You are invited …

Be INSPIRED, INFORMED, and IGNITED (=discovering a bit more of what matters to YOU), during this conversation: The Seeds Storyteller Series with Manjula Dissanayake (and surprise guest, Nilmini Senanayake Hecox).

On October 28, we were ONLINE-LIVE and talking about why it matters so very much to Manjula Dissanayake to live life unstoppably committed to turning adversity into opportunity … for others. (If you missed it, not to worry, the video is below!)

The answer lies in his inspiring and powerful story.

The Seeds Storyteller Series is a FREE online experience that is curated and facilitated by me, Sarah Davison-Tracy – author, speaker, and founder of Seeds of Exchange, a community committed to making a difference locally and globally, together, through community, storytelling, and giving.

 

Why this matters to me …

Manjula is wise AND compassionate – a most-extraordinary combination! He is living a difference-making life and is passionate about igniting the same in you, in me … in us. It’s not everyday we get to sit with, learn from, and have a conversation with someone who is THIS INSPIRING and walking what he talks each day.

 

About our storyteller …

Manjula Dissanayake was born in Sri Lanka. He’s an investment banker turned social entrepreneur who is committed to democratizing quality learning opportunities for all regardless of their background or circumstances. (Wow, right? I told you he was AWEsome!) His heartbeat in life is to take adversity and turn it into opportunity … whether in his own life, in the ICU after a nearly life-ending car accident or in his work as founding executive director of Educate Lanka in the lives of the next generation of youth.

We’ll talk about what shifted his primary focus in life from earning lots of money and having a great job to dedicating his life to giving back and helping people … and how he’s doing that in some pretty jaw-dropping ways. You’ll learn a lot – I promise! And, you can decide if and how you want to join Manjula and make a life-changing and direct connection (and impact!) with someone who lives thousands of miles away, in the country of Sri Lanka.

We’ll talk about HIS passion that fueled me to create this month’s fundraiser: “Showering Love on Bombing Survivors with Love” in collaboration with the Educate Lanka Foundation, of which Manjula is the founding executive director.

Learn more and donate (We’re nearly halfway to our goal of $4,000!): GoFundMe | Facebook

On April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday, three churches and three hotels were targeted in a series of bombings in Sri Lanka. Nearly 300 people died, and lives were devastated by the destruction and trauma that followed. Now, nearly six months later, families and children are still struggling to put the pieces of their lives back together, with extremely limited access to necessary resources, support services, and infrastructure. This project is helping to rebuild lives by showering love to many who have lost what is most dear to them: family, friends, homes, and an everyday sense of security and hope. (Learn more at the above links.)

 

5 creative ways you can join us …

1 – CONNECT WITH, follow, and friend our team:

2 – COLLABORATE! …FORM A TEAM on GoFundMe and help us raise funds for a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, celebration) or just because you want to! (Private message Seeds of Exchange and we’ll set up your team right away!) … ASK FOR A DONATION to be made on behalf of your birthday or special event in celebration of YOU and your commitment to make a difference locally and globally. … GIVE TODAY.

3 – SHARE this post with 5 people you think would be inspired and want to learn more, donate, or connect with us.

4 – JOIN for the live Seeds Storyteller Series with our team – or catch the replays – for upcoming conversations to inspire, inform, and ignite. See the Seeds of Exchange event page for a list of upcoming dates and times or check out our replays on YouTube.

5 – VOLUNTEER! Educate Lanka provides a platform not just to donate, but to get involved in many ways. Volunteer your time or contribute your skills and strengths remotely to add value to their mission; visit Sri Lanka and spend a week or 6 months working with them, send your children or refer someone else who might be a fit to get a global cross-cultural experience working on the ground and understanding what working at the grassroots looks like.

 

Replay of my conversation with Manjula and Nilmini …

 

Watch the TEDx talk by Manjula Dissanayake …

@ TEDxGeorgeMasonU, “Talent is universal. Opportunity is not.”

 

The Seeds Storyteller Series connects you with EVERYday changemakers from around the world: activists, visionaries, artists, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, educators … (the list is long and the ways to make change are vast!). Whether you’re interested in being INFORMED about global happenings from amazing changemaking friends of mine, looking for some INSPIRATION in your life today, or eager to be IGNITED more in your unique ways to make a difference, join us for this conversation from anywhere in the world!

xo, -Sarah DT