Hello again!
We are back with the second installment of our educator reflection series leading up to the 6th. Today, we are thrilled to feature Isuru. As many of you know, Isuru is a true people’s person, and his ability to connect with students made a huge difference this year. Here are his thoughts on the journey we’ve just wrapped up.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Over the past three years at Avinya Academy in Bandaragama, I have had the privilege of teaching hundreds of students. Each one brought a new story and a reminder of why this work matters. Every batch made us rethink how best to support our young people. We reshaped our program, adjusted our spaces, and kept exploring better ways to respond to their needs. As someone who has been part of the foundation from the beginning, I feel proud of my contribution. I suggested the name Empower for our program and helped bring donors, facilitators, and community awareness to strengthen our mission. We, as educators with a purpose, also carried out community projects to take the Avinya spirit beyond our campus.
This year brought its own meaningful experiences. I usually take the Eagles class, but this year I had the privilege of serving as the homeroom teacher for two classes. I worked with the Eagles during the September batch and later took over the Sharks after Geeth for the January batch. Learning how to teach math from my wonderful colleagues, teaching City & Guilds as a Tutor, and then functioning as an Assessor was both challenging and rewarding. The English Immersion approach at Avinya proved especially powerful, giving our students the confidence to communicate in English, a language many of them had feared earlier. We also coordinated visits from special guests from well-known Sri Lankan corporates to inspire our learners. Every day continued to teach me something new about people, patience, and purpose.
Avinya has always opened its arms to those who need a second chance. Our students came from many different backgrounds, each carrying unique stories and hopes. Watching them complete the program with strength, confidence, and new skills has brought me more joy than words can express. What else could an educator wish for?
My time at Avinya has shaped me in countless ways, and I remain deeply grateful for every moment spent with my team and my students.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Thank you, Isuru! It was truly special to hand over the Sharks class to someone who cares so deeply about our students’ success. Your passion for people really does shine through in everything you do.
Now, eagle-eyed readers might have noticed that Isuru didn’t spill the beans on the ‘sundown mystery’ that Vihan teased yesterday! The secret is safe for another day. Keep an eye on this space as we continue our countdown to the 6th!
– Geeth