“SOAR”, a project organized by the Community Service Avenue of the Rotaract Club of University of Sri Jayewardenepura (RACUSJ) aimed at uplifting the spirits and brining a smile to the faces of children whose childhood is spent away from the ones that they can call their own, was concluded successfully on the 12th of October 2019. It was a day filled with laughter and joy consisting over 120 smiles of children of a few children’s homes.

The event took place at the Sri Saranankara Grounds, Dehiwala with the participation of over 80 fellow rotaractors who volunteered to show the sense of fellowship and kindness to the little ones by spending a day dedicated towards them.

The event kicked off with these little ones showing their talents through a series of dances and songs which they sang with the greatest heartfelt gratitude, with these moments of everlasting joy the organizing committee arranged few games, which included “balloon popping”, “musical chairs” and “hat passing”, which the children participated with eager. The smiles on the faces of these children as they took part in these games were unexplainable.

Thereafter the most anticipated moment of the event, the “kite festival” took place. Colorful kites were handed over to these children, so that they could soar these kites as high as the clouds. The simplest moments of joy that was experienced by these little ones, where they flew kites putting their arms across their friends and running everywhere to see who gets their kite the highest and the furthest.

With the ticking of the clock the kite session ended. Thereafter the children were provided with a hearty lunch organized by the fellow Rotaractors. The event drew closer and closer to the end but there was one small surprise which awaited the children, the moment where the children were awarded with fascinating gifts which included a pack of stationaries, a colorful diary and tills which were kind heartedly and humbly accepted.

In the evening, the volunteers and the children parted their own ways which was quite emotional and drew the overall event to a close. The aim of the project was to ensure that the society is directed to helping the children who deserve the love and care whilst extending our helping hand towards these little ones so that they will feel that they are no less than their peers with the belief that this would be a great emotional backup to them as they are leading their most beautiful phase of their life.

-Rtr. Dulanja Gamanayake-