-breaking that two of these schools were badly damaged in the tsunami.

Empowering our village youth

 

---

THE VICTORIAN STATE GOVERNMENT

The generosity from our Australian friends never ceases to amaze the villagers of the Seenigama region.

More than 100,000 Sri Lankans live in Victoria, Australia, and when the tsunami struck, it hit hard all the way across the globe. In recognition of its Sri Lankan inhabitants, the Victorian Government decided to provide substantial assistance for housing in the Seenigama.

Thanks to their support, Seenigama has become home to a fantastic new housing scheme, Victoria Gardens (VGS). The scheme comprises of 84 double story duplex homes complete with modern amenities, essential household items, running water, electricity, reticulated sewerage, underground drainage, paved roads, a community centre, a children’s playground and much more.

Construction on the project commenced in May 2006 and, despite heavy rainfall delaying progress, it was completed end 2007. The Foundation is delighted to be working with the Victorian State Government to implement this project which is the biggest of its kind in the village.