A Simple Idea… All the Way to Karapitiya

Community Service Mar 15, 2026

Sometimes the most meaningful projects begin with the simplest ideas.

What started as a small thought to donate king coconut water to cancer patients , slowly turned into something much bigger than I imagined. As the chair of the Hand in Hand - King Coconut Donation project, this journey became one of the most memorable and heart-touching experiences I’ve had.

From the very beginning, many small efforts came together to make this project possible.

Some volunteers worked behind the scenes designing flyers and writing captions to spread the message. Some stepped in front of the camera and acted in our promotional video. Our finance team carefully tracked every donation that came in. Many others volunteered at our physical fundraising stall at Goda Canteen, even on very short notice, simply because they wanted to help.

Every single effort mattered.

The support for this project actually began with online donations. Even before the physical stall, many students and well-wishers contributed through online transfers without thinking twice. Seeing those donations come in was incredibly encouraging, because it showed that people believed in the idea and were willing to support it from the very beginning.

The physical fundraising stall was only held for two days for a few hours at the Goda Canteen. Seeing students pause their busy schedules just to come up to the stall, ask about the project, and contribute so that a cancer patient could receive a king coconut was truly inspiring. Some stopped on their way to lectures, some while heading to the canteen, and some simply after noticing the stall and wanting to be part of something meaningful. The volunteers who joined the stall helped explain the project, collect donations, and keep the energy alive, while the finance team worked patiently behind the scenes to track every contribution.

When the donation day finally arrived, a small group of volunteers from the university joined the journey to Karapitiya National Hospital. Together, king coconuts were prepared, the water carefully collected, and baskets filled for distribution.

This part of the project was where I truly enjoyed every moment.

Spending the day with the volunteers, seeing the patients’ smiles, and experiencing the excitement of everyone working together made me so happy.

Even though there were small challenges - like containers not being enough to carry all the coconut water, or having to find extra transportation to cover not just the cancer wards but also the ENT and Eye wards across the road - the energy and joy of giving made it all worth it. Earlier in the week, the original king coconut seller fell sick, and the price of king coconuts went up just two days before the project, but somehow everything came together in the end.

The original plan was to donate to cancer patients. But the overflow donations allowed the distribution to expand , not just to other wards like ENT and Eye, but also to the hardworking hospital staff, nurses, and attendants. What stayed with me the most were the smiles. Patients going through one of the toughest battles of their lives welcomed us with warmth and gratitude. Some thanked us with words; some simply smiled.

But those smiles said everything.

Thanks to the overwhelming support received, it was also possible to donate sanitary napkins, adult pampers, and essential undergarments - items that were not originally planned. Even after covering these donations, the remaining funds were directed to the main Hand in Hand project series, contributing toward a medical machine for cancer patients and creating an even bigger impact.

Throughout the entire journey, the three directors were always there to support the project whenever we needed guidance. Director Ishara joined for the entire donation visit, spending the day with us and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Directors Oshani and Sayuranga were always available to answer any questions, no matter the time or day. Their guidance and encouragement kept me confident, even during stressful moments.

The day wasn’t just emotional - it was also full of fun moments. Managing the chaos, carrying baskets of king coconut water, sharing laughs with volunteers, and seeing the patients’ genuine smiles made the experience even more memorable.And in the end, what stayed with me the most was a simple realization: a small idea, when shared with kind people, can grow into something truly meaningful.