KPMG supports library development in the North

The Foundation of Goodness and big four accounting firm KPMG share a solid history originating soon after the destruction caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The relationship that began with KPMG funding the construction of 50 houses for families whose lives were devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami has grown and strengthened over the years and today, they, with the Foundation of Goodness have stretched their support all the way across the island to the North where they have funded for the development of two school libraries in two extremely rural villages.

In January 2013, as requested by KPMG, evaluations were carried out by the FoG staff to identify schools in the North which were most desperately in need of assistance with regard to developing a library facility to help the children with their studies.  Vattappalai Maha Vidiyalayam in Mullativu and Ramanathapuram GTMS in Kilinochchi were identified as two schools that were in dire need of help. Vattappalai had a basic library that had fallen in to disrepair and badly needed sprucing up and Ramanathpuram had no library at all. By March the school principals handed over an estimate of costs and when KPMG approved the funds in April the project raced ahead.

In Ramanathapuram a disused room in the school was renovated and converted in to a library, furnished and then stocked with material while in Vattappalai the library had a serious facelift, with the floors being redone, the walls painted and new cupboards installed.

By October of 2013 the libraries were complete and vibrant, awaiting the masses of children who would soon flood in. Their opening was to coincide with the third anniversary of the KPMG Jaffna branch and a delegation of six lead by the firm’s Managing Partner, Reyaz Mihular, and Sri Lankan Head of Audit, Suren Rajakarier, represented the KPMG foundation and the KPMG Alumni Association who funded this project.

From that first library in the South which was established as part of the KPMG village making it a holistic and self-contained housing complex made up of 50 houses, a community centre, water tower, kids play park and library we have now travelled all the way to the North with KPMG and look forward to many more years ahead during which we will cover even more ground, bringing relief to countless people as we help them uplift their lives.

“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man”  ― T.S. Eliot

23rd January 2014