On March 6, 2025, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in funding and organizing an insightful workshop on “Urban Challenges and Social Awareness” at the Sri Lanka Unites Gampaha Reconciliation Center. The session commenced at 3:00 PM and there were 20 participants. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Jayakodi who is a senior officer at the Ja Ela Police Station, led an engaging and informative discussion. Key topics covered included drug abuse, road accidents, and sexual harassment—critical issues that affect urban communities today.

To ensure meaningful engagement, Mr. Jayakodi incorporated a dynamic approach that included visual storytelling. A particularly striking moment of the session was when he presented a video on Zombie town in the USA, vividly demonstrating the devastating effects of drug addiction. This visual representation left a lasting impression on participants, reinforcing the urgency of combating substance abuse. Additionally, discussions on road safety emphasized responsible driving habits and pedestrian awareness, while the segment on sexual harassment provided essential guidance on prevention and response strategies.

In addition to the thought-provoking discussion, GFF representatives contributed by creating and distributing bookmarks and stickers featuring impactful messages on drug prevention, and anti-harassment awareness. These materials served as lasting reminders of the session’s key takeaways. Although an interactive activity had been planned to further reinforce the lessons, time constraints led to its rescheduling for the following week, allowing participants a future opportunity to actively engage with the topics.

The workshop’s success was the result of the collective efforts of GFF HELPS Sri Lanka representatives Chiranthi Madushani and Pramodhi Maneesha, alongside the invaluable support of Mr. Dasun, the Gampaha Center Manager of SLU, and Ms. Supipi, the SLU Gampaha Center teacher (at the time this workshop was held). Their dedication ensured that the event was well-organized, impactful, and engaging for all attendees. The partnership between GFF HELPS Sri Lanka and SLU fostered an environment where participants could openly discuss pressing social issues while developing critical awareness and knowledge.

This session made a significant impact, equipping participants with vital information and a stronger sense of social responsibility. The combination of expert insights, real-world examples, and multimedia elements made the workshop both compelling and educational. The upcoming activity session will further deepen participants’ understanding through hands-on engagement. By addressing key urban challenges and fostering awareness, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka continues its mission of empowering individuals to contribute to safer and more informed communities.

We recognized the need of ALS (Alternative Learning System) students—former dropouts aged 18-50—to learn practical livelihood skills like baking and cooking. Many of them work part-time at night to support their studies. After meeting some of them in February 2025, we proposed a Baking Workshop with their teacher’s support and secured approval from Mr. Saom.

On March 10, 20 students joined the workshop led by Baker Mrs. Joelita. She introduced ingredients like flour, eggs, and sugar, along with tools such as spatulas, bowls, and measuring cups. The students participated hands-on in making rice cakes and leche flan.

After the session, participants received certificates, and some planned to start small businesses selling their baked goods to support their families.

Children ages 6-8 in Estancia Elementary School regularly learn how to read words to sentences to paragraphs through the reading workshops by the GFF HELPS Philippines.

As these students are usually behind compared to their typical classmates, we patiently teaching them how to read and understand basic concepts so as they could somehow cope with the lessons and not to be left behind.

We always starts with word drill and story reading and spelling. We usually let them read and encourage them even though they stutter. Through this, the students creative thinking skills will be enhanced, and their attention is focused. We had this weekly routine until they are ready enough to read a selection. We evaluate their learning through post-tests and quiz.

The Philippine Team discussed the importance and contributions of women in the society, including those who work for the country and for their families. The children wrote their messages to their parents, especially to their mothers, teachers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, and to any woman who gave a big impact to their lives. They shared stories that their mothers have to take care farm animals like pigs and chickens so that after few months they can sold it and the money will be given to them for their daily allowance at school. Some mothers are working as 

nannies to babies of other people so that they could have money for education. Everyday, their mother wake up to assist them with their meals and transportation. All of these thoughts were written and were read out loud by the children and those letters will be given to all the women after school. These actions how much they loved the women in their lives.

The Philippine Team conducts Chess and Scrabble Games with the children who are 8 to 10 years old. They are taught different game strategies to enhance their mental, strategic and logical thinking. The Philippine Team conducts free blood pressure and oxygen level check ups to parents who are waiting for their children’s dismissal time. They are always looking forward to it every week. Both the parents and teachers in three partners school are benefiting from this project.

