Giving them the gift of reading - Bridge of Hearts 2019
As told by Rtr. Hemangi Wimaladharma
Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.
Kofi Annan
With the aim of giving the gift of reading to those in need, Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa embarked on the endeavour Bridge of Hearts, a project organized under Nena Aruna Phase 2 to build a library for a school in need. Having assessed the needs of the school, Kahatagollewa Vidyalaya, Kebithigollawa was chosen as the beneficiary of the project by the Bridge of Hearts team. The shortage of resources at the school’s library, due to financial difficulties, had hindered the educational pursuits of the bright young minds, holding them back from pursuing higher education and reaching greater heights. As such, the school was deemed deserving of a new library complete with a permanent collection of books and racks to hold and preserve the books for the use of avid readers.
As the first step of this initiative, students of our university and well-wishers were encouraged to donate old or new books, ranging from novels, English books and translations to subject-related books and other appropriate books for students from grades 1 to 11. Owing to their generosity, nearly 3000 books worth a sum of Rs. 398,000 were collected within the university.
To build up a library is to create a life. It’s never just a random collection of books.
Carlos María Domínguez
Once the books were collected and sorted, up next was the final task of building up the library. On the 11th of May 2019, our team journeyed to Kahatagollewa Vidyalaya to build the library and hand it over to the youngsters eagerly awaiting to get their hands on the vast collection of books. A single book cupboard in the common room was replaced with several racks of books in a room that, thereafter, would serve as the school’s library, all meticulously assembled and arranged by the Rotaractors themselves. Out of the donations collected, 2600 books were donated to the school while the rest is set to be donated to another school deserving of a library.
When you give someone a book, you don’t just give him paper, ink and glue. You give him the possibility of a whole new world.
Christopher Marley
The Rotaractors’ efforts were met with encouraging feedback and heartfelt gratitude from the students, affirming the positive difference it had made in their lives. The students penned their thoughts in the form of letters, expressing their sincerest thanks for opening an avenue for them to explore a whole new world and broaden their knowledge. We are immensely grateful to all those who contributed to this meritorious venture with your donations and we look forward to giving the gift of reading and enriching the minds of more deserving young students in the future.