Building a preschool
in Kegalle, Sri Lanka
Early support - against poverty
Because children are the future
Sri Lanka is known for its palm-fringed beaches, green tea plantations, fragrant spices, a rich cultural heritage and the special friendliness of its people. The island in the Indian Ocean is on many travellers’ bucket list as a result.
In the last 20 years, the country has had to deal with serious crises: the devastating tsunami in 2004, the increase in terrorist attacks and the Corona pandemic, which resulted in a serious economic crisis. As a result, the prices of essential goods skyrocketed, petrol became scarce and thus hardly affordable, and the situation on the labour market also deteriorated dramatically. Families in particular face great challenges, especially in rural areas.
Sri Lanka is known for its palm-fringed beaches, green tea plantations, fragrant spices, a rich cultural heritage and the special friendliness of its people. The island in the Indian Ocean is on many travellers’ bucket list as a result.
In the last 20 years, the country has had to deal with serious crises: the devastating tsunami in 2004, the increase in terrorist attacks and the Corona pandemic, which resulted in a serious economic crisis. As a result, the prices of essential goods skyrocketed, petrol became scarce and thus hardly affordable, and the situation on the labour market also deteriorated dramatically. Families in particular face great challenges, especially in rural areas.
No sufficient school equipment
Rural children are often taught in makeshift accommodation, such as private or community houses, in dilapidated shacks or huts, which do not provide a safe and child-friendly learning environment. The makeshift schools and pre-schools lack child-friendly facilities and equipment. Space is usually limited and is not sufficient for all school-age children. At the same time, these village schools are the only chance for the children to learn at all.
Copyright: Fly and Help/HEMAS Outreach Foundation
The importance of early childhood education
Early childhood education is an important solution in the fight against poverty. It is in the first 10 years of a person’s life that the foundations are laid for later learning processes and thus for life. These years are crucial not only for the cognitive but also for the physical, social and emotional development of a child. Research has shown: Early support has a significantly greater effect than measures in the field of youth work and adult education. Early childhood education forms the basis for further learning, prevents school dropouts and leads to more educational equity.
DER Touristik therefore places a special focus on building preschools and schools that support children as young as 3 years old.
A new preschool for Kegalle
Copyright: Fly and Help/HEMAS Outreach Foundation
Together with its partners, the Hemas Outreach Foundation and the Reiner Meutsch Foundation FLY & HELP, we are is currently supporting the construction of a pre-school in Kegalle. The small town is located about 80 km northeast of the capital Colombo. The surroundings of Kegalle
are rural and the population is marked by poverty. The basic supply of water and electricity is not a matter of course. The average income in these communities is less than 100 USD per month.
The new preschool will provide education for about 50 children aged 3 to 5. It is being built in a village outside Kegalle. There are currently 50 school-age children there, but only 15 of them can attend school. They learn in a single room of a day care centre.
A new preschool for Kegalle
Together with its partners, the Hemas Outreach Foundation and the Reiner Meutsch Foundation FLY & HELP, we are currently supporting the construction of a pre-school in Kegalle. The small town is located about 80 km northeast of the capital Colombo. The surroundings of Kegalle are rural and the population is marked by poverty. The basic supply of water and electricity is not a matter of course. The average income in these communities is less than 100 USD per
month.
The new preschool will provide education for about 50 children aged 3 to 5. It is being built in a village outside Kegalle. There are currently 50 school-age children there, but only 15 of them can attend school. They learn in a single room of a day care centre.
Copyright: Fly and Help/HEMAS Outreach Foundation
Copyright: Fly and Help/HEMAS Outreach Foundation
The new building will have two classrooms for 25 children each and a veranda. In addition, there will be a well, a playground and two toilets. Not only will children be able to learn here, exercise and play are also on the agenda. The DER Touristik Foundation is financing the initial construction of the
school. As a state approved school, the state hires the teachers and bears the running costs in the following years.
The pre-school is a chance for the children of Kegalle to experience the world through learning. It promotes the development of each child and the lifelong learning process. School education offers them a perspective to escape poverty.
Copyright: Fly and Help/HEMAS Outreach Foundation
The new building will have two classrooms for 25 children each and a veranda. In addition, there will be a well, a playground and two toilets. Not only will children be able to learn here, exercise and play are also on the agenda. We as the DER Touristik Foundation are financing the initial construction of the school. As a state approved school, the state hires the teachers and bears the running costs in the following years.
The pre-school is a chance for the children of Kegalle to experience the world through learning. It promotes the development of each child and the lifelong learning process. School education offers them a perspective to escape poverty.
Copyright: Fly and Help/HEMAS Outreach Foundation
Hemas Outreach Foundation
The foundation is committed to an inclusive world where no child is left behind. Its support begins with the very young: Its aim is to provide first-class pre-school education to disadvantaged children throughout Sri Lanka. The preschools provide early childhood education and social skills that prepare children for everyday life and school.
Reiner Meutsch Stiftung FLY & HELP
The main goal of the foundation, which was established in 2009, is to promote education and upbringing. With the help of donors, the foundation focuses on building new schools in developing countries. The new buildings enable many thousands of children in Africa, Asia and Latin America to attend school
and lay the foundation for a self-determined future. So far, 700 projects have been initiated, supported and supervised worldwide.