Colombo Expat Cultural Association: Messiah for the children

“Feed a Child, Build a Future” – A bold statement undertaken by the Colombo Expats Cultural Association during the need of the hour came with a lot of determination and vision. CECA, which is group of Expats Community in Sri Lanka comprising of Indian, Bangladeshi, Nepali nationality as well as Sri Lankans, immediately stood up to the unforeseen challenge of the current economic crisis prevailing in the Island.

In the wake of this growing economic crisis and anticipated food shortage, CECA which has been involved in multiple CSR focused on helping the orphanages in Sri Lanka, was recently approached by Department of Probation and Child Care Services of Sri Lanka to support with bare necessities for about 10,600 kids living in 379 orphanages across Sri Lanka. It only took one meeting of its Executive members under the competent leadership of Capt. Anirban Banerjee to accept the challenge. 

CECA henceforth strategised a provision for all the 10,600 kids to include essential commodities and prioritise on the most important nutritional requirement and demand. It was decided that the effort be undertaken to stockpile and support these orphanages for a minimum sustainable period of 100 days (three months and 10 days), so there is significant time for the Government to stabilise politically and economically.

CECA mobilised a special task team for a massive fundraising campaign to support this mammoth task. With the ease of India-Sri Lanka import policies and Government approval, it was decided that all these commodities be purchased in India and brought into Sri Lanka.

Through the 30-day fundraising campaign, CECA was successfully able to fundraise enough to provide 306,500 kg of dry ration. All thanks to families, friends, relatives and corporates who poured their support in ways that was beyond expectation.

Through a lot of planning, perseverance and exemplary leadership of CECA Executive members and Mentors, CECA took pride to have achieved a major milestone as the first shipment that got flagged off from Kolkata Port. 

The entire effort and consignments are  scheduled to be shipped, unloaded and distributed to the last mile (379 orphanages) with the help of 20 trucks before 31 July 2022. CECA will make sure that all 10,600 kids living in 379 orphanages get their 100-day dry ration to their doorstep – CECA will ensure no kids are left behind. The first shipment confirmed to be arriving at the Colombo Port Docks on 15 July 2022.

Some of the prior CSR that CECA undertook:

nIn 2020, amidst the COVID-19 struck island, orphanages across the country were reeling with scarcity of supplies and were detaching from continued education, CECA in all its capacity came forward to contribute dry ration and essentials for 30 days that helped 52 orphanages in the Western Province. 

nIn 2021, CECA organised an island-wide painting competition for orphanages where 5275 kids participated. About 60 talented kids from these orphanages were brought to Colombo for a grand finale. They were accommodated in a 5-star Hotel for two days which provided them a lifetime of memories and aspirations such as Hop On City Tour, a movie day at Cinema Scopes and loads of gifts and a cash prize.