Page 110 - Hemas_Piyawara_Book

Never before has my son got a gift like this.
See how happy he is.
A mother in a half-built home in Kanagarayakulam
102 Hemas Piyawara - A Journey to the Future
It was over 10 years ago that the ‘Be an Angel’ Project saw the light of day when
from within the staff of the Hemas Group emerged an idea that it would generate
much happiness if they could “gift a gift” to impoverished children.
Wholehearted was the support from all levels of the staff when the idea was mooted
that they could contribute their mite towards this project to bring a smile to children
battered by poverty.
“Super,” was the collection, recalls the Executive Director of the Hemas Outreach
Foundation, Shiromi Masakorala, of that first year of ‘Be an Angel’ in 2011, when dolls,
cars, books and a lot more wrapped in pink or blue with tiny labels wishing the children
a ‘Merry Christmas’ piled up at the Hemas office.
It was the army that readily offered logistical support with the lead being taken
by senior officers. The very first ‘Be an Angel’ distribution of gifts took place in the
Ambalnagar area in Kilinochchi.
Gift-giving followed every year, thereafter, from Nagarkovil and Chundikulam (in the
Jaffna district) to Weli Oya (in the Mullaitivu district); Bogaswewa (in the Vavuniya
district); Mannar (in the Mannar district); Kantalai (in the Trincomalee district);
Katuwapitiya (in the Gampaha district); and Puttalam (in the Puttalam district). A
poignant and at the same time heartrending moment in Nagarkovil had been the
tractor-load of gifts running out, for thrilled children had been running up to the
vehicle several times.
“These children had not got a gift ever in their lives, neither had they seen colourful
wrapping and the smiles on their faces when they tore it open were worth a million
rupees,” says Shiromi.
Being an Angel, an annual gesture from the Hemas Group, continues in the true spirit
of the season, bringing immense joy to the humble and lowly and fulfilment to the
givers!