Volunteers
April Kramer
Teacher from Chaminade College Preparatory, in West Hills, California. During January of 2005, one of the founders of ECS, Francis Perera spoke about the Tsunami and its damaging effects on the people and the children of Sri Lanka at Chaminade High School. The talk was one of many things that inspired the Ohio born teacher, April Kramer to get involved and volunteer with ECS. She dedicated one month during the summer of that year, to volunteer in Sri Lanka. After the trip, April has been a huge asset to the ECS organization. She had helped advertise and get students at Chaminade involved in a backpack and supply collection during the spring of 2005,2006,2007 & 2008. She also offered her classroom for storage of the supplies and backpacks during the collections.
Beethoven Elementary
An elementary school in Los Angeles, CA. Beethoven students donated backpacks and supplies during ECS’s backpack campaign in 2005.
Brandon Burns
Current resident from Denver, Colorado. He had a Sri Lankan friend named Samantha, who also had family in Sri Lanka. A year before the Tsunami, he had always discussed the idea of traveling to Sri Lanka. When the Tsunami hit the coasts of the country, he became very enthusiastic to go and help those in desperate need. He dedicated a month during the summer of 2005 and was one of the first of four ECS representatives to go to Sri Lanka and volunteer.
Carmen Goonetilake
She is a current resident in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She is the sister of the founder of ECS, Francis Perera. She was a direct contact for ECS during their projects, including the backpack campaigns and donation of boats. She also allowed ECS to use her home, to store the backpacks and supplies before being shipped to its specific locations along the western and southern coast.
2004 Confirmation Class
The confirmation class from St.Mel Parish in Woodland Hills, CA. The confirmation class donated backpacks and supplies during ECS’s backpack campaign in 2005.
Doris Wiratunga
Current resident in Canoga Park, California. Volunteered numerous hours toward volunteer work on ECS sponsored projects.
Dzunda Family
Volunteered hours to pack and prepare boxes for shipping of supplies and backpacks during ECS’s 2005 campaign.
Hiran Amerasinghe
Current resident in Northridge, California. Contributed numerous hours toward volunteer work on ECS sponsored projects.
Kelsi Lickteig
ECS volunteers from Mountain Vista High School, Colorado. Kelsi was currently a freshman, when the Tsunami had taken place in Sri Lanka in 2004. Before the trip, Kelsi was well experienced within community service work and helping those less fortunate. When her Uncle Brandan asked her to accompany him on a trip to Sri Lanka, she was hesitant but soon became motivated and excited. The trip was her first time traveling out of the United States. She took part as one of the first of four ECS representatives to go to Sri Lanka and volunteer.
Lindsey Shaw
ECS volunteer from Chaminade College Preparatory, in West Hills, California. Lindsey was currently a junior in high school, when the Tsunami took place. According to Lindsey she felt, “someone my age can do very little to help when any kind of disaster occurs”. After listening to a talk by ECS founder, Francis Perera at Chaminade High School, she became aware on how she could help. She dedicated one month of her summer in 2005 and volunteered in Sri Lanka. When visiting one of the villages during the 2005 trip, Lindsey met a village girl who persistently asked her for her home address, not for money but for a pen pal. For the past four years, Lindsey has been corresponding with the village girl from Sri Lanka through letters. Not only did Lindsey make a new friend, but she became a better tool to help her English writing and speaking skills.
Montessori School of Los Angeles
A Montessori school in Los Angeles, CA. the students donated backpacks and supplies during ECS’s backpack campaign in 2005.
Neighbors from Saltillo Street
Neighbors of the founders: Srini and Francis Perera supported ECS through their donations and volunteer hours. Before ECS first trip to Sri Lanka in 2005, about fifteen neighbors from the Saltillo Neighborhood, collaborated their efforts through a garage sale. Each neighbor brought items that were used or old from dresses lying in the back of the closet to furniture items. They also advertised the sale and spent volunteer hours during shifts to help customers. They have been consistently helping ECS through this fundraiser to raise money the past four years
Sherlin Family
They donated numerous toys and supplies during the 2005 backpack campaign.
Welby Way Elementary
An elementary school in Woodland Hills, CA. Welby Way students donated backpacks and supplies during ECS’s backpack campaign in 2005.
Pioneers
Ajith
He is a restaurant manager at a hotel in Sri Lanka. He educated ECS volunteers, about families within the Galle District in Sri Lanka; who were severely affected by the Tsunami. During ECS’s first trip to Sri Lanka in 2005, he approached founder, Francis Perera and explained families who were in desperate need. When ECS became familiar with the families, Ajith soon became a major tool locally for ECS. He has also distributed the money from ECS and facilitated it among these families. He also coordinated the funds and proceeds that are toward the Valikonda School. In addition, he constantly serves as a constant ECS representative in Sri Lanka.
