READ

An Education Development Project

Many children in rural Sri Lanka lack access to quality education. They often drop out of school before age 10 and start working to contribute to the family income. However, this limits their prospects of breaking out of a cycle of poverty.

Our initiative, Rural Education and Development (READ), is a grassroots project that focuses on increasing the accessibility and contributing to the quality of education for children in impoverished rural communities of Sri Lanka.

Donate to READ!

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Sri Lankan children are affected by the economic crisis

Illustration of a hand holding a coin, with the price €61 in text above.

Average monthly income of a household of the children we support

A yellow circular background with a black outlined illustration of a torn, worn-out yellow T-shirt, with a black dot and splatters on the lower left side.

Children lack access to basic clothing, hygiene and school supplies

“We discovered that some teachers were bringing home-cooked meals to school to feed undernourished students.”

A young boy stands in a classroom with yellow walls, wearing a white shirt, blue shorts, and black shoes. The classroom has a chalkboard in the background and a plastic bottle on the floor.

The school we support through READ is located in a rural area near Galle, where government neglect has left it in a dire state. None of its students pass the exam to continue their education beyond grade 5. The building is dilapidated, the teachers are overworked, and the students lack both financial and emotional support. Despite these challenges, the school remains a crucial safe space for children who come from low socio-economic backgrounds, offering them a break from the hardships they face at home.

With READ, we are committed to turning this situation around. We aim to provide scholarships to the students, restore the school building, lighten the burden on teachers, and provide other resources students need to be able to thrive. This includes not just textbooks and supplies but also support programs that extend to the families, ensuring the students have a stable environment both at school and at home.

GOALS OF READ

We selected Panagamuwa Amarasinghe K.V. Primary School to be the first of many schools we hope to implement in our READ project. Based on the results of our research, we will be addressing multiple factors that negatively impact the children’s access to quality education. The implementation will be carried out in 3 phases.

An icon of a hand holding a bowl with the text 'NUTRITION' below, against a teal background.

Icon of a bus with the text "Safe Commute" below it, on a teal background.

Icon of a first aid kit with a medical cross, labeled 'First Aid at School' and the number 5.

Icon of a house with a flag on top, three people inside, and the text "SAFE LEARNING ENVIORNMENT" underneath. Background is teal.

A teal background with a white outline of glasses. The number four is in the top left corner, and the text at the bottom reads 'Address Minor Disabilities'.

Icon depicting a box containing school supplies such as a glue stick, a pencil, and a ruler. Text reads 'School Supplies'.

Our Three Pillars of Impact

At the heart of the Rural Education and Development (READ) project are three core pillars that guide our work. Together, these pillars strengthen the entire learning ecosystem around each child, from financial access to quality teaching and supportive home environments. Rather than isolated interventions, our approach focuses on sustainable, community-driven change that empowers children to thrive in school and beyond.

A woman with a big smile, wearing a white t-shirt, interacts with several young children in a classroom setting, with some children reaching out to touch her arm.

Pillar 1: Access to Education

Since September 2023, we have provided scholarships to all students of the partner school, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent children from accessing education. These scholarships help cover essential school-related costs such as supplies, uniforms, and other learning needs, allowing students to attend school consistently and participate fully in their education.

By supporting every student, we aim to create equal opportunities for learning and reduce the risk of school dropout due to financial hardship.

No child should be left behind because of poverty.

A group of women and young adults sitting around a table in a warm, yellow-walled room, sharing food and drinks, some wearing masks, with a cheerful atmosphere.

Pillar 2: Quality Teaching

Teachers play a critical role in creating safe and supportive learning environments for children. Through our SERPENT project, we have provided training for teachers on snake bite envenoming, including how to prevent incidents, recognise symptoms, and respond effectively in emergencies. This training helps improve the safety of students and staff, particularly in rural environments where snake encounters can pose real risks.

In addition to professional development, we provide end-of-year bonuses to teachers in recognition of their hard work and dedication. By supporting and valuing educators, we aim to strengthen motivation, stability, and the overall quality of education within the school.

Strong teachers create safe schools and better learning outcomes for every child.

A woman holding two children outdoors in a rural setting, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

Pillar 3: School & Community Support

Creating a supportive learning environment goes beyond the classroom. Our third pillar focuses on improving the overall school experience for students and strengthening the broader school community. While planned renovations on the school site have been delayed due to pending government approvals, we have continued to support the school in practical and meaningful ways.

So far, we have:

Funded a school trip for students
Supported school celebrations and community events
Donated essential teaching and learning materials
Conducted interviews with parents to better understand their backgrounds and discuss the importance of education for the long-term prospects of their children and their community

We remain committed to carrying out the planned school renovations once the necessary approvals are secured.

A group of women sitting around a table, smiling and laughing during a gathering. Some women are wearing masks, and the table has food, cups, and water.

A young boy standing with hands behind his back in a classroom with yellow and green walls, a worn chalkboard, and discarded water bottles on the floor.

Stacks of colorful children's books and magazines with illustrations, placed on a yellow wooden desk against a blackboard background.

An empty classroom with a concrete floor, yellow walls, wooden shelves, desks, and chairs. There are posters on the walls, a blackboard, and a table with a lace tablecloth and a vase of yellow flowers. Outside the windows, greenery can be seen.

Empty classroom with cracked concrete floor and water damage, yellow walls, green chalkboards, metal cabinets, and four pink chairs along the wall, with a large wet patch on the floor.

A classroom with yellow walls and large windows covered with wire mesh. The room is decorated with paper crafts and student work on the walls. A woman with dark hair and an orange shirt is sitting at a desk facing away. The desk has a yellow spray bo

View through a large rusty play tube on a playground, looking all the way through to the park beyond with trees and grass, and some children playing in the distance.

Empty colorful swings set in a grassy playground with a large tree and a building in the background.

Group of school children and a young woman smiling and waving at the camera, inside a classroom with a netted window and green foliage outside.

A classroom with four students standing near the blackboard, some wearing white uniforms, one with a face mask, with various posters and charts on the yellow walls, and desks with school supplies.

Teacher helping students draw on a classroom chalkboard in a school with yellow walls and several students in white uniforms.

A young boy sitting on a small chair in a classroom, holding a yellow paper, with a smile on his face. He is wearing a white shirt, blue shorts, and black shoes. Behind him is a window with a metal grid and lush green foliage outside.

A young girl in a school uniform receives a certificate from a woman sitting on a chair inside a simple room with yellow walls and large windows showing greenery outside.

Group of children in school uniforms with three adult women, inside a open-sided classroom with yellow walls, wooden roof and windows with mesh screens.

A group of women and girls are gathered around a table, engaged in a discussion and looking at documents and phones inside a classroom or community space with yellow walls and pink chairs.

Personal Stories of Our Little Leaders

Would you like to consider donating to this project? Every contribution will directly go to supporting the children of the Panagamuwa Amarasinghe Primary School.

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“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”

— B.B King