Completed Project - Sri Lanka

Geography and climate
The island of Sri Lanka is located off the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. There are extensive lowlands in the north and east, whilst the centre of the island is mountainous, the highest peak being some 2,518 metres. The climate is tropical and influenced by the monsoon.

The situation today
The country’s economy and infrastructure suffered greatly from the 18-year civil war. Eventually, at the end of 2001, the two sides agreed a lasting ceasefire with the aid of Norwegian mediation. The first peace negotiations took place at the end of 2002, but were short-lived. In 2006, renewed civil conflicts broke out, causing many deaths and a large stream of refugees leaving the island.
Sri Lanka was one of the countries worst affected by the catastrophic tsunami of December 2004. It is estimated that more than 30,000 lost their lives, and many more were made homeless. Around two thirds of the coastline was devastated, with serious knock-on effects for the economy, which depends on fishing and tourism.

The situation of children
In their everyday lives, children and adolescents in Sri Lanka often have to endure physical violence at school and in the family as well as child labour, early marriage and sexual harassment.

Education
Sri Lanka’s free education system, with five years’ compulsory school attendance, is one of the best in Asia. However, only children with official documents can go to school, while the children of plantation workers who have no papers fall through the education net. In the regions covered by the education programme, many schools are ill equipped and understaffed. Furthermore, a third of school-age children leave school prematurely in order to help their family earn a living.

The education program/project for Sri Lanka

Fundamental improvements were necessary in order to give girls and boys in the Nuwara Eliya District the opportunity to enjoy a school education commensurate with the national average. Many school buildings were old and dilapidated, classrooms were too small, and there was a shortage of both teaching materials and teachers. In addition, standards of hygiene in the schools were a cause for concern due to a lack of functioning sanitary facilities. Inadequate nutrition also affected the health and learning ability of the youngsters.

Action/implementation

- Refurbishment of buildings

- Provision of school furniture, teachers and teaching materials

- Improvement of hygiene standards (upgrading sanitary facilities, improving medical facilities in schools, and conveying a better understanding of hygiene)

- Provision of clubs and study groups for young people (also extra tuition for those with learning difficulties)

- Funding of teacher training

- Support for school administration through involvement of children and parents

Beneficiaries

592 children benefited directly from the project. The entire community enjoyed the benefits of the project because parents, children and other members of the community developed ideas and were involved in their implementation.

Aim of the project The objective is to increase the proportion of children attending school, significantly raise standards of reading, writing and arithmetic, and improve hygiene conditions. Project time frame: February 2008 to December 2009 The Arthrex Foundation alone has borne the costs of the project, amounting to approximately € 48,000.