The Nightingale of the slums

Celine Samarasinhe took to nursing profession to look after the helpless and needy. She was a full time Nursing Sister in England and obtained an overall training on nursing. Later she moved on to the community from hospital to render her service to many. Her mission finally reached a land mark with the winning of Asian Women's Achievement Award.

"I introduced a new outlook to the nursing profession," Samarasinhe says. "Normally nurses are hard working and neglect their outward appearance. But I believe nurses have to be smartly dressed and should not neglect their beauty. They should look refreshing and that motivates patients," she says.

Fusing nursing and community service, Samarasinhe established a foundation namely SHARE (Samarasinhe Healthcare Systems and Rehabilitation for the Elderly) to look after the elderly, terminally ill of the low income families.

Her first project was at Kotehena slums where different communities lead a life under difficult circumstances. Samarasinhe initiated a free of charge home nursing along with a qualified staff and the programme has been carried out for seven years, helping the vulnerables who are on medication but cannot afford expensive medical treatment. She also started a 'Meals on Wheels' to provide them food. Samarasinhe initiated a Public Health Teaching programme for the groups in community on preventing diseases. The World Health Organisation funded the venture.

Their mission did not end there. The tsunami disaster triggered a desperate need to join hands in helping the affected. Samarasinhe with her foundation arrived in Payagala, one of the worst affected areas by the tsunami to do the needful. Funds amounting to 23,000 Pounds were raised from England and their rehabilitation project helped 13 tsunami welfare camps.

Their main focus was to revive the lives of young women affetced by the tsunami. They provided them with sewing machines and counselling to overcome them from the mental truama. "Listening to their harrowing tales and sharing their grievences was the highest favour done to them," Samarasinhe says.

They also provided boats and fishing gear to the fishermen so they could go back to sea to rebuild their lives. They initiated a rehabilitation project in Tirukkovil, in the East too.

As a recognition of her contribution to the society, she was shortlisted for the six finalists for the Asian Women's Achievement Award sponsored by the Asian Woman Magazine in England. Finally Samarasinghe was selected to be the winner of the Social and Humanitarian Award to which only two Sri Lankan women were entitled so far.

Samarasinhe was also awarded the Unsung Hero's Award for her service to society by the Celebrity Guild of Great Britain. She is the first Sri Lankan to win that prestigious award surpassing five British. "Recognition is important as it helps me to carry on my community projects in full vigour," Samarasinhe says.

Upbeat Your LIFE With Feng Shui

The following Feng Shui principles will enhance, energise and change your life. If you're ready and willing, Feng Shui will toss you right into your dreams and desires.

Positive thoughts

When you Feng Shui your home or work place, you're telling the Universe (or God, Buddha, Allah or whatever greater power you feel connected to) exactly what you want in your life. You are making a very powerful statement, indeed.

Prepare yourself: Whenever we say the words "I am," we are making a statement about who we are at that precise moment.

When you make statements such as "I am broke" or "I am tired" or "I am sick and tired," you are - in effect - telling the universe about your current condition. When you say you're sick and tired, guess what? You'll literally become sick and tired!

You've heard statements like "what you think about, you bring about," and "what you do comes back to you." These statements are true.

We say these words and we understand them, although most of us don't actually practice the concepts. A large part of the success of Feng Shui comes from your intention and your consistent attention. Positive energy does, in fact, attract positive energy.

Instead of being negative, say affirmations such as, "I am blessed" or "I am healthy" or "I am wealthy" or "I am happily married" or simply, "I am happy."

These kinds of statements empower you to be something other than who you are at the moment. The power of intention and the power of faith can motivate you to your greatest potential.

If you're ready to let go of your old negative beliefs, Feng Shui will create a method for that to happen. It will provide a way to overcome the blockage that's keeping more positive things from happening.

Don't allow yourself to spend any time thinking about what you don't want to happen. Remember: Positive energy is attracted to positive energy.

For example, if you dwell on heartache and poverty, you'll experience heartache and poverty. Spend your time being grateful, and in no time, money, gifts and treasures of all kinds will come from the most unexpected places.

Fengshui Basics