20/05/2026
Fundraising Seminar Organised in Amsterdam by the Sampath Foundation
Three weeks ago, the Sampath Foundation in the Netherlands, led by its founder Egbert Hendriks, hosted a one-day seminar at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam to identify potential future donors and update current donors with presentations on the ongoing activities of Arthacharya and Arthavida in Sri Lanka.
Following an introduction to the meeting's purpose by Egbert Hendriks, Professor Sara Kinsbergen of Radboud University in the Netherlands set the tone for the seminar with a presentation on the evolution of development cooperation policy and action between the Netherlands and third-world countries over the past few decades.
Egbert further elaborated on the partnership being developed between Arthavida's microfinance programme and Arthacharya's community college programme, and on the relevance of interdependence between the two programmes, given the need to achieve sustainability.
Ton Goedmakers, the Chairman of Vebego, and Rob Westerlaken, the head of the Vebego Foundation, also spoke, while Sathis de Mel further updated the gathering on the challenges the two organisations have encountered and how they are being handled. The presentations were followed by a panel discussion.
Foteini Katzilaki, the Global Fundraiser of Oikocredit, also spoke about its microfinance interventions.
At Egbert's request, Sulakshana de Mel explained the sweets that Sathis had brought from Sri Lanka for the participants.
Each participant was given a bag handmade by one of our trainee beneficiaries at Balapitiya Community College.
While we greatly appreciate the participation of all our present and potential donors, special thanks go to Egbert, Pierre, Kim, Frank, and Peter of the Sampath Foundation for their commitment and contributions that made this event a big success.
