The devastating state of poverty and ethnic warfare in Sri Lanka has left many children homeless or with family unable to provide a healthy standard of living. Thankfully, it seems that in accordance with the need for assistance, many local religious, educational, and community leaders have stepped up to meet the demand. There are a lot of concerned locals who will stop at nothing to give these children the opportunity they deserve. These orphanages not only serve as a place for the children to receive care, food and education, but more importantly they provide safety from the militant groups hungry to recruit the young, scared children.

These pre-existing orphanages can have all the right intentions in the world but without money, they can only go so far and do so much. Often these children have no change of clothing; they sleep on the floor, and only get one or two meager meals of rice and lentils a day. In the hot season they wish for fans, in the monsoon season they wish for concrete flooring as their sandy ground turns to mud. Many of these orphanages don’t have electricity, and even those that do may not have the finances for light bulbs or fixtures. Much to the disgust of the international human rights groups in Sri Lanka, these orphanages are often looted by soldiers of the government army and militant groups who steal anything of value and send these items to their own poor rural villages.

Assistance for orphanages can take many forms. Money is needed to help raise the quality of life; this can include many different things from food and clothing, to sleeping mats or light fixtures. Kitchens need upgrading, shelves built to keep the food off the floor, or even refrigerators to keep the food fresh. Many of the children living in these places need medical attention, rides to the hospital, tooth paste and school books. It is amazing the difference that can be made in the overall hygiene and health of a place when a clean water source and toilet are provided.

Volunteering is also an amazing way of contributing to the growth within these orphanages. Many of these children have witnessed horrifying things in their short lives. They have been forced to survive on their own and have had their physical and mental limits pushed past the breaking point.

Most of the caretakers at these orphanages are aware of the severe psychological damage that has occurred in these children, but have no means of counseling or supporting them. ‘Healing Humanity’ has seen firsthand the incredible impact that smiling and laughter can have on these issues. Playing games, supplying toys, listening, sharing and being creative with these children can go very far in their personal development. The ’Human Harmony’ initiative hopes to address these issues by having volunteers come and partake in the exchange of hope, by living and sharing with the orphanages directly.