About Us

In My Heart Serendib Foundation Australia
was established in September 2007 by Julie Capper, when she was planning her second trip to Sri Lanka and realised her support for disadvantaged people there would be ongoing.

"In 2006, I went to Sri Lanka for a 17 day holiday. Little did I know then how profoundly affected I would be by that trip. I came home thinking, "What a great and fortunate life we have here in Australia".

I am not naïve about poverty and disadvantage, but my heart was touched by Sri Lanka and it's people.

For a couple of weeks I couldn't speak about my experience and how I felt about what I'd seen in Sri Lanka without becoming upset, but I soon realised I could do something to help and support the Sri Lankan people.

Extreme poverty is a reality for most people on that beautiful tiny island off the south east coast of India. Many of the young have limited job opportunities, families are struggling to provide food for their children as the cost of living soars, education for some beyond the age of 12 years is just a dream, and many people are suffering from poor health due to lack of money for transport and simple treatment.

I knew I could rally my friends and family for support, and when I came up with the idea of raising money they were all behind me.

It's now been some years since that first visit and we continue to raise money and accept donations of needed goods. Since setting up the foundation I am now preparing for my fifth trip."

18 November 2008

The name In My Heart Serendib was chosen as Julie felt it represented her feelings for the people of Sri Lanka, their daily struggle for life and the fact that they had made a huge dent in her heart. Serendib was chosen for it's historical significance.

The logo design represents Sri Lanka nestled in a heart, the heart design being the arms hugging the country. It's exactly as Julie pictured it in her mind and she feels it perfectly reflects the essence of the foundation and it's work.

Contact: serendibfoundation@hotmail.com

Members of the foundation:

Suzanne Edney, AMES Volunteer Tutor
Padmini Thorakumbura, child care worker
Madhupali Dassanayake, family day carer

The foundation members determined that continuous fundraising would take place here in Australia to support a variety of different projects in Sri Lanka. These projects would include:

• help for children from poor rural areas with much-needed school items, shoes, sport and play equipment;
• medication costs for a small group of aged blind people living in a village in outer Colombo;
• support for children with intellectual disabilities living at an orphanage;
• support for the building of an education and welfare centre at Ratnapura;
• and provide much-needed pens and pencils for a Montessori school in a poor area of Colombo.

One hundred percent of donations and money raised goes directly to the intended recipients in Sri Lanka. Money raised through fundraising activities is not used by members of the foundation for airfare, accommodation, meals or other sundry items, neither in Sri Lanka nor Australia.

Other supporters:

Raja Gunasekara, Tourist Guide. Driver, interpreter and finder of affordable accommodation for Julie's visits to Sri Lanka.

Darryl De Netto, shipping goods from Melbourne to Colombo.
Platinum Cargo Pty Ltd, PO Box 289, Business Mail Centre, Tullamarine Vic 3043, Ph: 03 9310 3290.

Palitha Kulasinghe & Ruwan Rathnayake, SDV International Logistics. Receiving and clearing goods through customs upon arrival in Sri Lanka and arranging delivery to Raja's home for Julie to collect when she arrives.

Susana & Edward (below) sell donated saleable goods on EBay to raise funds for the building of the Welfare and Education Centre at Ratnapura.

Fred Bourne, Bourne Bathroom Supplies transports goods from Julie's home in Langwarrin to Port Melbourne for shipment to Sri Lanka.

Megan Hoeksema, graphic design. Logo and letterhead.

Paula Zavetchanos, flyer and invitation design

THANK YOU GRACE GORMAN WEB MANAGER  2008 - 2010
 
Grace Gorman has decided to withdraw from being Web Manager of In My Heart Serendib Foundation.  Grace was the impetus behind the website, she researched who could and would offer a free site to community organisations and found vicnet.  Grace worked with me on the set up and layout of the site.  She offered her thoughts about design, layout and photo insertion.  Most recently, Grace and I spent Australia Day wording and posting the latest updates. 

Thank you Grace for your hard work.