Kids from the Laureus Project meet Lewis Hamilton in South Africa

Edwin Moses at the price giving ceremony with Lakruwan and Manu

Lakruwan and Manu (Seeningama Sport for Life Programme beneficiaries) recently   participated in a LSFG project exchange where they met 4 other participants from the Laureus Sport for Good Network ( Indigo Youth Movement and Soweto Rugby Schools Programme)

Here are their impressions

Naiduwa Handi Manuja

It has always been a dream of mine to fly to a foreign country and see Sri Lanka from the sky. I used to watch airplanes fly over our house when I was young and never imagined that my dream would come to true so soon. It has been amazing. I am so happy to have been selected to fly to South Africa by Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Foundation of Goodness.

Entering the airport and being in an aircraft was a totally strange experience to me.  I was in a daze for the whole journey. The cold climate, food and accommodation were very different to what I had known.

When we arrived in Johannesburg, our first activity was a visit to Little Champs, one of the projects supported by the Laureus sport for Good Foundation. We had fun with the children and got the opportunity to interact with them.

It was an honour to meet and talk with the Formula-1 Champion Lewis Hamilton. Speaking with him alone lifted our spirits.  We also had the opportunity to meet with the world renowned former US Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses. We also had the chance to visit the house of Nelson Mandela and learn about the sacrifices that were made to gain independence.

The most wonderful experience was the opportunity to drive a Go-kart for the first time. We took part in a Go-kart race and I won 3rd place which was fantastic.

Later on we visited the Lion Park where we were allowed to touch and take photographs of the animals.  To pet fierce animals like lions was an unbelievable experience. Something we would never be able to do so in Sri Lanka.

Next, we went to see an African drama. Though we could not understand their language, we could understand their expressions which touched my heart. From the Drama, we were able to comprehend the difference between the Sri Lankan and African cultures.

It was indeed a great opportunity to visit a foreign country. I am extremely happy to have got the chance to see more of the world.  This opportunity has given me reason to believe that dedication, focus, determination and pure intentions actually reward you in making your dreams come true. I learnt a lot through this tour and I am full of new hope and dreams when I flew back home.

This was a memorable experience and I will have life long memories of the four foreign project beneficiaries who were on the project exchange with us. This experience has definitely changed my life for good.

Lakruwan and Manu both are the winners in this experience

Dewa Lakruwan Wijesiri

It was my good fortune to be able to represent the Seenigama Aquatic Club on the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Project exchange.  It was the first time I had ever flown, so experiencing the flight to South Africa from Sri Lanka was all very new to me. When, I joined the Foundation of Goodness a few years ago, I did not think I would ever get such an opportunity.

We first went to a school in South Africa where we had fun interacting and playing with the African children.  The honor of meeting the world renowned sports champions Lewis Hamilton and Edwin Moses will forever be engraved in my heart and the precious moment of victory when I won the Go-kart race was brilliant. Especially since it was the first time I had never seen a Go-kart before the race.

We visited a cultural festival where we were able to learn a lot about the South African way of life. We were told about the days before independence and the changes that have taken place since. My knowledge was improved immensely and made our visit to the Great Nelson Mandela’s home truly memorable.

Flying in an aero plane, a journey to a foreign country and having the opportunity to meet world famous people for the very first time is unforgettable. I hope to share my positive experience in the village and become a stronger leader.

Handi and Dewa a little bit shy when meeting Lewis Hamilton

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