In Kirimichchai, a remote village in Sri Lanka’s Batticaloa district, children face many barriers to accessing education: economic hardship, social and cultural traditions, natural disasters, elephant attacks and lack of public transport are some of the challenges that keep them out of school. On top of that, the local school only goes up to grade 5, forcing students to travel long distances to continue their studies and often leading to dropouts. Many parents, who also dropped out of school early, struggle to support their children’s learning, perpetuating a generational cycle of illiteracy.
To break this cycle, Good Shepherd Sri Lanka established the village school as a Child-Friendly Safe Space. Since expanding the school was not an option due to low enrollment, they arranged transportation for students to attend distant schools, with parents providing partial financial support. The Women’s Rural Development Society played a crucial role in ensuring the program’s success by volunteering to transport children, fostering regular attendance and active participation in educational activities.
The initiative did not stop there. The Sisters successfully reintegrated 28 children from the Mankerny communities into the education system. After conducting home visits and identifying the reasons behind their dropout through surveys, they provided psychosocial counseling for both children and parents. To support children’s return, the initiative also included the distribution of essential school supplies such as bags, stationery and shoes. These young students first attended classes in Kirimichchai before moving on to special sessions in Mankerny, making significant academic progress within 3 months. With the support of the local school principal, they now attend formal schools regularly and are closely monitored to ensure continued progress.
Overall, these efforts have led to improved school attendance and community engagement, while offering long-term educational opportunities for children in Kirimichchai. These interventions are part of the Community-Based Child Protection programs, supported by GSIF, to empower marginalized communities in Sri Lanka. The initiative focuses on creating child-friendly environments, while actively involving parents, youth and key stakeholders through tailored strategies. Children participate in educational, developmental, and recreational activities, while women engage in self-help groups, awareness and empowerment programs. Parents’ meetings and child protection committees further strengthen community involvement.
For their outstanding service to children and vulnerable communities in the region, Sr. Nirmala and the Community-Based Child Protection team project received the award for the most Efficient and Responsible NGO from the Viharai Divisional Secretariat. By improving school attendance and sustainable community development and providing new educational opportunities, we’re enabling children to shape their future as dreamers, thinkers and makers!
Together, united in the mission, let’s continue our efforts towards sustainable community development, quality education and child protection Sri Lanka and beyond!
