Empowering Communities with Life-Saving Skills: The Disque Foundation’s Partnership with Nawaloka Institute

At the heart of the Disque Foundation lies a simple yet profound mission: to empower individuals worldwide to save lives through access to advanced healthcare education. The foundation’s Save a Life Initiative (SALI) exemplifies this mission by providing free, high-quality online life-support training including CPR, AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), ACLS, PALS, and BBP, to underserved communities worldwide. 

The goal is ambitious: to empower 10 million individuals with life-saving skills by 2025. Through its Save a Life Initiative Partner program, the Disque Foundation collaborates with healthcare organizations, hospitals, and community groups worldwide, expanding its reach and amplifying its impact.

One of the standout partners in this journey is Nawaloka Institute, a leader in Sri Lanka’s private healthcare sector. The Disque Foundation and Nawaloka Institute are transforming lives by equipping individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills to act in critical moments. This collaboration reflects the Disque Foundation’s mission and showcases the real-world impact of partnerships that prioritize education, empowerment, and health equity.

Nawaloka Institute: A Vision for Quality Healthcare and Community Empowerment Group photo of participants after completing a life-saving skills training program with CPR mannequins.

Founded in 1985, Nawaloka Institute has been a pioneer in Sri Lanka’s private healthcare sector. The Institute’s core mission is to provide quality and safe healthcare while maintaining leadership and excellence in medical care for the Sri Lankan community. Over the years, Nawaloka has expanded beyond the hospital setting, extending its influence into healthcare education through the Nawaloka Institute of Healthcare, which trains individuals in emergency life-saving techniques, such as Basic Life Support (BLS).

Nawaloka’s commitment to improving public health and its pioneering role in training caregivers and laypersons align seamlessly with the Disque Foundation’s mission. Through its partnership with the Save a Life Initiative, Nawaloka has further expanded its BLS training programs, ensuring that more Sri Lankans have access to critical life-saving knowledge.

Key Projects: Bringing Life-Saving Skills to Communities

Nawaloka’s current initiatives reflect its deep commitment to community health and empowerment. Three notable projects stand out as examples of how Nawaloka, in partnership with the Disque Foundation, is changing lives:

1. School-Based BLS Education:

This project aims to incorporate BLS training into school curriculums for students of all ages. By fostering a culture of preparedness among the younger generations, Nawaloka hopes to empower students with life-saving skills, creating a generation ready to act in emergencies. The long-term goal is to improve community responses to emergencies, potentially saving thousands of lives in the future.

2. Public Awareness Campaigns:

Nawaloka has also initiated public awareness campaigns to promote the importance of learning CPR and using AEDs. These campaigns encourage more people to enroll in life-saving courses and foster proactive communities that understand the value of emergency preparedness.

3. Healthcare Provider BLS Certification:

Within healthcare settings, Nawaloka ensures that healthcare professionals maintain current BLS certifications. Standardizing BLS practices across healthcare facilities ensures that patients receive consistent, high-quality care during emergencies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Success Stories: Real-World Impact of Training Manager presenting a Basic First Aid Awareness Program, introducing life-saving skills to participants.

The true value of Nawaloka’s training programs can be seen in the real-life stories of individuals whose lives have been transformed by their new skills. One such story is that of Harshani, a Nawaloka employee who had recently completed a CPR training program. While commuting on a train, she encountered a fellow passenger who collapsed. Thanks to her CPR training, Harshani could administer chest compressions, saving the person’s life until emergency services arrived.

Another inspiring story involves a Dental Surgery Nurse Assistant who saved her mother from sudden cardiac arrest. Recognizing the signs of cardiac distress, she performed high-quality chest compressions until an ambulance arrived, ultimately saving her mother’s life. These stories exemplify the profound impact that BLS training can have on healthcare professionals and everyday individuals who are now equipped to save lives.

Enhancing Reach and Impact Through the Disque Foundation Partnership

The partnership between Nawaloka Institute and the Disque Foundation has significantly enhanced the reach and effectiveness of Nawaloka’s life-saving training programs. By joining forces with the Disque Foundation, Nawaloka has gained access to expanded resources and digital platforms, allowing the hospital to train more people than ever before.

The partnership has also brought Nawaloka’s programs to a global audience, extending its reach beyond Sri Lanka and into underserved regions where life-saving knowledge is critically needed. With the Disque Foundation’s expertise and resources, Nawaloka has been able to amplify its public awareness campaigns and engage communities in new ways, from volunteer programs to innovative digital learning solutions.

One of the most impactful outcomes of this collaboration has been the ability to integrate digital learning platforms into Nawaloka’s training offerings. This has made it easier for individuals across Sri Lanka—and indeed, worldwide—to access high-quality BLS training from the comfort of their homes, furthering the Disque Foundation’s mission of making life-saving knowledge accessible to all.

Overcoming Challenges: Perseverance in the Face of ObstaclesGroup photo of participants after completing a life-saving skill training session with CPR mannequins.

Despite its successes, Nawaloka Institute has faced several challenges in its quest to train individuals in life-saving skills. One major challenge has been keeping participants motivated and engaged throughout the training. To address this, Nawaloka has incorporated hands-on practice and interactive scenarios to make the training more engaging and realistic.

Another significant challenge has been overcoming participants’ initial reluctance. Many of them feel anxious about performing CPR or other life-saving techniques. By sharing real-life success stories from their trainees, Nawaloka has reassured participants that their new skills could make a life-or-death difference.

Nawaloka has also faced budget constraints, which have limited the purchase of new equipment and the expansion of its programs. The institute has creatively overcome this obstacle by applying for grants and organizing fundraising events to secure additional training materials and program expansion funding.

Join the Mission to Save Lives: Become a Save a Life Initiative Partner

The partnership between Nawaloka Institute and the Disque Foundation has shown the incredible impact that collaboration can have on communities. Together, we’ve empowered individuals to save lives, expanded access to life-saving education, and enhanced community preparedness across the globe. But this journey is far from over, and we need your help to reach even more people.

Becoming a Save a Life Initiative Partner allows you to join a growing network of organizations and individuals committed to saving lives through healthcare education. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, community group, or someone passionate about making a difference, partnering with us can expand your impact and bring life-saving skills to those who need them most.

Become a SALI partner in our mission to save more lives. Together, we can continue empowering people worldwide with the knowledge and skills they need to save lives. Let’s work together to empower 10 million people by 2025—one life at a time.