Mind's Eye Chatter: Portrait Luncheon Fundraiser

To be able to use our photography to support those less fortunate than us is a real privilege. The Chundikuli Girl’s College Old Girls Association (CGC OGA) Sydney, recently gave us this opportunity.

We were pleased to be part of the Portrait Luncheon Fundraiser. Tickets were bought for this event and the 4 hard working hosts (volunteers from CGC OGA Sydney committee) put on a banquet lunch, even hosted a game, sing-a-long and also had a lucky door prize! Our (Mind’s Eye Photography), contribution was to provide a free portrait photo-shoot and photo to everyone who attended the function.

This fundraiser was in support of the IDP (Internally Displaced Person) Children – the many orphans and children affected by the civil war in the country of Sri Lanka. The CGC OGA holds many events such as this, raising funds to support these children and their Alma Mater, Chundikuli Girl’s College, in the north of Sri Lanka.

In particular, this Portrait Luncheon raised money to fund much needed building and infrastructure for the school, given its large intake of IDP children. The principal of the school, Mrs.Dushyanthi Thuseetharan writes:

“This is the college's major undertaking after the cessation of war in 2009. As you are aware, we do not receive any funding from the government for infrastructure development. In the past, the NGOs came forward to grant funds but now their focus has shifted to Vanni and hence we are unable to get any funds from them. Now the number on roll has increased to 1604 after the intake of children from displaced families. These children were taken in without any kind of donation on which the school usually relies on for any school development projects. In 2012, we increased the admission fee and the term fees but as most of our students come from displaced or lower middle class families, we couldn't increase much. Further, the cost of living has gone up and we had to increase the salaries of the teachers, to keep them at CGC without joining the government sector where salaries have been increased by 15%. So for any infrastructure projects we have to solely depend on the funds we receive from old girls and well wishers.”

We all had a great time at the Portrait Luncheon Fundraiser and thank the hosts for this opportunity to use our photography for a worthy cause. Below, are some of the portraits of the guests at the Fundraiser.