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

Neome of MJFCF updates her reports for Dilhan at Pahalalanda – a remote village off Ampara, 400 Km away from Colombo. She was visiting one of the SEP receipients from the Prisons SEP programme, Samantha a Tailor at Pahalalanda.

The students at Sithijaya the Merrill J Fernando Center for the otehrwise able situated in Ampalantota in the Hambantota District is trained in Sewing, Gardening, making products out of Palm Leaves, making ruggs using rejected cut peices, etc….

This center was built and is handed over to the community to cater nearly 600 disabled in the community.  Run by the District Secretariet the center is under the direct supervision of the District Secretary Mrs. Jayasekara and the Social Services Officer Mr. Bandara.   with 12 volunteer teachers the center is now assisting 35 Children with the intention to expand and to have nearly 100 students by 2010. 

Works of the hands of these kids are extra ordinary. 

We all have a disability of some kind; all are lacking in one way or another. Saul has an injury to his leg. What if his personality was deformed? How much worse if his soul was lame? Preachers or teachers look for the good in all of us. (Bless them for doing so.) I don’t see a cripple. I haven’t met anyone yet who isn’t handicapped in some way. So what’s the big deal? Don’t hide your deformity. Wear it like a Purple Heart said well by Georgiann Baldino.

Amrit joins his father Dilhan during most of Dilhans visits to the MJFCF projects, be it in the plantations, in Hambantota, Moneragala or Siyambalanduwa. Amrit was there in Ampara when MJFCF launched its 1st project in Ampara on the 22nd August. Whilst keenly observing the work of his father with the rural commnunities and dairy farmers in Ampara, Amrit also built new freindship with Pupudu a boy of his age in Mihindupura. Amrit is no doubt getting on the right tracks, following father Dilhan. The 3rd generation of the MJF family is begining to emerge and will continue the good deeds of his Grand father Merrill.

This little guy is one of the kids in the infant nutrition program held at the St.Mary’s church – Mattakkuliya (A highly densly populated part of Colombo).  The Samaposha food supplement pack seems be his ‘big’ gift of the day!

A reminder to all of us to cherish every small gift we receive.   

On his deathbed, Aldous Huxley reflected on his entire life’s learning and then summed it up in seven simple words: “Let us be kinder to one another. “All too often, we believe that in order to live a truly fulfilling life we must achieve some great act or grand feat that will put us on the front covers of magazines and newspapers.  Nothing could be further from the truth. A meaningful life is made up of a series of daily acts of decency and kindness, which ironically, add up to something truly great over the course of a lifetime.Everyone who enters your life has a lesson to teach and a story to tell. Every person you pass during the moments that make up your days represents an opportunity to show a little more of the compassion and courtesy that define your humanity. Why not start being more of the person you truly are during your days and doing what you can to enrich the world around you? in my mind, if you make even one person smile during your day or brighten the mood of even one stranger, your day has been a worthwhile one.  KINDNESS, QUITE SIMPLY, IS THE RENT WE MUST PAY FOR THE SPACE WE OCCUPY ON THIS PLANET.Become more creative in the ways you show compassion to strangers. Paying the toll for the person in the car behind you, Offering your seat to another in the bus, caring for the aged and the disable, being the first to say hello, greeting everyone you meet are great places to start. (Taken from the Book “Who will cry when you die” – by Robin Sharma)Im glad im working for a firm that practices good habits and allows its staff to also practice, share and follow those excellent habits.   I feel great to be a part of this remarkable team of members working in all division of this company.  Our Leader, Our Chairman, his vision that is :“We came into this world with nothing, we leave with nothing. The wealth some of us acquire is owed to the efforts and co-operation of many others around us. Let us therefore, share that wealth, while we are still around, So that the goodwill and contentment created thereby, may make this world a happier place for others too. Merrill J Fernando Settlor MJF CHARITABLE FOUNDATION”  We as a team of his Charitable Foundation consider it a fortune to be part of his noble work caring for the aged, disable, the weak, the meek not concerning their race, cast, religion       

The far-flung and one of the most beautiful province Moneragala is Sri Lanka’s poorest.  Well the question is, is it still the same?

