• 2024 is a year for collective responsibility 

The year 2024 dawns as a year of challenge on the heels of several years of conditions that have been less than ideal. The economic crisis has impacted the lives of all Sri Lankans, but, as always, when it comes to times of struggle, some are equipped to handle adversity better than most. So how can we help the less fortunate make it through this turbulent time? 

This is where the Butterfly Hope Foundation emerges as a beacon of love and hope. Formally founded by Saumi De Almeida and her husband Dr. Suran De Almeida in 2020, Butterfly Hope Foundation is the culmination of Saumi’s tireless efforts to make even a small difference in the lives of disadvantaged children, caring for children and orphans, those living with single parents and relatives having little or no financial support, and those faced with terminal illnesses. 

The Butterfly Hope Foundation’s story

Saumi’s first efforts under what would eventually become the Butterfly Hope Foundation began years ago when Saumi, inspired by her experiences teaching at a boys’ home, recognised the transformative power of education in the lives of less fortunate children. This spark for creating a positive change in the lives of children only grew, and, in 2010, driven by this need to make a difference, she started organising an annual Christmas party for children at the National Cancer Hospital in Maharagama.

This simple act of spreading love, hope, and joy laid the foundation for something greater and saw more room to make a difference, to make those children who were suffering and most vulnerable know that they weren’t alone in their struggle, that someone cared. Saumi reflected: “It started as a simple idea – talking to friends, gathering funds, and hosting a Christmas party. It progressed organically as people came forward to offer help.”

Following this first initiative, Saumi’s efforts, relying on her network and other well-wishers and benefactors, only grew, with a focus on providing school supplies to children from communities in very remote areas such as  Walapane, Wanathawilluwa, and Meegalewa. 

The year 2020 saw Saumi and Suran begin to formalise their commitment to ‘give wings to little dreams’ by forming an association together with a few close friends in order to be able to increase their reach and fundraising efforts. 

Making a difference

Since its inception, the Butterfly Hope Foundation has upheld its commitment to do everything it can to make a difference in the lives of children who are forgotten, marginalised, and most vulnerable. 

Maintaining transparency and being accountable in all that it does are firm priorities for the foundation and to this end it has had its accounts externally audited and published from the beginning. Butterfly Hope Foundation is now a registered charity and all funds raised go back to further the cause of supporting underprivileged children and families. 

Despite its relatively short formal existence, the Butterfly Hope Foundation has made a profound impact on the lives of thousands of children. Saumi and Suran, along with a dedicated council comprising members equally committed to making a difference in the lives of children and an active group of volunteers, have been involved in renovating orphanages and converting them into safe, comfortable, and cheerful places of abode for the children, supporting schools with minimal facilities by meeting their infrastructure needs to equip them to provide a better learning experience for the children, establishing libraries to instil a love of reading, and creating spaces and opportunities for children to enjoy outdoor play and music. 

To ease the burden faced by parents with the current economic challenges, the Butterfly Hope Foundation extends extensive support in providing school supplies, clothes, and shoes to ensure children can continue their education despite the struggles and challenges surrounding them. 

How the Butterfly Hope Foundation makes a difference 

With 2024 set to be such a challenging year – with tax hikes and rising inflation – Saumi emphasised on the importance of paying attention to those less fortunate who did not have the tools and resources to survive compared to those from more stable, educated, and middle-class backgrounds.

“What we need to see is more people coming forward to engage with people who don’t have as much as we all do,” Saumi said, adding that many people’s first instinct given the challenges we were facing as a nation was to focus on themselves and their families and their own survival. However, she emphasised that such an outlook would result in the most vulnerable among us not being able to survive at all. “Now, more than ever, we need to understand that there are people who just won’t make it to the next day without our help.”

The Butterfly Hope Foundation strives to create a lasting and positive influence in the communities it serves and stands as a testament to the transformative power of collective action. 

Saumi also emphasised that seemingly-small gestures could have an immense impact on children’s lives. “Simple things make such a huge impact on children, things we often take for granted,” she explained, speaking on how the smallest act of kindness and love could give hope to many and drastically change how they see the world. Providing school supplies can be the deciding factor in a child staying on in school an extra year and then going on to pursue higher education and build a fulfilling life for themselves. 

Sri Lankans have a collective responsibility 

The essence of the Butterfly Hope Foundation goes beyond immediate assistance; it is about instilling hope, spreading love, and giving every child the childhood they deserve. The foundation’s vision extends beyond short-term projects: “We need people to understand that there is a bigger need, many to be reached, and much to be done, together and not alone,” Saumi said. 

As the Butterfly Hope Foundation continues to make strides in making a positive impact, the foundation welcomes support from individuals and organisations, because making a difference is impossible without collaboration. “We have a very committed and dedicated council of members without whose help what we do would be impossible and also a volunteer group of people to help with various tasks which can be physically exhausting. We are very grateful to have had this support from the beginning and to have people around us who support and champion our cause. We manage to raise funds for specific projects, but not a huge excess to take on large projects,” Saumi said. 

“Whether through financial contributions, volunteering, or spreading awareness, everyone has a role to play in creating a better future for these children. The Butterfly Hope Foundation’s commitment to transparency, with no administrative costs, ensures that every donation directly benefits those in need.” 

Saumi also stressed on the importance of moving beyond the stage of placing blame for the situation Sri Lanka finds itself in and instead shifting focus to pushing through and doing what little we can to help those around us to pull through as well: “We often find ourselves blaming everyone else, the Government, the politicians, and those in authority for what’s going on. We strongly believe that we need to be part of the solution rather than the problem and do what we can, no matter how little and insignificant it may be, because even a small act of kindness will always be passed on and will make a difference in a child’s life and that is priceless.” 

For more information on Butterfly Hope Foundation and its projects:

Facebook: @hopefulbutterfly

Website: butterflyhopefoundation.org