Donor Visit from the Gipum Nanum Foundation – Jesuit Province of Korea
The Province was delighted to host the Secretary General and the Program Director of the Gipum Nanum Foundation of the Jesuit Province of Korea during their visit to Sri Lanka from 8–11 December 2025. Their visit marked an important step in strengthening the ongoing partnership supporting the Indian-Origin Plantation Community.
Meeting the Scholarship Beneficiaries
The primary purpose of the delegation’s visit was to meet the students benefiting from the Foundation’s scholarship program. These students are from the GCE O/L, A/L, and university levels, representing the Catholic Dioceses of Ratnapura, Galle, Kandy, Badulla, Kurunegala, and the Archdiocese of Colombo (Mathugama, Avissawella, and Horana regions).
Due to the prevailing disaster situation in the country, travel had to be limited to selected areas—specifically the Diocese of Ratnapura, the Diocese of Galle, and parts of the Archdiocese of Colombo.
Meeting the Scholarship Beneficiaries
The primary purpose of the delegation’s visit was to meet the students benefiting from the Foundation’s scholarship program. These students are from the GCE O/L, A/L, and university levels, representing the Catholic Dioceses of Ratnapura, Galle, Kandy, Badulla, Kurunegala, and the Archdiocese of Colombo (Mathugama, Avissawella, and Horana regions).
Due to the prevailing disaster situation in the country, travel had to be limited to selected areas—specifically the Diocese of Ratnapura, the Diocese of Galle, and parts of the Archdiocese of Colombo.
Awareness Session with Community Leaders
Before beginning their field visits, Ms. KyungYun Kim and Mr. Dongmin Jeong conducted an insightful awareness session for members of the Voice of the Plantation People Organization.
The session provided a meaningful overview of the current challenges faced by the plantation community, focusing on:
- Education
- Land and housing
- Livelihood concerns and debt
- Infrastructure and basic services
- Issues related to private estates
This engagement helped deepen the delegation’s understanding of the systemic issues affecting the community.
Interactions with Students and Families
Throughout the visit, Kay and Dongmin met scholarship recipients, their parents, program coordinators, Parish Priests, and local motivators. These interactive gatherings were filled with heartfelt gratitude and inspiring testimonies from the students.
Many expressed how the scholarships have empowered them to dream beyond personal achievement and envision service to their communities. Among their sentiments were:
- “We will study and become teachers in our own areas so that subjects like Mathematics, Science, and English will no longer lack instructors.”
- “We will motivate the younger generation.”
- “We hope to become not only doctors and lawyers but also local politicians who can influence policy for our people.”
Encouragement from the Gipum Nanum Foundation
The representatives from the Foundation were deeply moved by these interactions. They reaffirmed their support for the scholarship program, offering words of encouragement such as:
- “We are touched by your sharing.”
- “You will be the future advocates of the Malaiyaha community.”
- “We are very happy with the program, and we will do more.”
Their commitment underscores the strong and growing partnership dedicated to uplifting the plantation community.
Looking Ahead
The visit concluded with a luncheon meeting with the Provincial, during which preliminary discussions were held to shape a future vision for the scholarship program and related initiatives.
The Province expresses its gratitude to the Gipum Nanum Foundation for their continued solidarity and their unwavering dedication to improving the lives of the Malaiyaha Tamil community.
