View larger map

Sponsorship in Sri Lanka

The CFCA project in Sri Lanka has several subprojects located in the west-central part of the island. Each subproject offers educational opportunities, health benefits and food supplements.

In the Negombo subproject, CFCA works with an order of Salesian priests who began the Don Bosco Technical Center in 1963 to assist youth from poor families. The center provides courses in computer studies, electronics, mechanics, air conditioning and carpentry. CFCA helps provide tuition, nutrition and housing for students.

In the Kandy and Kotadeniyawa subprojects, CFCA works with Salesian priests to assist children in a variety of ways. Kandy has a youth center and boarding home while Kotadeniyawa works with the poor to provide educational assistance and basic necessities.

At Sacred Heart Parish in Elpitiya, children receive primary and secondary education along with medical care. Three evenings a week the project offers tutorials for school-age children.

At the “Drop in Centre” in Negombo, CFCA advocates for the prevention of child abuse and the promotion of children’s rights. The increase in the tourist industry has brought drug distribution and exploitation of children. The center provides classes, guidance and counseling for sponsored children’s families.

About Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, is an island in the Indian Ocean approximately 20 miles southeast of India. The country is a land of great variety in its landforms, plants and animals. Tropical rain forest, mountains and highlands, and flat and rolling plains make up the island’s terrain.

This terrain supports many wild animals such as bears, elephants, monkeys and snakes as well as 350 species of birds and 3,000 species of fern and flowering plants. Sri Lanka contains some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes.

Because of its location, the island is subject to the southwest and northwest monsoon seasons that create difficult conditions much of the year. Sri Lanka was hit hard by the Asian tsunami in 2004, and will be rebuilding for many years to come.

The Sinhalese, who make up the majority of the population, are descendents of those from northern India. The Tamil descended from southern India. The Sinhalese have controlled the government since the country gained independence in 1948, and there has been fighting between the two groups. Several hundred thousand Tamil have fled since violent outbreaks occurred in the 1980s.

A variety of religions can also be found in Sri Lanka. The countryside is dotted with Buddhist and Hindu temples, Islamic mosques and Christian churches.

The people

The majority of Sri Lankans farm the land and follow the traditions of ancestors by harvesting tea, rice and coconuts. Forestry and fishing are also major industries. The average daily minimum wage is equivalent to $2, and steady employment is a challenge for most families.

A distinctive characteristic of Sri Lanka is the diverse number of religions found there. Buddhists and Hindus share many of the same religious entities and Buddhist temples even house Hindu deities.

In urban areas, men wear Western clothing, but the traditional sarong (a garment wrapped around the waist to form a long skirt and a shirt) is still worn in rural areas. Likewise, rural women wear traditional saris (a straight piece of cloth that forms a long dress).

Education

Sri Lanka has the highest literacy rate among Asian nations. Schools can be found in all the towns and cities and in nearly every village. The project reported that primary school costs $30 per year and secondary school is $75 per year. In addition, there are other costs such as school supplies, uniforms, transportation and boarding fees that poor families find difficult to afford.

School is mandatory for ages five through 14 years, and most school-age children are enrolled in classes from January to December. Only about 6-7 percent of the youth attend a university. Sinhalese is spoken throughout the schools while English as a second language is compulsory.

Sources:

World Factbook

MSN Encarta Encyclopedia