A visit that brought them great joy

Brian Kerkoven is a well-known personality, especially when it comes to fashion and modelling…but, I wonder, how many are aware that Brian is an animal lover, as well!In addition to grooming aspiring models, and making them stars, on the catwalk, Brian also provides shelter to several strays; rehoming, feeding, treating sick animals, etc.

On Sunday, August 28th, Brian was in for a big surprise!

Being their final day, at Brian’s Academy (for modelling), a group of student’s decided to visit the Animal Welfare & Protection Association (AWPA), situated at Dehiwela – a charitable organisation, dedicated to taking care of stray, abandoned and abused dogs, and cats.

Says Kalani, who checked out the scene with the group: “This amazing organisation, though extremely underrated, has done much to better the lives of our wonderful, furry friends, and has plans to do so much more.”

This project was actually initiated by his Academy’s most recent batch, as a surprise to him, on their last day.

“We wanted it to be a memorable day, and recognising his secret service, and love for animals, we realised that this would be a brilliant way to end our time at the Academy, while also doing something of help, and service, to a genuine cause.”

The AWPA is a registered non-profit organisation, formed by a small group of animal lovers, with the lofty goal of finding a solution to the problems faced by the growing population of strays, and also disabled animals, in Sri Lanka.As a non-profit, volunteer organisation, they are in need of funds, right now, due to the skyrocketing cost of everything, and expenses are very high on their side.

The AWPA says they are always open to donations, also volunteers helping out. This amazing organisation carries out a variety of services to meet its goals, including sterilisation programmes, treatment of injured, or sick disabled animals, sheltering of strays and, finally, rehoming as many animals as possible.

The Brian Kerkoven Academy group says their visit to the AWPA brought them great joy.

“We spent that joyous Sunday with the lovable critters at the AWPA shelter, in Dehiwela, feeding them, playing with them, and having fun. The animals had a wonderful time, as well, as they are apt to do when spending time with loving and caring humans.

“So, if you desire to help AWPA with their noble and selfless deed, you can donate to them directly, or consider adopting an animal so they can be provided boundless love, and their forever home.

Below are the bank details for AWPA for all those who wish to donate:

Bank of Ceylon Kollupitiya Branch (034)

Account Name: The Animals’ Welfare & Protection Association

Account No: 0001629496

And for those willing to help rehome and take care of these precious animals as part of their family, please contact:

Shiona: 0773450031, or Iromi: 0776565181

According to the visitors, both AWPA shelters are now operating at maximum capacity and find it extremely difficult to take in new strays, or unwanted pets.

I guess this project might have just been a simple act of gratitude by Brian Kerkoven’s students for all the knowledge he has imparted to them, during their training, but it also indicates how Brian has lit up the candle of helping the helpless and proved that the Brian Kerkoven Agency & the Academy isn’t just a institute producing runway models, living in a materialistic world, but very much one which produces well refined youth who are ready and willing to bring change to the world with a good cause. And, they have readily taken this to heart, practicing the ethos of Mahatma Gandhi who said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”