When the recent floods hit different parts of the island, you would have seen a name popping up in various places asking for donations and getting help and rescue to where needed the most. They were there with relief, rescuing those affected in boats, taking them back to safe, dry locations, providing rations and hot, hot meals every single day, around the clock. Beyond emergency relief, they transitioned to long term development work, from cleaning to resettling operations. They went that extra mile for people affected by the floods and made certain that those who lost everything were aided in every possible way.
They are members of the Voice Foundation or the Voice for Voiceless Foundationwhichhas been operational long before the 2016 floods and not only doing relief work. The Foundation covers a wide variety of short and long-term projects wherever and whenever there is a need. The Foundation works towards the protection of children, creating safe environments for them to grow and also creating public awareness about child sexual abuse. It is also involved in advocacy.
There can never be a better Sri Lanka without better Sri Lankans. The Voice for Voiceless Foundation represents youth, women, men and senior citizens and desires to be a voice against violence, oppression, injustice and crime. It is an alliance formed between the Touch Community and includes volunteers from the corporate sector, working together towards the key goal of eliminating violence against children, youth and women.
The Youth Observer spoke to the Foundation’s National Director Moses Akash to enlighten our readers on what the Foundation does.
“My wife and I grew up in an orphanage. We have never seen our parents. After leaving the orphanage at the age of 18 (a rule of the Probation Ministry), I had no place to go and stayed in a bus stand for three nights. I then came to Colombo and found a caring pastor - Dishan de Silva who opened his house to me. That’s how the concept for the Foundation began,” Akash said. “Today we run four education centres, a preschool, a Safe House, a Widows’ Empowerment Centre and we support over 4000 children annually,” he said.
“Poverty stricken homes often tend to leave children unattended or in orphanages. When life gets hard, parents are left with one or two options, one of them is to leave the child at a children’s home where the child loses the chance of ever receiving the love and comfort of parents. We realised that this is an unending cycle and the initiative was taken with the hopes of reducing this unfortunate occurrence. We encourage parents to work and earn but finally return to their children every day while we provide everything their child needs during the course of the day,” he said.
“In some circumstances we find employment for the parents as well. Single mothers are directed to our Good Hope Empowerment Centre where they will be employed in our sewing centre. The Foundation functions under five key areas - Education, Shelter, Empowerment and Skills Training, Relief and Rehabilitation, and Advocacy. We are collaborating with the Ministry of Women and Child Care Probation. When issues are raised regarding mothers, which we are unable to support or handle, we direct them to Women in Need.
Our legal aspects are supported by Milani Salpitikorala, Attorney-at-law, Founder and Director of Child Protection Force,” explained Akash.
“We receive the support of Bethany Christian Life Centre which provides us the venue, water and electricity free of charge. Country Director, Etihad Airways, Dougie Douglass has supported us to empower single mothers and as a result we have launched the Good Hope empowerment centre to support, uplift widows and single mothers. This has enabled us to help single mothers who need our support. Bethany Training Institution has supported us to provide free education for children at Safe House,” Akash said.
“The public can sponsor a meal at Rs. 3,000/- per day which includes breakfast, lunch, and a tea time snack for 30 children. A child can be sponsored at Rs. 3,000/-. Donations of milk powder and pampers are welcome. We have plans of opening Safe Houses in Bandarawela and Trincolmalee which will cost a total of Rs. 400,000/- Support in any capacity will be much appreciated and because of your generosity a child will wake up to a better tomorrow,” Akash said with a smile.
They have several projects that you can support. Please send your gifts and donations to:
The National Development Bank, Battaramulla.
Account Name: The Voice Foundation
Account Number: 101000432815