On October 17, 2025, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the Rotaract Club of IIT in Colombo joined hands with the Rotaract Club of St. Ann's College for Women in Hyderabad, India, to bring a little warmth and relief into homes that needed it most.

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In the middle of Sri Lanka's continuing economic challenges, so many families carry quiet, heavy loads: making sure there's food every day, keeping schoolbooks and uniforms going, managing basic hygiene, and for those raising children with disabilities, covering the extra medical care and support that adds up so quickly. When the monsoons arrive, daily earnings for many in the informal sector simply vanish, turning already difficult months into moments of real desperation.

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What began as heartfelt conversations between our two clubs turned into something tangible and beautifully timed: care packages delivered on the same day in Colombo and Hyderabad. In only four focused days, from October 13 to 17, we collected donations from club members, friends across the IIT community, and generous networks. Keells supermarket stepped in with all the packaging materials at no cost, so every rupee could reach the families directly.

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Four families in Colombo, eleven people in all, were selected with great care through trusted partners: a Sunday school and a school dedicated to supporting children with Down syndrome. Each home received a thoughtfully prepared box worth about LKR 10,000, packed with roughly one month's worth of essentials:

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• Rice, dhal, grains, canned fish, soya meat, sugar, salt, biscuits, tea, milk powder, coffee.
• Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary napkins.
• Books, pens, drawing paper, crayons.
• Band-aids and Panadol for everyday health needs.

These weren't simply supplies. They were breathing space: space to cover rent without cutting back on meals, space for daughters to stay in school without worry, space to hold onto dignity on the hardest days.

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On the day of distribution, our small team, Rtr. Ishara Perera, Rtr. Disath Liyanage, Rtr. Karthiganesan, Rtr. Dulhara Hulawa, together with wonderful volunteers Shanelka Dissanayake, Kavindu Pabasara, and Sashindhi, packed everything with care and delivered each box personally by tuk-tuk. We planned routes close to home to keep things simple and gentle. More than just handing over packages, we sat with each family, walked them through what was inside, listened to their stories, and let them know: you are seen, and this community holds you in its heart.

One mother told us the package arrived exactly when heavy rains had washed away her small income for the week. Another smiled as her child tore open the drawing supplies and began creating right away, eyes full of sudden brightness. The sanitary items meant girls could attend school with confidence and comfort. Those quiet, real moments reminded us exactly why this matters.

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Together with our friends in Hyderabad, we showed that young people across countries can stand together against poverty. The effort touched several Sustainable Development Goals, not by fixing everything, but by easing genuine pain in the present: helping reduce hunger, supporting health and learning, advancing gender equality, and strengthening partnerships that truly count.

Looking back, four days was swift and full of heart, but we see ways to make it even better next time: starting a little earlier, reaching more families, building deeper friendships with corporate partners, checking in after a few weeks to see how things are unfolding, and shaping the packages even more closely to each household's unique story.

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Above all, Smiles Inside has become an annual promise. Every October 17, we will come back, learning more, growing stronger, and continuing to show up.

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Because sometimes the most powerful gift is simply making sure no one feels invisible. A box filled with rice, a gentle conversation, and the reminder that someone thought of you can carry a family much farther than we often realize. When young hearts choose to act together, even the smallest steps send out ripples of real, lasting hope.

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In the words we heard that day: “This came at the right time… thank you for thinking of us.”

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That is the heart of it all. Thank you to everyone who gave, who packed, who delivered, and who believed. Here is to more smiles, inside and out, in the years to come.