Coderra Turns Two: A Day of Giving Back in Sri Lanka

Coderra recently turned two. Rather than mark it with another dinner or milestone post, we spent a day with around 50 children at a children's home in Sri Lanka.

The timing was personal too. Dr Koliya, our co-founder and CTO, had just turned 33 and was back in Sri Lanka, and wanted to celebrate both milestones in a way that meant a little more.

As Koliya put it, the best thing we did for our second year had nothing to do with AI.

What we did on the day

We organised lunch, sports equipment, everyday necessities and gifts for around 50 children at Vajira Sri Children's Development Centre, in Kotte, Sri Lanka. Then, instead of dropping things off and leaving, we stayed and spent the day with them.

Our team helped prepare and serve the meal, handed out the gifts and supplies, and got out on the field with the kids for games of cricket, and football.

It wasn't a big production. It was simple, hands-on, and a lot of fun for everyone involved.

Two countries, one team

This was a genuine team effort across Australia and Sri Lanka. Several members of our Australian team joined the day in person, working alongside our Sri Lankan colleagues.

People back in Australia who couldn't be there contributed too, helping cover the meals, equipment and supplies. That mix is what made the day feel like Coderra: one team, whichever country we sit in.

Why it matters to Coderra

We build technology, but Coderra is a people business first. Two years in and growing, we know culture is easiest to shape early, and hardest to fix later.

Days like this are part of how we shape it. They're a reminder that success isn't only measured in clients won and projects shipped. It's also about showing up for the communities we're part of.

Sri Lanka is a big part of who we are. Many of our people live and work there, so giving back here isn't charity from a distance. It's supporting a place our team calls home.

Why it matters to the community

Like many children's homes, Vajira Sri Children's Development Centre relies on community support for everyday needs. Practical help such as food, sports gear and essentials goes straight to what the home uses day to day.

But the time mattered just as much as the gifts. Sharing a meal and a game together gives children attention, fun, and a reminder that people outside the home care about them.

We're not pretending one day changes everything. But small, genuine acts of support add up, especially when businesses keep showing up.

Thank you

A huge thank you to everyone at Coderra who gave their time, money and energy, whether on the ground in Sri Lanka or from back home in Australia. And thank you to the staff and children at Vajira Sri Children's Development Centre for welcoming us so warmly.

We hope this is the first of many. If you run a business and are thinking about doing something similar, our advice is simple: start small, show up, and spend the time.