Symbiosis means the where two entities live in close association with mutually nourishing each other. The culmination of the sincere passion for humanitarian work by a mother (Uni) and a daughter (Sara) , who find strength and inspiration in each other, The UNISARA Foundation carries forth the spirit of commitment to spread humanitarianism.
The greatest humanist whose teachings transcend all nationalities and cultures is Lord Buddha. It is his teachings that have guided Uni and Sara in developing their outlooks as humanitarians. The inspiration that comes from the true teachings in Buddhism are unlike any other and have been the source of the spiritual strength that has made this mother-daughter duo to carry forward their belief of humanitarianism must be spread as far and wide as possible in society.
Starting from personal interest to help persons in need of assistance and animals in need of human caring, the seeds of the foundation were sown by the mother-daughter duo who became active in spreading their message to friends, neighbours and relatives of developing ways and means to provide carry out humanitarian work on a small scale personal level. Gradually the activities became regular practices and became firmly entrenched as part of their lives and who they are. Founded by Uni Samanthika Pathirage and her daughter Sara, the projects of The UNISARA Foundation are based on strict Buddhist principles of humanitarian work.
Many high profile personalities in society today are too busy wrapped up in their own self interests that they lose sight of how their status can contribute towards inspiring others to take up humanitarian causes.
Politicians are eternally embroiled in their power struggles and keep giving an unhealthy message to the younger generations. Local celebrities are too engrossed in uplifting their self image of glamour and promoting products and personal events. Popular business personalities are too busy promoting their business interests. Religious leaders too find themselves not optimally positioned to carry forth the message of the need for more humanitarian service due to various pressure factors they are faced with socio-politically. However there are some from every one of the above categories who do successful humanitarian work, but sadly they are only a handful, and society needs to be galvanised with many more inspiring examples.
It is up to private citizens to organise themselves to serve the cause of humanitarianism. Therefore the initiatives of the UNISARA Foundation believe in recognising the efforts of private citizens who carry out commendable humanitarian work which the media doesn’t highlight. The UNISARA Foundation believes in becoming a platform to applaud, appreciate and promote sincere activists who have committed themselves to do humanitarian work.
The tendency now in today’s world where glamour and false values are held in high esteem is not to celebrate and encourage people committed to humanitarian work. That must change. A new message must be sent to the younger generation. Those who do genuine humanitarian work must become opinion makers in society that will be the turning point to make society think in a humanitarian direction. We as society must take the steps in whatever way possible to realise a society committed to humanitarian ideals.
Vision
To uplift fading humanitarian feelings among the young generations in order to make positive change, promoting efforts of other organisations and individuals whose welfare activities have similar goals to that of UNISARA’s areas of welfare activity and Changing the ways of thinking people in Sri Lanka with regard to welfare work that addresses humanitarian needs.
Mission
To change the belief that humanitarian work must be done discreetly, and give it due recognition so that it becomes a ‘productively contagious’ in society.