Gandys opens a second campus in Sri Lanka - Ray of Hope
Commemorating 10 years of giving back around the world with a 10th campus.
Back to where it all started
The opening of the 10th Kids Campus in Sri Lanka signifies a full-circle moment for Gandys. Our first project was built in 2014 in Sri Lanka with the mission of Rob and Paul, our founders, wanting to give back to the community that supported them after losing their parents in the devastating 2004 tsunami. We collaborated with Freedom for Children Sri Lanka and The Atman Association to build a school and computer lab, providing schooling and extracurricular activities to children living in poverty in the Gonapola area. Today, we continue to work with this organisation. We have built a new classroom and refurbished the school hall of Palle Kanugala Kanishta Vidyalaya school in the Sabaragamuwa district.
What we did
Palle Kanugala Vidyalaya is a government school built in 1930 and hadn’t been refurbished since and was desperately needed. The attendance levels of its 185 students, ages 6 to 16 years old, were dropping as parents felt it was unsafe due to a severe leaking from the school hall roof. With our mission being to empower children through education, we had to get involved.
Construction began on a new schoolroom named Ray of Hope. This was done to meet the immediate needs of students and create more space as the current classrooms were too small and crammed into the school hall, which was in disrepair. This classroom, equipped with modern learning tools, offers a dedicated space for personalised and engaging education. Fixing the school hall came next. This included a new roof, re-wiring, new windows and refurbishing the interior so students would have a safe and cheerful place to learn. The school hall is designed as a multifunctional space suitable for assemblies, extracurricular activities, and community events. This was made possible by a donation from Debi Peppin in loving memory of her close friend, Raymond Dingle, who established a local relief fund in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami on Boxing Day that raised funds to help communities rebuild their lives.
Opening ceremony festivities
The opening ceremony was a lively and heartfelt gathering attended by local families, community leaders, Rohan Premachandra, founder of Freedom for Children Sri Lanka, and Maya Dmitri, Director of Atman Associations. The event commenced with a traditional Sri Lankan welcome, complete with colourful garlands, traditional drumming, and ceremonial dances performed by children from the campus. The festive atmosphere was a testament to the deep connection between the Gandys Foundation and the local community.
The highlights of the day included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the presentation of a school plaque. Rohan and Maya cut the inaugural ribbon with the help of some students. With messages of hope from local and school leaders, including Vice Principle Dimuthu Abesekaraya, and students sharing heartfelt speeches about the future of Palle Kanugala Vidyalaya school and the excellence its pupils will achieve. The students went on to showcase their talents through musical and theatrical performances, highlighting the creativity fostered at the school.
A continuous effort to doing good
Gandys emphasises community involvement in all its projects. Like all of our other projects, the new campus in Sri Lanka works closely with local leaders and families to ensure that the programs are effective and sustainable. Looking ahead, Gandys plans to continue supporting children’s right to education with the goal of opening more campuses across the world. This mission is fueled by the support of its customers and community, with 10% of every purchase going directly towards funding the Gandys Foundation.
