Welcoming Volunteerism

In 2012, the Sunshine children welcome photographer Elena Givone from Italy. The five-day programme encourages the children to fly up, up and away. Holding a magic lamp Elena asks them to close their eyes and pretend to be in flight; to dream of something they really wish for. Their thoughts are discussed and documented in a book Elena gifts to the day care centre.

In 2015 Early Childhood Education Specialist Julie Cox from the UK has been a frequent visitor to the preschool facilitating workshops on early childhood education for children and teacher training programmes for the staff. The existing building constructed

in 2005 seemed no longer spacious for the increasing children’s admissions. A second building is constructed. Volunteering time and talent as well as donating the required paint, Akzo Nobel Paints Lanka (Private) Limited organizes a fun day for the children to participate in painting the new building constructed.

In 2018, a team of eight volunteers including dentists, dental nurses, hygienists and therapists, of Dentaid UK visit the Sunshine Centre as part of their outreach program in Sri Lanka. Discussing oral hygiene with mothers, the screening showed that only two of the fifty-seven children screened had to have follow up treatment.

In 2017, Facilitated by the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lankas largest grassroot organization a one-day creative clean-up engages the children, parents, staff and youth to share their time and labour cleaning up the preschool compound. A great way to encourage community participation.

In 2022, Samantha Van Eyck, Speech and Language Therapist of The Jellybean Foundation works with special needs of Sunshine children.

Gallery