Aruna Jayalath
He is a current manager of a hotel in Negombo, Sri Lanka. During ECS’s 2005 trip to Sri Lanka, he educated ECS about a village called Valikonda and its villagers affected by the tsunami. He educated ECS volunteers about an inland village along the southern coast that was affected. He explained how the village’s main income source was rice fields. The rice fields were contaminated and destroyed by the Tsunami, leaving the villagers hopeless. During 2005 trip, he asked ECS for funds to buy shoes for children who were graduating from the village school and needed shoes in order to attend to the next school. This introduction became the birth of ECS’s main focus, to improve the educational standards within the village school. In addition, he organized and facilitated projects for Valikonda. Thanks to his work and dedication, the development of Valikonda School and the improvement of education among its students have become one of ECS’s major successes.
Rohini Perera
Resident in Los Angeles, CA was one of the first volunteers of ECS. Rohini had just got married, and had her honeymoon in Indonesia. When the couple flew back to Sri Lanka, the Tsunami had occurred. She decided to stay back in Sri Lanka and help those in need, rather than go back home to the U.S. Rohini became involved in numerous projects including an orphanage in Koggala, Sri Lanka. When one of the ECS founders, Srini Perera started to consult with her via email, Rohini introduced Srini to numerous projects and places in dire need of help. When Srini went to Sri Lanka in March of 2005, she accompanied Rohini on a trip down the Southern coast of Sri Lanka, visiting places that had been affected tragically by the tsunami waters. In addition, Rohini introduced Srini to Aruna Jayalath, a hotel manager, who introduced ECS to one of its major focuses, the village of Valikonda near Koggala along the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
Judy De Silva
She is a current resident in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Judy was a direct contact to ECS for information of families and schools in desperate need and aid after the Tsunami. She educated ECS volunteers, where to work and volunteered during the 2005 and 2006 trip to Sri Lanka. Judy was the direct link between ECS funds and tangible support and donation in Sri Lanka. On example of ECS’s projects was the donation of boats and nets, to Tsunami affect Villagers, Judy organized the funds from ECS and purchased the suitable boats for the fishermen.
Donors
Amy Tashohyan
Van Nuys, CA
Van Nuys, CAAshok and Vanita Kumar Thousand Oaks, CA
Thousand Oaks, CABerna McConologue Woodland Hills, CA
Carol and Jake Lindsey Thousand Oaks, CA
Thousand Oaks, CACeycal Inc. Woodland Hills, CA
Woodland Hills, CAChaminade High School West Hills, CA
West Hills, CACynthia Fisher Woodland Hills, CA
Donna Venezio Granada Hills, CA
Goodside Family Woodland Hills, CA
Woodland Hills, CAIngraffia Family Woodland Hills, CA
Floriway Flowers Van Nuys, CA
Van Nuys, CAKenneth Godwin Reseda,CA
Reseda,CAMaral Gulasarian Van Nuys,CA
Van Nuys,CAMark and Maricela Haynes Woodland Hills, CA
Mike Moss Germany
GermanyMr. and Mrs. Cheng Thousand Oaks, CA
Thousand Oaks, CAPatrick Russo Westlake Village, CA
Prestine-Lowery Family Woodland Hills, CA
Woodland Hills, CARanjani Perera Encino, CA
Encino, CARichard and Jackie Ruby Woodland Hills, CA
Woodland Hills, CARosaline and Dayantha Kurukulasuriya Tugunga, CA
Salinda Perera Granada Hills, CA
St.Mel School Woodland Hills, CA
Woodland Hills, CATom and Nancy Evanik Woodland Hills, CA
Woodland Hills, CAWarner Plaza Pharmacy Woodland Hills, CA
Woodland Hills, CAWarner Center Dental Woodland Hills, CA
Wells Fargo Bank Woodland Hills, CA
Woodland Hills, CAWickramatillake Family Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CAPreeth Gunaratne Huntington Beach, CA
Huntington Beach, CAGregory SayeghDana Point, CA
Dana Point, CAKumarini WiratungaNorthridge, CA
Northridge, CADr & Mrs Gilbert Fernando Northridge, CA
Northridge, CASriyal Kumarage Torrance, CA
Torrance, CAShanaz Hanifa Northridge, CA
Northridge, CAJay Saltzman Insurance Services Tarzana, CA
Tarzana, CACharinde Perera Chatsworth, CA
Robin Vanranzow Glendale, CA
Geoff Abeysinghe Northridge, CA
Mill-Spec Magnetics Inc Pomona, CA
Terrence & Faye Herft Rancho Palos Verdes ,CA
Chris De Silva Playa Del Rey, CA
Lakshimal Waas Woodland Hills, CA
Lalith karunartne Thousand Oaks, CA
Harshi Anthony La Palma, CA
Devinde & Umanga Moonessinghe Walnut, CA
Sonali V Silva Fullerton, CA
Berna McConnellogue Woodland Hills, CA
Anna Bagdahassarian Northridge, CA
Acknowledgements
"Addressing Global Poverty through Education and Rebuilding Lives at a Personal Level"
