Helping Communities & Environment
Help Community & Environment program is a broader category which will cover a few different areas, such as environmental and wildlife conservation, disaster relief programs, social transformation activities, and awareness raising about matters on public welfare and civil rights.
​
During the last three years, FOL has initiated and completed a number of different projects shown below.
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
MORE DETAILS
Cleaning up the Kokoda Memorial Track, in the Dandenong Ranges on Clean up Australia Day.
Clean up event on Clean up Australia Day
Help Junior School Volleyball Team
Help buying volleyball shoes for the Junior Volleyball Team at Balaharuwa Vidyalaya
Ape Lamai project
Helping to upgrade facilities in the School for children with disabilities in Ambepussa.
COVID-19 Food Relief
Distribution of food relief to disadvantaged families in Colombo and Anuradhapura
FOL CLEAN UP DAY 2022
On a cold and wet day in March 2022, in conjunction with the "Clean-Up Australia Day" the members of FOL got together for a clean-up day at the Kokoda Memorial Track, also known as the "1000 Steps" in Dandenong Ranges National Park.
They spent a few hours collecting rubbish along the path up the mountain and the surrounding area helping to protect the natural environment in the National Park. We all enjoyed the event where we had a great team gathering while giving back to the society, we live in.
Help Junior School Volleyball Team
Balaharuwa is a remote village located 17 kilometrs off Thanamalwila. Junior volleyball team at Balaharuwa Vidyalaya, approached us seeking assistance to to buy proper volleyball shoes.
This talented junior team was able to reach the top of the ladder, in the DSI District Junior Volleyball Tournament in Monaragala District, and managed to secure a spot to play for DSI all-Island Volleyball tournament, representing the district. The parents of most of these children could not afford to buy suitable shoes for the game. Hence, they had to use various other types of normal shoes which were not suitable for the game.
In response to their request and to encourage young players, FOL supplied them with 12 pairs of high-quality outdoor volleyball shoes in August 2022.
COVID-19 Food Relief
Friends of Lanka commenced its community welfare activities in April 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Sri Lanka the hardest.
​
We provided dry food parcels to 236 disadvantaged families in Colombo and 25 families in Anuradhapura who lost their livelihood due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
The project was successfully completed with the generous donations by the members and support of the volunteers on the ground.