Right to Learn Programme

Sri Lanka's thriving tea industry rests on the shoulders of the Malaiyaha community. These descendants of South Indians brought by British colonizers 200 years ago remain a pillar of the economy, yet face immense hardship.

For generations, the Malaiyaha people were denied citizenship and basic rights, leading to entrenched poverty and limited opportunities. This obstruction to social mobility, coupled with economic hardship, have affected the education of Malaiyaha children. A problem that has intensified since the economic crisis. According to UNICEF, families can no longer afford to send their children to school, placing millions of children at risk of exploitation, violence and stress.

A 2022 study by the Institute of Policy Studies (Sri Lanka) revealed a staggering 58% school dropout rate among children aged 5-17. These children are forced to work or seek work to support their families, sacrificing their education.

In response to this crisis, the Serendip Children's Home initiative empowers Malaiyaha children to pursue education. We provide them with the necessary resources to stay in school and excel academically. This education becomes their key to unlocking opportunities beyond the plantations, paving the way for a brighter future with better-paying jobs.

If you are interested in supporting the Right to Learn Programme , visit our Get Involved page to find out how you can donate.

Our Impact

Over 1300 Children

We have reached over 1300 children from grades 1 to 11 located in the plantation sectors of Sri Lanka. Our programme has been running for the past 10 years.

Over 50 Schools

We have established our programme with over 50 schools, with many more on our waiting list. We hope to raise sufficient funds to broaden our list of recipient schools.

Essential School Supplies

We provide school supplies such as textbooks, pens, pencils, art supplies, geometry and maths instrument boxes, and more. These are schools supplies that were previously inaccessible to the children

Boost School Attendance

By providing children from impoverished homes with school supplies that were previously inaccessible to them, we encourage them to stay in school

UN Sustainable Development Goals

No Poverty

By ensuring access to primary and secondary education and the chance to excel academically, we increase their chances of finding good employment opportunities in adulthood and emerging out of poverty.

Quality Education

We provide the students with school supplies that they may not have access to currently. This allows them to access a better quality of education that was previously available to them.

Reduced Inequalities

By ensuring Malaiyaha community children stay in school and have opportunities to pursue their education, we provide them with the tools to seek better job opportunities and emerge from generational poverty.

Testimonials

Things are really hard right now because everything is getting more expensive, and our country is struggling. I just want to say a big thank you to Serendip for giving us school stuff that will last a whole year. It’s helped us so much. Our school has lots of families with four or five kids, and it’s really hard for them. So, on behalf of all the students, we’re really thankful for these supplies.

- Yasinthan (Student)

There are so many times when students at our school can’t come to class because their families are struggling just to afford a single meal a day, let alone buy the learning materials we need. The educational materials from Serendip are absolutely priceless in helping kids in our community stay on track with their studies, especially with so many serious problems on the rise. They’ve really helped reduce dropout rates, and we’re all super grateful for this support.

- Janani (Teacher)

We are extremely grateful to the Serendip Children's Home for providing learning materials for our children during this time of economic crisis. All the students in this school are children of plantation workers. On behalf of all the parents, we want to say thank you for making the effort to help, especially since you came from so far away with such kindness in your hearts.

- Padma (Parent)

We only earn 1000 rupees a day when we work. From that, we have to cover food, clothes, medicine, and school costs. It’s really hard. That’s why these books you gave us are such a big help.

- Devika (Parent)

I'm really thankful to Serendip Children's Home for helping our students with the educational materials they need. The kids here, mostly from plantation worker families, often can't afford basic school supplies. During COVID-19, Serendip also stepped in with food packages and learning materials, and they’ve been supporting two of our students with a scholarship fund. Their support means a lot to us and has made a real difference.