On 8th of March, as the world celebrates International Women’s Day with the theme “Accelerate Action”,GFF took the initiative to honor strong and amazing women at each SOGG centre ( Bong ,Chibo, Pudung).

Miss Surabhi our GFF representative visited Chibbo, where she, along with the area coordinator celebrated women’s day with pride. Miss Swikriti visited Bong and celebrated the day with joy. Pudung also celebrate the day with pride with our area coordinator Mr. Suk Tshering.

At all the centers, we cut the cake and gave each women a token of appreciation-a local handkerchief and khada as a symbol of respect for their roles as loving mother, caring wives, wonderful daughters and supporting sisters. All the teachers at our SOGG centres also took part in this meaningful celebration.

A free medical camp was organized by KANGON (Kalimpong NGO Network) and DNPSAA(Darjeeling North Point Alumini Association) at Melli, with active participation from GFF volunteers. GFF also took the initiative to create certificates of appreciation for doctors and participants, as well as volunteer badges. The camp was a great success benefiting the local residents. Several well -known doctors, including specialist in orthopedics, gynaecologist, dentistry, general medicines, eye care, child health and ENT, were present. Prescribed medicines were provided, and nurses conducted BP and sugar check-ups.

One of the GFF Helps on-going project with our partner Glenn Project is the Mobile Library. The GFF initiative is committed to providing educational resources to the children in remote areas through its mobile library service. This service promotes literacy, enhances access to information, and fosters a love of reading in a community. The mobile library operates at each SOGG learning and information centre at 25th and 31st of March respectively and it is continuously creating a positive impact by bringing educational change in a society.

One of the key initiatives supporting the ongoing Glen Project by GFF is the health check-up program, which aims to provide basic health services such as blood pressure measurements and blood sugar tests. These services plays a crucial role in promoting health and ensuring that individuals have essence to healthcare resources. By taking small yet significant steps, we can create positive, lasting change in the community. Our coordinators are diligently working across various centres, offering these vital health services, and continuously, learning and growing in their efforts to serve society and its people. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of many.

Learning is the continuous process , and with a strong belief in cooperation, GFF , Kalebong Himalayan Haat Service Cooperative Society Ltd. and Saichik Welfare Society organized workshop at cooperative society. The workshop focused on Book keeping Training and was supervised by Mr. Sisir Poudel, an educational instructor from the cooperative society.

The training session commenced at 11:00 AM and the key topics of discussion like maintaining a cash book , preparing meeting minutes, ledger book maintenance etc. The session led by Mr. Sisir Poudel was both meaningful and fruitful. At the end of the session, GFF volunteers arranged tea and snacks, everyone was truly thankful for such a wonderful opportunity to learn new and valuable skills.

The preservation of Indigenous Languages is one of the core initiative of GFF volunteering, aimed at creating positive change in society. One such initiative is the Lepcha language class, as the Lepcha language is one of the oldest languages in our hill region, carrying a rich history. With this in mind, it is our collective responsibility to protect and preserve its legacy.

The journey of the Lepcha language class began in October 2024, and since then, 14 classes have been conducted successfully. These classes are held primarily on weekends, especially Sundays, at Pudung SOGG centre. Mrs. Jakmit Lepcha from Pudung village conducts and supervises the classes. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with Ronging Lepcha Culture & Welfare Society (RLCWS) and in partnership with KWONG Seejum, the Lepcha village community.

RLCWS plays a key role by volunteering to teach students how to read and write in the Lepcha language . Additionally, senior elders from the community also volunteer to teach , imparting their knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation. This effort not only helps preserve our heritage but also sends a powerful message about importance of maintaining our language and culture. The overall positive impact of this initiative is far-reaching, fostering a deep connection with our roots and strong sense of community.

On March 4, 2025, a workshop titled “My Journey, My Story” was successfully conducted for 25 community mothers, including those from the adult literacy class, SEEP mothers, and mothers from the sustainable development project Aarambha. The session was facilitated by Ms. Drist Moktan and Ms. Angelica Khatri from Fheal Counseling Hub, and was supported by Ms. Resha Silpakar and Mrs. Arju Bhattarai, representatives from GFF Helps Nepal. 

