ORPHANCARE
‘Hidden Gems and A Traveler’s Tales’ raises LKR 15 million for OrphanCare
OrphanCare recently received the entire sales proceeds from the sale of the coffee table book ‘Hidden Gems and A Traveler’s Tales’ authored by distinguished travel photographer Nawaz J Vilcassim. A ceremonial donation took place recently coinciding with the launch of OrphanCare’s inaugural Impact Report.
A total of LKR 15,139,323 was officially handed over by book author Nawaz J Vilcassim to the OrphanCare Trustees including Ruzly Hussain, Harsha Amarasekera PC, K R Ravindran, Sharad Amalean, Tyeab Akbarally, Jazri Magdon Ismail and Mohamed Azmeer.
‘Hidden Gems and A Traveler’s Tale’ marks Nawaz’s fourth book, following The Heart of the Wild, Memorable Train Journeys, and On Safari in Africa – A Diary, with all proceeds from these earlier works having also been donated to charitable causes.
Established in 2019, OrphanCare is an independent trust sponsored by Amana Bank PLC, dedicated to addressing a deeply overlooked challenge faced by orphaned children in Sri Lanka when they turn 18 and must leaver their care homes, often with the risk of experiencing a second abandonment. Every enrolment into the OrphanCare programme is guided by Article 2 on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ensuring that no child is ever excluded based on religion, race, ethnicity, gender, language or disability. What makes OrphanCare truly distinct is its 100% donation commitment as all donations are directly channelled towards orphan account, with all administrative and operational expenses of the Trust being fully borne by Amana Bank as the founding sponsor.
Commenting on his decision to dedicate the proceeds of his fourth book to OrphanCare, Nawaz said: “When I was looking for a cause to support with the proceeds, I found OrphanCare as an ideal candidate, and I found five compelling reasons. Firstly it covered an area which has been hitherto unthought of or unheard of; caring for orphan children after they turn 18, the point at which they are most vulnerable. Secondly, every amount donated goes to the benefit of the orphans as Amana Bank PLC has agreed to absorb the entire administrative costs of the funds. Thirdly, it is governed by an independent trust which comprises of very eminent persons who in their own right have excelled in social service. Fourthly, the project sans any form of discrimination be it religious, race, gender or ethnicity. Lastly, I was deeply moved by the powerful concept video, which has brought audiences to tears wherever I have presented it — whether in Melbourne, Sydney, Washington, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, London, Norway, Singapore. This contribution is my token of gratitude for the excellent education I received in this country, and I look forward to continuing my association with OrphanCare to further its noble cause.”
In promoting his book, Nawaz travelled — at his own expense — to more than 10 cities across four continents, championing the cause of OrphanCare and inspiring many admirers to join in supporting its growth.
Acknowledging his contribution OrphanCare Trustee Harsha Amarasekera PC said “The Trust extends its heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Nawaz J. Vilcassim for his magnanimous gesture of donating all proceeds from the sale of his books—an act that has helped spread the message of OrphanCare across multiple continents and countries. His contribution goes far beyond financial support; the time, personal networks, dedication and passion to this cause is truly inspiring. It is through such generosity that the OrphanCare Trust Fund continues to grow, enabling larger disbursements to beneficiaries. This translates into more impactful stories of orphaned children whose lives have been meaningfully transformed—just as we would wish for our own children.”
Today, OrphanCare has reached out to over 3,200 orphans from more than 90 child care homes across Sri Lanka and has successfully completed 24 rounds of fund disbursements to orphan accounts.
