Most ex-pats live a very privileged life in Sri Lanka, so I’m always grateful to those of my colleagues who make it easy for us to help some of the people who live so close, but are so much less fortunate.
Last Saturday, the British High Commission hosted a football tournament to raise funds for Child Action Lanka, a local charity that works to assist and transform the lives of disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka. Fourteen teams competed, with one including star Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene! Between them, players and spectators raised over Rs. 150,000, all of which has gone to Child Action Lanka.
A few days later, I took the opportunity of a trip to Batticaloa to see one of Child Action Lanka’s community projects in the field. Although the charity works with a lot of deprived and vulnerable city children, this was a rural project. We drove out to a small breeze block building on a patch of scrub within walking distance of four villages: the site of one of the five centres around Batticaloa. Here, Child Action Lanka provides preschool child care in the morning, a safe and educational space for school age children in the afternoon, and a proper meal for every child every day.
Child Action Lanka defies the belief that “street children are born bad”. They work with socially excluded children who are deprived of opportunities and respect, helping them to realise their potential and change their lives for the better. They provide direct assistance to around 1,150 children in five different locations around the island, trying to break the cycle of poverty. Their work includes providing tuition, training and school equipment, working to send dropouts back to school, rehabilitation and counselling, English and IT classes, and providing sponsorships and scholarships.
When I was visiting, around 30 children were practising their English, playing letter recognition games and vying with each other to write out the alphabet in perfect capital letters. Their lettering was beautiful, and I was fascinated to watch them start forming each letter from the middle out, as for Tamil or Sinhalese script. In the shade of a big tree outside, the younger children entertained each other with songs and dances. Their poise was impressive, as they performed confidently in front of their friends and foreign visitors. Most of these children are missing at least one parent, whether to conflict or domestic work in the Gulf, and the Child Action Lanka project helps provide them with stability and support. Meeting them was a highlight of my visit to the East.
So the High Commission home team may have won the wooden spoon last Saturday, but in what an excellent cause!