Welcome to the fourth interview of our miniseries with the Little Leaders’ team! This interview highlights one of our newest volunteers: Ashwini Karunathilaka, who is a content creator and helps us with our online visibility! 

LLF: What keeps you busy in daily life? 

Ashwini: I keep myself occupied through the work that I do with Voices Beyond Assault, a non-profit based in LA. In addition to that, I love to read books, whether it is fiction/non-fiction or self-help books, I could go on for hours if uninterrupted.

LLF: You have already done a lot of volunteering! Could you tell us more about your experiences in volunteering?

Ashwini: I had the privilege of volunteering in a daycare home for kids and adults who have been diagnosed with autism and down syndrome during my first year of university. We had to come up with innovative ways of teaching to keep them active in their daily life. It was tedious work and I found a new profound respect for individuals who take the time to make the lives of all these kids and adults a better one, cause they truly deserve it. One individual that stood out the most to me was a man in his early 30s who started showing symptoms of down syndrome at a much later age and started deteriorating fast. Getting to know him and his life before this development, when he was studying to become an aeronautical engineer, moved me. During my hours of volunteering we would teach them basic maths and not once did he miss out on a math lesson as it was still his favourite subject. He continued to do his best despite the many obstacles. 

LLF: How did you learn about Little Leaders Foundation?

Ashwini: A colleague of mine sent the Little Leaders Foundation Instagram page and encouraged me to apply and I did. It is truly amazing how impactful social media is and how it can connect individuals from opposite sides of the world for a joint cause.  

LLF: What do you bring to our organization? 

Ashwini: My biggest strength would be that I was born and raised in Sri Lanka therefore, I can bring a new perspective to the table.

LLF: Where did you grow up and how has that impacted your life?

Ashwini: I grew up in Sri Lanka and it has been both a blessing and a curse (at times). Growing up in a country that is not yet developed, I became aware of the hardships many people have to face and it teaches you to be grateful for the life you are given.

LLF: What was your school experience like?

Ashwini: I would say I had a love-hate relationship with school (like most of us at a very young age) but overall, I learned a lot and I owe a lot to my school for establishing a strong foundation from a young age onwards.

LLF: What would you like to see further developed within education?

Ashwini: I would love for education to be globally accessible to all children, this includes children in rural and low-income areas. If we have any hopes of changing the world for the better, it starts with making sure that the future generations are highly knowledgeable and well equipped to take on the problems, and that starts with the right education. A long-term goal would be to completely eradicate the thought of receiving an education as a privilege instead of a basic necessity. 

LLF: What do you think education should contribute to human life?

Ashwini: The biggest contribution education can have to human life is the empowerment of individuals. .

LLF: What is your motivation for volunteering for LLF specifically?

Ashwini: I believe that a child’s early years are the most important and providing a strong foundation is vital in shaping well-informed, respectable individuals of this society. My personal belief aligns with LLF’s mission as it is to provide children in low-wage countries with the support needed to enhance their education further. 

LLF: What would you like to gain personally with your work at LLF?

Ashwini: I would love to come out of this experience with a vast knowledge of the inequalities faced by many children around me and hopefully I would have helped change at least one person’s life. 

LLF: Did you used to feel like a "Little Leader" when you were younger?

Ashwini: I must say, I most certainly did! 

LLF: Who is your greatest inspiration, and why?.

Ashwini: Throughout my life, I have not looked at celebrities as inspiration, but the two people that I look up to the most would be my parents.

My father worked his way up from nothing and his dedication to succeed, despite the many obstacles he has faced since childhood, is something I have always viewed as his biggest strength and one of the few things I admire the most about him.

My altruistic personality comes from my mother, as she is someone who loves to give back and asks for nothing in return. Growing up, I have seen how nurturing and loving she is to not just her family but to everyone around her and I hope one day to be just like them (if I’m lucky). 

LLF: What would you like to say to the Little Leaders participating in the Sponsor A Child project?

Ashwini: Just like everyone else around the world, you too deserve the right to have an education and reach your highest potential. No dream is ever too big and do not let anyone tell you otherwise. We at LLF, could not be prouder of our little leaders!