MJF Charitable Foundation is grateful to aprox 155 personnel who helped us assist them to uplift their living standards under the Small Entrepreneur Programme (SEP) that supports and empowers underprivileged communities.  Given below are some success stories who proclaims that they no more fall into the POOREST category…. they are counting their blessings everyday now

   Chandralatha a Potter had the talent, the ability but did not have the resources to start her own pottery.  With the little assistance received from the MJF Charitable Foundation Chandralatha started her pottery of her own.  Her products are sold in Monaragala and around also have a good demand too.  Chandralatha has provided employment for six in the village and owns a Trishaw that helps them to transport raw materials and the finished products.  Ambition, fueled by wisdom and integrity, is a powerful force for good that will turn the wheels of industry and open the doors of opportunity for you and countless others says Zig Ziglar, how true

Upul a young boy from the same district in a place called Nakkala produces Jam, Toffees, Banana Chips. “Assistance provided by MJF Charitable Foundation has changed my life completely” he says. 

  Udayaratne well known as Kalumalli met with an accident while he was 2 1/2 years old that a Kerosene Oil lamp fell in the bed while he was sleeping and caught fire not only the bed and the house, Kalumalli too caught fire as a result he is disabled today.   Not given up in life Kalumalli setup a bicycle workshop with the experience he had gained prior.  he has build a beautiful house for his mother, his brother and the bothers family to live from the income generated from this workshop.  If you’re an underdog, mentally disabled, physically disabled, if you don’t fit in, if you’re not as pretty as the others, you can still be a hero

  Sumana an excellent Seamstress was provided with a sewing machine, a spinster, looking after her ill mother earns her living from income generated by sewing cloths to the community.  She is now conducting sewing classes to poor young girls in the village free of charge. its encouraging to see her involvement in a little way to uplift the community.

  Chandranimal produces fresh and pure spices, he buys the raw material from the market cleans, dries, grinds and packets them and sells it to the market.  His products have a good demand in the market due to the high quality of the products.  he has also setup a little grocery store next to his house where he sells these spices produced by him at special price to his villagers.  MJFCF assisted him with only a grinding machine worth half a lack but his achievement today is much more than that was granted.

  Nihal – Agriculturist – has cultivated Papaya and Corn in aprox. 3.5 acres of land and says that he has a good earning from it. Qualified in Agriculture Nihal also provides job opportunities to 6 in the village.  MJFCF supported Nihal with water pumps and motor.  Well it’s true what Napoleon Hill Said that “Everyone enjoys doing the kind of work for which he is best suited”.

  Mr. & Mrs. Ekenayake – the owners of a Plant Nursery – have now cultivated Dragon Fruit  that has a huge  demand and they provide the youth with necessary advice and training too.  MJFCF provided them with equipments to setup and to run this nursery.

 Migrants from Matara to Monaragala Badra & Jayantha found the skill they are familiar with will make their living in the new place and started growing mushrooms.  They have now purchased a Three Wheeler and production too has increased. MJFCF supported them to only setup the area for cultivation.

 Dinesh and his Wife – Owners of an Aquarium. Their dream was to set up an aquarium and to be the best in the Monaragala district. Theirs is the main and the best aquarium in the district and the couple have now managed to setup a Gymnasium too with the profit from this business. 

 Dhammika Roshan – Phone repairer.  He was the only mobile phone repairer in Monaragala. The MJFCF donated the equipments that’s needed for his work. His wife as he says is of great strength towards his work.

 Anula Ratnayake – Produces dry food items using the material available in the surrounding (i.e. Jack, bitter gourd, Curry Leaves, Plantains, etc… the Foundation has provided her with the Drying machine.  Anula’s Mother and Husband help her on this business enterprise.

A little push has taken the above personnel to great heights……. we value their hard work and the interest taken to uplift their standards and by the quality of lives of their families…. Hats off to each and every one of them…