Oxford Walk raises $13,000 for rural communities in Sri Lanka

After a week of typical British rain, on Sunday 2 November 2025 the clouds parted, and a glorious Autumnal sun rose splicing together the blue skies over the historical and beautiful city of Oxford, England.

- By NILMINI ROELENS AND RASHMI RAVEENDRAN

Some of the participants

University of Oxford Sri Lanka Society students Leo, Ethan, Pradeep, Niorla, Taya, and others clad in distinctive neon yellow vests bearing the Solar Village SDG emblem on their backs, gathered outside the prestigious Said Business School of the Oxford University, to greet an avid group of fundraising walkers.

Solar Village SDG, a community interest company, based in Oxfordshire UK, had organised a sponsored walk taking sizeable groups of fundraisers on an 8 km walkabout through this gorgeous city’s most famous touch points, taking in the Radcliffe Square, the Bridge of Sighs, Bodleian Libraries, Museums and numerous other historic landmarks. Oxford University’s student marshals guided the walkers through their colleges and provided fascinating facts about this international city, its world-renowned history and alumni as well as the unique aspects of Oxford University life.

The organiser, Solar Village SDG, is dedicated to promoting sustainable development, poverty reduction, and climate action in Sri Lanka. The total funds raised in the region of £10,000 including the funds raised on the day, will go towards funding two solar villages and IT classrooms in rural sites in Anuradhapura and Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, to provide solar power solutions and sustainable development. The funding page will remain open through to the end of November: https://solarvillagesdg.enthuse.com/cf/oxford-city-walkabout-2025 . Solar Village SDG anticipates the full fundraising targets to be met over the course of the coming year.

In Anuradhapura, they will support a primary school. By installing a solar panel roof at the school, a Village Development Committee will ensure much needed work is carried out. They also hope to install a smart room to support education through IT once further funds are realised.