MJF Charitable Foundation – Blog
Business is a matter of human service

Nearly 40 differently able children from the MJF Groups Kahawatte Plantations and another 30 – 35 from the surrounding villages of the plantations in Nawalapitiya will be trained in performing arts in 3 Centres within the plantations. This special programme will be commenced in August by MJFCF in collaboration with Sunera Foundation. 

The project introductory meeting for the Plantation Managers and health staff was held at Nawalapitiya on the 14^th of June.

MJF Foundation embarked on its most ambitious and land mark project at Moratuwa, a seaside town close to the capital city of Colombo in April 2009. The project at Moratuwa will fulfill the wishes and aspirations of the Founder of Dilmah and the MJF Foundation Merrill J Fernando to share his success with those less priviledged and thus making his business a matter of human service.

 The 1^st phase of the project was inaugurated by Merrill J Fernando on 28^th November 2009 with the handing over of the keys of the Diri Piyasa Centre to its Chairperson Kshanika Weeratunga. This centre will offer support and assistance and limited residential care for women and their families who are affected by violence by providing them with free legal, medical, counseling and law enforcement services. It will also provide rehabilitation and some income generating avenues for such victims and also play a role in creating awareness to the community in general on violence against women and its impact on the person, the family and community.

 The 2^nd phase of the Centre commenced in January 2010, which will provide facilities for Diri Daru Piyasa – a centre exclusively for children with Down syndrome and the MJF Centre for therapy and vocational training for differently abled youth. Work on the 2^nd phase in progressing on schedule and is expected to be completed by Mid May 2010. The MJF Foundation team meets every week at the site to review the progress of work. Once completed these 2 Centres will support nearly 100 disabled children/youth.

     In the meantime the preliminary plan and deigns on the 3^rd  and 4^th phase which will inched the MJF Kids center for Moratuwa, a replication of the highly successful MJF Kids programme in Peliyagoda, A community reception facility and a Family Peace and counseling Centre are being finalized and are expected to be commenced after May this year.

  As the sun beat down on a hot Sunday, mothers lined up in the shade of the building with their children to see Dr.Ranaweera at the St.Mary’s church Mattakkuliya.

The good doc takes time with each little patient to check them carefully before giving the suited medication.

Community health is vital especially in these impoverished communities. Medication acts as a remedy, but as any medical practitioner would agree, doctor Ranaweera says, ‘prevention is better than cure’.

The medical clinic at the St.Mary’s church is usually held every second Sunday of each month. It is encouraging to see mothers bring their children for periodical check-ups knowing the importance of health and well being of their children.

This little chap is Augustine Dilukshan (a recipient of infant milk at the St.Mary’s church – Mattakuliya) was diagnosed with malformed feet.

As part of his therapy, the doctors asked Augustine to walk in the beach and also peddle a tricycle with bare feet. The MJF Foundation gifted a tricycle. It took some time for the little guy to get used to it, but soon he was wheeling around like a pro.

Happy little feet for sure !!