By Dimithri Wijesinghe
Café Kumbuk, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan, is making moves to set a most interesting precedent this season, as they have set in motion their plans to build a Christmas tree this year instead of buying one. They’ve really one-upped anyone’s expectations and decided to build a Christmas tree entirely of books.
The project is the brainchild of Café Kumbuk Founder and Director Shana Dandeniya and her mother Rotaract District 3220 Sri Lanka and Maldives District Secretary Dinali Dandeniya.
Speaking to Dinali, who was also a past president of Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan, she shared that this initiative was conceptualised by Shana, and shared that they will be donating all the books collected to libraries around the island to be accessed by underprivileged children, through the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan.
Dinali said those who wish to donate child-friendly new or secondhand books can drop them off at Café Kumbuk any day of the week, except Mondays, between 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Dinali said that these are unprecedented and difficult times for everyone, and that sustainability should be something that we all strive for now more than ever; so instead of frivolously spending on a one-time-use Christmas tree, they figured they could invest in something long-lasting and sustainable that allows for the festivities while also providing for the education and development of children.
We also spoke to Shana, who spearheaded the initiative in collaboration with Dinali and the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan.
She too shared that times are difficult due to the pandemic, which has created a harsh environment for all. So, she shared, there is a need to be mindful about our fellow men and help one another. She said: “It’s important because this year has been so tough already; we need to do all we can to help others, especially those who need it most! Christmas is a time of giving so that’s exactly why we are so keen to do this.”
Speaking about how and why she came up with this particular idea, she said: “I was trying to think of ways in which we could give back to the community this Christmas and I came across a photo of books stacked in a tree formation. It seemed like the perfect fit and I knew that our wonderful community would help us make it happen.”
We also asked her whether they plan to expand on this intuitive beyond the festive season, to which Shana shared: “We’d love to carry it on. I think these projects are so important for the communities we live in. We will always strive to help in any way possible through our work at Café Kumbuk.”
In addition to this collaboration with Café Kumbuk, Dinali shared that the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan has numerous worthy causes they support, highlighting one particular cause that is particularly close to her heart – the Children’s Heart Surgery Project, which is an initiative to aid the thousands of children with congenital heart disease who are on the waiting list at Lady Ridgeway Hospital. “I too was born with congenital heart disease, so I know it’s impact for our children,” she said.
She said that these children who require heart surgery must wait for their treatment, and the longer they wait, the closer they are to developing further complications which can lead to fatal consequences. The Rotary Club is currently involved in providing for 500 such children in need of treatment.
