When Sri Lanka’s most loved brand, ODEL, revealed it had a soft spot, it took some people by surprise and made the most indifferent of people curious. The soft spot was Embark, launched in 2007 as Otara’s personal Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, it is her second brainchild and one she has been generous enough to share with others. With a hard determination to prevent animal cruelty and to effectively stop the abuse of strays, it was almost instantaneously that the Embark Volunteer Circle was established in order to help Embark fulfill its mission and work towards rescuing, re-homing and sterilizing animals, as well as educating people on animal rights and protection.

The Embark Volunteer Circle (EVC) comprises of individuals from all walks of life and of all ages. Unlike some animal protection organizations where there are restrictions, Embark is one for all and there are plenty of activities to participate in and ample opportunities for even the youngest of volunteers to make a difference. The EVC are fortunate enough to work close with Otara and share her vision, passion, and love for animals. They are a tight knit circle of individuals who have common ground in that animals are why they are a part of Embark, and this is the sole reason why the EVC is successful in being able to maintain an organized atmosphere and work together on even the most challenging of endeavors. There are of course standards that volunteers are expected to uphold. However it seems that upon joining, new initiates automatically embrace them without needing to be told.

Embark has the gift of bringing together its volunteers and despite having the usual hierarchy to manage each and every person involved, the EVC is undoubtedly more of a ‘family unit’ than that of a ‘group of volunteers’. It is this intimate atmosphere that best ensures that Embark is able to strive towards a safer, respectful and loving environment for the animal population.

We believe in what we do for our cause.