“For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.”
[Mt. 25:35-36]
“In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”
[Mt. 25: 41]
Trinity College, inspired by her 150 year-long Christian ethos embarks on another benevolent project, The Social Services Week, practiced from 15th – 19th May, 2023. This project titled, “I am, because we are: rediscovering our connectedness”, aptly resonates the aforementioned biblical dictum. where the Trinity community will reflect and act to “rediscover our connectedness” with those in need.
In keeping with the core values of Trinity and the 3rd pillar of its T150 Sesquicentennial Anniversary Celebration – “Serving Humanity”, this social service week has been designed. It is a time the Trinity community comes together as a connected community to make a positive impact on the world around them as they believe that every person has the power to make a positive impact to the society, and through the individual and collective efforts, a meaningful change can be affected to mitigate the many challenges, from poverty and homelessness, hunger and sickness, environmental degradation and social inequality to decaying moral values that threaten the mere existence of humanity.
But we also believe that there is hope for a better future. As mother Theresa said, “We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drops were not there, the ocean would be missing something.” By working together, we can take small steps towards a more just and equitable society and resonate the message of collective resilience and hope.
During this Social Services Week, the Trinity community will be focusing on social concerns that affect our community and beyond. Through awareness-raising, community service, and advocacy, we hope to promote empathy, compassion, and social responsibility among the students. The Social Service Week, under the aegis of the Social Service Union [SSU] of Trinity College intends to promote empathy with those who face many socio-economic challenges in Sri Lanka. We encourage our students to pursue avenues to alleviate, even in a small way, the sufferings and disenchantment of those who are less privileged. In all the activities undertaken during this week, we incarnate the biblical mandate “love thy neighbour” and constantly remind ourselves that we are “our brothers’ [and sisters’] keeper”.
We invite all members of the Trinity community to join hands with the Social Service Union of Trinity College and to get involved in our Social Service Week. Whether it’s volunteering at a local non-profit organization, a Shramadhana campaign at a hospital, attending a workshop or speaker event, or simply learning more about social issues, every action counts.
Thank you for joining us in this important work. The world is changed by our actions; not by our opinions. Let’s act together, to make a difference.
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Mother Teresa
