When the beacons were lit - Beacon of Hope

As said by Sajani Bamunuarachchi,

“Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore
before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they are not real before you hold them
in your arms, but once you do everything changes.”
– David Platt –

Beacon of Hope is a community service project done by Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa, giving an insight of an approach in creating an environment, inspiring an interest in learning and motivating orphaned children to perceive their dreams. The main idea of the project was to inspire 50 unprivileged children from SOS village, Piliyandala with educational and ethical values that would guide them to achieve their dreams and to motivate them to choose the correct path in their lives. It was mainly targeted to boost up the morale of the children so that they will
face the GCE O/L examination with self-confidence.

“An investment in knowledge pays the b est interest”

The session started off with a lecture which was conducted by Dr. Satish Namasivayam, Director of the Career Guidance Unit of University of Moratuwa, to give a basic idea about what education is and how it influences our life. The students were advised about the importance of organizing academic activities according to their future goals. Dr. Satish inspired the children to do their best in education and to reach to the place where they want to be in the future.

Then they were accompanied to the Departments of Computer Science &Engineering and Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering. It was sure that all of them enjoyed their time being shown around the university, for they got to see some amazing projects done by university students. They were given a brief exposure to the higher education through the tour. They were made aware about new trends in technologies in the world. They were inspired to develop that technology with knowledge gained through education and experience. We felt that
our efforts were productive when one girl among them said that she will study hard and enter University of Moratuwa one day. Their lit-up faces indicated that all of them got that motivation to make their dreams come true.

The evening session was followed by refreshments and some fun games and singing. It gave them time to enjoy their day. They left the university at about 6 in the evening. Their smiles and happiness ensured us that the step we took to motivate them to enlighten their future mirrored their hope to succeed their aims and to do well in their education. We will be proud to see them as well-educated personalities in the future.

We are much grateful to the staff of the SOS village, Piliyandala and the Career Guidance Unit of the university for supporting us and guiding us throughout this little effort of lighting up beacons of hope.