SRI LANKA: Transforming young lives

When Cyclone Ditwa tore through hill country communities, homes were destroyed and vulnerable families displaced.

Our partnership with Child Action Lanka (CAL) meant they could respond immediately. Families like that of single mother Megala, who fled with her three children after landslides destroyed their home, now have new, safe rooms to live in. Young Keerthana and her grandparents received a rebuilt home — with a kitchen.

Partnering with CAL also means a better future for young people. In Jaffna, the new Youth Development Centre enrolled 15 youth on its first day, with 70 more ready to join, to gain certified, industry-relevant skills. In Galle, five young graduates finished a hospitality training programme and are ready for employment. While in Kilinochchi and Akkarayan, 25 youth received career guidance, resume coaching, and role-play interviews to prepare for their first jobs.

At the Gampola Special Needs Centre, the Friendly Cup Café — run entirely by young people with special needs — is building confidence, independence, and community connection. Young children are thriving too. This year, 94 preschoolers graduated across six CAL pre-schools, while a brand new pre-school in Uttupulam is giving 30 children in a rural community their first access to early learning.

When disaster struck again last November — floods and landslides affecting over 373,000 people, with communities in Gampola hit hard — teams were on the ground within hours, thanks to your ongoing support through Feed The Hungry.

Transformation happens because you continue to show up for Sri Lanka’s children. Thank you.