Sonali Ranaweera, Founder of Recycling4Smiles
At age 14, Sonali Ranaweera has come quite far in raising money to fund cleft lip surgeries, in addition to providing dental care to over 1000 children in rural parts of Sri Lanka. Today, on Daily Mirror Life, she speaks to us about what made her start her project, and how far she’s come.
Could you tell us about how you first started Recycling4Smiles?
When I was 11 years old my parents gave me $100 for Christmas to make a difference in someone’s life. The only condition was that we couldn’t just put the money in a charity box and say we we’re done. This was something that we really had to think through and make the biggest impact possible. For a while I was wondering what I was going to do with the money. Later, I saw an online ad for a charity called Smile Train and saw a picture of a child who had a cleft lip. I learned about what a cleft lip was and how people who are born with this condition struggle a lot because they cannot talk, eat, drink, or even smile properly. I also found out how a cleft lip can be fixed with a surgery that costs $250 but the problem is that many people who have a cleft lip or palate cannot afford the surgery. Therefore, my initial goal was to raise $250 for one cleft lip surgery by my 12th birthday and donate it to Smile Train. However, I needed to raise $150 more. At the same time, I was learning about recycle, reduce and reuse in my 6th grade Earth Science class. In that class I found out about making money from recycling. That information led me creating my own charity called “Recycling4Smiles” for which I collect CRV (California Redemption Value) recyclables from friends, neighbors, school, businesses and family.
What inspired you to do what you did that Christmas?
Since I was little, my parents had always taught me the importance of giving and how there are many people in this world who are struggling and are in need. So it was definitely my parents who inspired me.
How did you collect funds for your initiative?
I collected recyclables from friends, family, neighbors, my school, temple, businesses and events. Then redeem them for money that gets donated to various causes around the world.
Describe the journey so far.
Since March 1st 2012, Recycling4Smiles has donated over US$49,000 to children in need by redeeming over 47,000 pounds of CRV recyclables. To date, we have donated for 52 cleft lip surgeries via SmileTrain, dental care of rural children in Sri Lanka, clothing for needy children, school supplies, disaster relieves, toy drives, backpack drives, school lunches through World Food Program, etc. Although in general, over 2,000 CRV bottles and cans are needed to redeem and donate $100, I find the process of making money from recycling and donating the money to someone else who really needs is a great thing. I prefer not to receive cash donations for my charity unless the money is from recycling because recycling saves energy and natural resources, and it also reduces landfills.
Congratulations on winning the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes! How did you feel when you found out you were included in the list of winners for 2015?
I felt really good receiving the award. However I did not think of it as an award just for me, I thought of it as an award for everyone who has helped me with my charity because they have helped me raise all the money. The $5000 prize money I received with this award was donated towards my cause to help more kids in need.
What lies in the future for Recycling4Smiles? Do you have any new projects or ventures that you plan on embarking upon?
I plan to keep making a difference and help as many kids as I can. Also, I hope to encourage others to make a difference so together we can all make this world a better place.
By Sarah Kellapatha
0 Comments