In the session, the mothers had the opportunity to step away from their everyday household responsibilities and engage in a new environment. They got to connect with friends, participate in group activities, and share laughter as they listened to each other’s stories. The session also served as a form of therapy, allowing them to celebrate themselves through simple activities, such as creating colorful handprints on chart paper, pasting photos, and sharing their successful stories. The atmosphere was filled with joy as they danced, laughed, and experienced a stress-free moment, free from the pressures of the outside world. Opportunities like this, where mothers can come together in a group with shared gender roles yet diverse personal experiences, are rare. This platform aims to foster a non-judgmental, supportive environment for these mothers, offering them a chance to connect, reflect, and support one another.

On Thursday, March 6th, we celebrated International Women’s. A total of 22 mothers from the community participated in the celebration. Since March 8th fell on a Saturday, we held the event at a more convenient time for the mothers.

The mothers were engaged in various activities, including crafting flowers and pasting them onto chart paper. Mrs. Arju assisted by writing “Happy Women’s Day” on the chart paper. The mothers were then divided into four groups, each working on different questionnaires. These included topics such as self-care, how they perceive themselves as women, and the roles and responsibilities of women. During this time, the mothers shared both their happy moments and the sad realities of being women, creating a supportive space for them to express themselves and feel relaxed. They also discussed how they feel about attending the adult literacy class.

Additionally, we designed personalized cards for each mother, featuring their pictures and a message wishing them a Happy Women’s Day. The celebration concluded with tea and snacks, allowing the mothers to relax and enjoy the moment.

An awareness program titled ‘Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities’ was successfully conducted for the Grade 7 students of Balkumari School on 21st March. The session was facilitated by GFF Helps Nepal representatives, Ms. Resha Silpakar and Mrs. Arju Bhattarai.

In Nepal, although the constitution guarantees the protection of human rights for the LGBTIQ community, societal awareness and acceptance remain limited. Many people do not realize that LGBTIQ individuals have equal rights and deserve the same dignity and respect as all other citizens. The stigmatization, harmful stereotypes, and discriminatory behaviors directed toward them are serious concerns.The educational program provided a platform for the LGBTIQ community to voice their challenges, raising awareness while empowering students to advocate for human rights and social justice. Many students were unfamiliar with the LGBTIQ community, as it was a new topic for them. They learned about the mental health challenges faced by LGBTIQ individuals and the importance of showing respect and positive behavior toward them. The session also covered key topics, such as laws protecting the LGBTIQ community and organizations that support them.

Overall, the program was informative and helped the students develop a more inclusive and empathetic attitude.

My name is Karma Lama. Before this session, I did not know the meaning of LGBTIQ, and I used to make fun of them and call them with inappropriate names. After the session, I learned the meanings of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer, and I realized that many people identify as such. I have learned to be respectful toward them and avoid making jokes.

My name is Monika Gurung. I study in Grade 7. My mother had shared with me about the LGBTIQ community and how we should behave with them properly. However, I did not know the correct names to call them. From the session, I learned that there are different names we should use to address them. I also learned about the organizations working for their rights. Thank you for sharing this knowledge with us.

The mothers learned to use modal verbs like may, could, and can to ask for permission and make polite requests. They practice these in the classroom, such as asking for permission to enter or take a break. This has boosted their confidence in speaking English. They also learned basic vocabulary words like pull, push, open, close, and more, which help them understand signs in daily life. Through fun activities like “in and out” and “sit down and stand up,” they learned the meanings of these words practically. We also taught them how to write names, basic verbs (is, am, are), and prepositions (under, on, in front of). Additionally, they learned how to use a laptop and its key functions.

Over the past three months, we have observed that the mothers have made significant progress in writing and listening skills. However, they have found reading and speaking a bit more challenging, particularly with pronunciation. Despite this, their dedication and hard work are highly admirable. Through this platform, GFF Helps Nepal representatives are also learning alongside the mothers, allowing us to share and exercise our creativity in conducting the adult literacy classes.

