Befriending a young Sri Lankan woman.

A past president of SI Burnley, Barbara Murray, made friends with a young Sri Lankan child and her family during a holiday and visit to SI Columbo over a decade ago.  The child’s parents asked if she could correspond with the Burnley club member to improve her English.   The friendship developed as the litte girl moved through her teens.  Following the Tsunami, the Burnley Soroptimists liaised with the family to send much needed aid directly to the people most affected in the Wadduwa area north of Galle.

With hard work the young woman passed all her Sri Lankan accountancy examinations and won the opportunity to study at Brisbane University. 

Despite sustaining a broken leg a short time after her arrival in Australia and struggling to cope with the pain, additional expenses and great change in lifestyle, Madushi has passed all her examinations.      

Immediate past president Lynn Hepworth, a maths teacher married to accountant Paul, and committed to the provision of appropriate education for young women took a keen interest in Madushi’s development, passing on advice and guidance to her.  Lynn and Barbara also supported Madushi on a couple of occasions when her situation became critical.   

Madushi is now in yet another year at the University and has taken on part-time jobs to earn enough money to support herself as she tenaciously but apprehensively pursues her dreams.