The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the deadliest disasters in modern history, was caused by a massive undersea earthquake. Nearly 230,000 people died, and millions more lost everything. World Vision raised more than $350 million and mounted the largest disaster response in its history, providing relief and rehabilitation in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, and Myanmar over 10 years.
Sri Lanka
Why World Vision is in Sri Lanka
In a move that was widely considered a political coup, Sri Lanka’s president abruptly dismissed the current prime minister and appointed a new one in fall 2018. For almost two months, the country was at a standstill as politicians tried to resolve the disruption. Sporadic incidents of violence became more common as government services were shut down. The crisis ended when the country’s Supreme Court issued a ruling to nullify the president’s attempted coup. This political instability hit people hard. Many foreign investors pulled out of Sri Lanka, leaving the economy fragile. A prolonged drought that started earlier in the year had already cost people jobs in agriculture, and more than a million were suffering from the effects. The lack of rain impacted four-fifths of the country’s regions, which means thousands of families are left wondering where their next meals will come from. Malnutrition among young children remains a problem for the country, although the government is working on helping to make food more available for everyone. Thanks to the support of our donors and partners, many vulnerable children and families were supported. Working together with the government, we helped citizens make their voices heard in national policies that affect them, especially regarding health and nutrition. Celebrity ambassadors joined us to raise awareness at a national level for children’s rights and protection. And we continued to support the most vulnerable families who were hit by the drought with emergency assistance like mosquito nets, food rations, blankets, and more.
We never give up on people
World Vision child sponsorship looks at all the things that prevent children from surviving and thriving in their community, and then works with that community to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a better life for all children. For sponsors, it’s a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need in a life-changing way.
Sponsor a child in Sri Lanka ❯
Progress in Sri Lanka
Thanks to the generous support of donors, we’re making great progress toward the well-being of children and their families.
Child Protection and Care
Boys and girls are safe and valued, well cared for by their families, and participating in their communities as agents of transformation.
- Through awareness campaigns, children educated their parents and other adults about their rights. Also, community leaders attended child protection trainings where they learned to promote the rights of children.
- Children participated in workshops where they learned to strengthen their relationships with their parents and to live more harmoniously with one another. Their parents learned about positive discipline, fostering more peaceful households.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- More children have access to clean safe water. World Vision covered water sources to protect them from contamination, and installed safe drinking water facilities at schools, helping to reduce transmission of waterborne diseases.
- Caregivers learned how to prevent malnutrition by preparing more nutritious balanced meals for their families and improving child feeding practices. Some families received chickens as a source of food and income.
Education for Better Lives
Children have opportunities to learn and to develop their talents, young people are equipped for the future, and families and communities support children's education.
- More students are learning to read and write. Children who struggled with literacy skills were given special coaching through reading camps, which encourage parents to participate and provide a supportive learning environment at home. Also, some school libraries were upgraded with more updated and appropriate reading materials.
Prayer Requests from Sri Lanka
World Vision's staff in Sri Lanka are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
The political crisis and disputes will end without putting more burdens on the Sri Lankan people.
The drought will end so the country’s agriculture can flourish.
News from Sri Lanka
Prayers
Covering the world in prayer: Pray for South Asia
Children and families struggling to survive and thrive in South Asia need your prayers. This month, please lift up World Vision’s work with communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
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