On the 27th of March 2025, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka, in collaboration with Sri Lanka Unites, hosted a vibrant film festival at the Gampaha Reconciliation Center, bringing together children from diverse backgrounds for a day of entertainment, learning, and unity. The festival featured two engaging films – Luca (screened from 10 am to 12 pm) for children below 12 years and Enola Holmes (screened from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm) for those aged 12 and above—designed to enhance their English language skills while promoting creativity and positive values. A total of 17 children participated for the screening of Luca film while 24 children attended to watch Enola Holmes, including five from Thotalanga who, along with their guardians, made the long journey to Gampaha, reflecting their dedication to the program. The event was more than just a movie screening; it was an immersive experience where children analyzed the films through interactive discussions and won writing book sets sponsored by SLU for their insightful answers.

Beyond the cinematic experience, the festival fostered deep social connections among children from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. Sinhalese, Tamil, Buddhist, Christian, and Hindu children played together, laughed together, and learned together, breaking down barriers through shared experiences. Football and carrom games during the intervals added to the spirit of camaraderie, making the day truly memorable. The event demonstrated how storytelling and creative activities can be powerful tools in reconciliation and peacebuilding, encouraging young minds to embrace diversity and cooperation.

In March, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka in collaboration with Sri Lanka Unites, successfully launched ICT classes at the Gampaha Reconciliation Center. These classes aim to equip students with essential computer literacy skills, ensuring they can confidently navigate the digital world. During the first sessions, students were introduced to fundamental computer operations, including how to switch on and properly shut down a computer. As many of them had limited prior experience with technology, these initial lessons provided a strong foundation for their learning journey.

Building on these basics, the students explored Microsoft Word and Paint applications, learning to create and format documents while also expressing their creativity through digital drawing. The hands-on approach enabled them to practice their newly acquired skills, boosting their confidence and enthusiasm for ICT. As the program progresses, students will delve into more advanced applications, enhancing their ability to use technology for education and future career opportunities.

At the SLU Gampaha Reconciliation Center, the 11th cohort of students engaged in thought-provoking and essential discussions on cyberbullying, guided by GFF HELPS Sri Lanka representatives. Designed for students aged 12 to 14, this session aimed to equip them with the knowledge to identify, handle, and prevent cyberbullying while also making them aware of available helplines in Sri Lanka. A key highlight of the session was an eye-opening video interview with Ms. Chethana Ketagoda, a lawyer, social media influencer, and content creator, who courageously shared her personal experience of cyberbullying. Through her words, students gained insight into the emotional toll of online harassment, the challenges victims face, and the importance of seeking help. This interactive and informative session empowered students to navigate the digital world responsibly while fostering a sense of empathy and resilience.

This month, the Project Roots took significant steps in ensuring the transportation and language learning needs of the July cohort. We visited the Kadawatha Expressway Bus Station, Sri Lanka to explore transportation options and pricing, speaking with bus drivers who provided us the contact details for bookings and further discussions. Additionally, we met with two experienced Sinhala language tutors, both known for their expertise in teaching customized programs. During these meetings, we introduced ourselves as representatives of the Glenn Family Foundation (GFF) and Project Coordinators of Project Roots, outlined our vision for the course. Designed for approximately 10 adults from the Sri Lankan diaspora, the program aims to provide not just language instruction but also a deeper cultural connection through immersive learning experiences. One of our key visits was to the Moderna Language Center in Dalugama, Kelaniya. Nestled in a traditional Sinhala house with a warm and inviting ambiance, the center proved to be an ideal location for our program. After discussing our course requirements with the owner, we were pleased to learn that the center could tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of our participants. The owner emphasized their expertise in designing courses for diverse learners and requested our finalized requirements to begin structuring the program accordingly. The peaceful and authentic environment of the center stood out as a promising space for fostering both language acquisition and cultural appreciation. 

We also had the opportunity to meet Mr. Perera, an experienced Sinhala language teacher with over a decade of expertise. Currently teaching at a leading school in Colombo, he also lectures at a language center where he trains diplomats and professionals, including Japanese diplomats. His extensive background, including his work with the Examination Department of Sri Lanka, highlights his credibility in language instruction. During our discussion, he shared insights into his engaging teaching methods and his ability to create a comfortable learning environment for adult learners. He expressed keen interest in leading the course and requested the finalized details to proceed with further planning. These field visits mark a crucial step in ensuring that the Sinhala Language Course is both well-structured and culturally enriching for our participants.