What we do
Our focus is supporting underprivileged Tamil-speaking communities in Sri Lanka’s North, East, and upcountry regions, where poverty is widespread and access to healthcare and education is limited.
Our goal is to support various groups within these communities, including youth, the elderly, and those with disabilities.
Key objectives at Maanudam include poverty relief, healthcare and education improvement, community development, preservation of art and culture, and environmental conservation.
For more information about the work we do, please visit our projects page.
Who we are
The Maanudam team consists of a family of Tamil diaspora based in the UK. Some of the team members were born in Sri Lanka, while others are first-generation British Tamils who feel a strong connection to their homeland community and would like to make their own contributions.
Our values
The name ‘Maanudam’, derived from Tamil, means ‘Humanity’. We chose this name to reflect our belief in the innate kindness and resilience of people. These are principles we hope to embody and guide our work.
Our goal is to make a positive difference in the right manner and to persevere without giving up. However, we want to remain flexible and forward-thinking in our approaches, always looking to evolve our methods and projects along the way.
Above all, we are committed to meaningfully impact lives, with integrity and transparency.
Directors
Dr. Kanagalingam Sugumar (Sugu) has had a deep passion for Tamil language, culture, literature and helping others right from childhood. This was further shaped during his time in Jaffna, a city in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, in the early seventies. After living in Colombo for a few years, he returned to Jaffna where he joined the newly formed medical school in 1978 and graduated in 1983. He practiced as a doctor in Jaffna until 1989. During this period (1978 to 1989), he was involved in Tamil writing and worked with different NGOs in the region. He was one of the founding members of Shanthiham (சாந்திகம்) (Association for health and counselling) and is part of the Governing Board of Noolaham Foundation, which is an online digital library for the archiving of Sri Lankan related documents.
Mr. Mohanakumar Kanagalingam (Mohan) was qualified as a social worker in Norway and previously worked for Children and Family Services in Norway and the UK. He is passionate about working for NGOs and he has many years of experience working for various NGOs in Norway. His special interests include social issues, culture, heritage and environmental conservation.
Dr. Bhairavi Sugumar (Bhairavi) is passionate about advocating for those with hidden disabilities, focusing on empowering the disabled community by making the world a more accessible place. Bhairavi enjoys both the sciences and the arts. She is a doctor by profession but is also an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer. Growing up as a first-generation British Tamil has meant that maintaining Tamil culture and heritage has always been of the utmost importance to her.
Mr. Pranavan Sugumar (Pranavan) has always been motivated by a desire to help others. As a first-generation British Tamil, he is keen to provide support to people back home, and also preserve his connection to his ancestral homeland. Pranavan holds an academic background in the sciences, having received an MSc Pharmaceutics from University College London, and currently works in this sector. His passions lie with the arts, reading books and playing the piano since childhood. He hopes to use his creative skills to deliver innovative projects at Maanudam.
Thanking our supporters
We would like to share our gratitude to the following people who played their part in helping us get to where we are:
- Mrs. Vasuki Nadesan, daughter of Sokkan (writer): Helped us to come up with the Maanudam name
- Mr. Aran Kalogroulis: Designer and cherished friend of the Sugumar family who created the Maanudam logo
- Mr. K Krishnarajah (Rajah): Artist and friend who helped design the tamil lettering for the Maanudam name
- Mrs. Trisha Selvaratnam from Serendip Children’s Home: For sharing practical advice about charities and their functionality
- Mr. Khogulan Natgunam: Whose cancer project inspired us to get involved and collaborate on our very first project at Maanudam
- Prof N Sreeharan and Mr. TRS Mithiran from Manitha Neyam Trust: Who took over all upcountry cancer patients that were supported by us
- Dr. Yen Lam: Dr. Sugumar’s colleague who facilitated the very first donation from the Association of Primary care surgeons (Visit us)
- Mr. Ronnie Croos and Mr. Kannan Periyasamy (LegendsInfoTech): Developers of the Maanudam website who shared invaluable input and support during the process. We look forward to continuing to work alongside them.
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