Hike For Humanity Project reaches the hands of underprivileged

Hike for Humanity project is an innovative and inspirational project interlinking the concept of hiking and humanity. That is to help underprivileged school students on the annual hike of Old Cadets Association (OCA). To begin with the project the #HikeForHumanity Concept was familiarized on the social media as well as in Zahira College Mawanella. And from 01/12/2013 the collection of books from the College and Old Cadets was started with over whelming response of the principal and the staff as well as students. Day by day the books were flocking in the Hike for Humanity project box placed at school. Many students made their contributions to make a lot happier.

We already informed about our project to Wewalthalawa Tamil M.M.V principal Mr.Mahendran and he welcomed our idea and provided all the required information we needed. We gathered all the donated exercise books and stationeries on 14th night and prepared our gift parcels. Each parcel included 7 exercise books, 1 drawing book, 2 pen, 2 pencils, 1 eraser, 1 sharpener and a ruler. Apart from the standard package we packed pastel color boxes, gum bottles, stapler, instrument boxes and etc for various grade students.

We left Mawanella around 3.50 pm in a hired van on Sunday 15th. Our van driver tried his best to catch the last bus from Yatiyantota to Halgolla which is scheduled for 6 pm. But as Awissawela road is being constructed we were able to reach Yatiyantota at 6.10 pm. We came to know that the last bus left 30 minutes from the scheduled time so we had to take the same vehicle to Halgolla. Halgolla road is carpeted very well where I could not find that kind of road in main cities even. But the last 1 km from the Halgolla tea factory is too damaged.

Mr. Mahendran, the principal of Wewalthalawa Tamil M.M.V who is residing in Holgolla was expecting us and we reached his house around 7.15 pm. He provided us a good shelter in his house. We made our dinner bread and Sambola with the help of Mr.Mahendran and his family. After the dinner we started to schedule our next day event and arrange the gifts in the order.

Preparing the gift packs

It’s going to be a colour full hike

Ideally we were planned to start climbing Wewalthalawa from Halgolla at night but Mr.Mahendran advised us that there were incidents reported in the jungle on treasure hunting. So we drop that idea and planned to start the hike next day morning

HikeForHumanity crew with gift packs

Leaving Mr. Mahendran’s house with gift boxes

We started our next day hiking with our donation packs around 7.00 am. From Halgolla Tea Factory to Wewalthalawa there is road paved, we had to walk through the road and each and every bend were starting with high ascending degrees. So we walked with our last time memories which directed in 2008. We came to this Wewalthalwa in 2008 with our Cadet Platoon and went several places like Worlds End, Hidden Waterfalls in the villages and etc.

Walking through Halgolla village

Mr. Mahendran and his children accompanied us

Not too heavy…

Every bend was so ascending, even in memories

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.	It’s there….

With those memories and the will to reach the destination we walked our nerves through high degrees of altitude. And on our way up we were able to see a cable chain which might have been used by the factory some years back to transport tea leaves. As those cables are held up by the help of small towers, some of our boys decided to have a look on climbing the tower. And in between the road and the basement of the tower there was a rough patch of bushes. Though the bushes were rough we decided that its not wise to keep a foot in the bushes as it would pull us inside the hole. And we found a log and kept in-between the two and we reached the tower. And 1 of our guys without taking note of that kept his foot on the bushes and suddenly he vanished down. Fortunately when he called him back he was ok and with some effort he came up. It was a shock as well as humour for all of us.

These cables were used to transport tea leaves in British period, but now they are not working

It was a breathtaking view from top of the tower… but not a good idea to climb

Finally we found the guy whom vanished in a second

And little by little our distance vanished and the beautiful village of Wewelathalawa came to our sight. And we were able see the school from a distance and we were able to see the children who have come in the school uniforms even though it was a public holiday. And when we reached the school the students welcomed us warmly and we kept our luggage and the gift items and got ready for the presentation and in the mean time we found some good time to mingle with the small ones and to play some games with them.

This how we welcomed by nature. It’s a really beautiful village

Taken from school entrance

Misty mountains..

The yellow colour building is the school

Welcome to Wewalthalawa

And finally the presentation started in the presence of the principal, parents and the villagers. We were really amazed to see the children who were taking part in some activities. It was doubtful even the urban children would not be able to match their talent. And finally ending our program, We presented the books to the students. They were really happy to be awarded the stuff. And we too were seeing the young buds bloom with their smile.

.	Shoe is not important for Football

Volley ball time

These girls are always backward; we have to take them forward in their life

Run for your life…

Donating gift packs to students.

One of our Old Cadet and Moratuwa University student is encouraging the young buds for education..

Lt. Ziyard is presenting office stationeries to Mr.Mahendran

Lt. Ziyard is talking to parents and teachers on importance of Educating the children. College principal Mr. Mahendran stands next to him

Time didn’t permit to visit the waterfalls and the Worlds End point. Mr. Mahendran said that the Worlds End point has refurbished now by estate Management for better sighting experience. And he asked us another visit in future to just see the beauty of the village.

It’s a cute smile with no other words.

Happiness is something different when we shared with others

Our crew is celebrating with students

Finishing our function we turned back home at around 1.pm to catch the bus from Halgolla which was at 2.30. We rushed to catch the bus and ran through the roads and finally when we reached Halgolla we came to know that there were no buses that day and we would have to walk nearly 15 km to Yatiyanthota. And with no option left we made our move and with great effort we covered the whole distance by our foot and making our skins out. At around 5.30 we reached yatiyanthota and from there we got on to the bus and came back to Mawanella with some heart melting memories.

Our Members with Wewalthalawa TMV students, Principal, Teachers and some parents

A girl is expressing her #ThankYouZahira feelings…