18.02.2026

Sri Lankan traditions of kindness in the Belarusian heart. An initiative that has become a tradition

We have learned about the volunteer group of the Faculty of International Students of Gomel State Medical University “Kind Hearts” from the Deputy Dean for ideological and educational work of the Faculty of International Students of Gomel State Medical University, Elena V. Rankovich. She spoke with admiration of her students, and of how once they came to her with an initiative: “Let's go to a children’s home, to the orphans. Or to an old people's home, to the elderly”. The initiative turned out to be not a one-time thing. The students were persistent in their volunteering intentions. They again and again found new addresses where they could go with gifts, help, attention and good mood.

D. G. Tharindu Dileep Kusum, head of the National Council of Sri Lankan Students, told about how Sri Lankan traditions of charity are being easily and joyfully carried on in Belarus.

— Hello, my name is D.G. Tharindu Dileep Kusum. We are all from Sri Lanka. It's a beautiful island surrounded by amazing seas. We chose Gomel State Medical University for obtaining higher education for many reasons. First, we learned from the graduates that this University is a very good place to study and showcase our knowledge and clinical practice. We also learned that the University administration and faculty were very attentive and kind to all students.

Besides, Belarus is a peaceful and very beautiful country.

Why did you want to volunteer at the university?

— We're very interested in volunteering. We enjoy the time we spend with children and the elderly. We like seeing smiles on their faces. This happiness gives us more energy for further volunteer work and for our studies. We are willing to help, and we enjoy doing it.

Have you volunteered in your home country? If yes, are there any differences between volunteering in Belarus and in Sri Lanka?

— Yes, of course. Sri Lanka has just as many children’s homes and old people's homes as Belarus. The difference is that in Sri Lanka, we visited all the places with our families. Here, we formed our own student volunteer group.

What volunteer activities have you and your fellow students been involved in?

— We have a Sri Lankan Student Association, which includes over 350 students of our University. We collect donations from students when they express interest, and then we forward the donations to children’s homes, old people's homes, and hospitals of the city of Gomel. I think together we've made up to 15-20 donation visits to different locations in Gomel. We participate in national events, such as “Our Children” and “Christmas magic”.

What did you like the most?

— We appreciate the University's support of these programs. We'd especially like to thank Elena V. Rankovich, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of International Students, for her kind guidance throughout the entire program.