Fourteen Kids to Educate

$30 a month for 12 months will provide the temporary support these children need to get the education they deserve.

The light is dim when we arrive, but he sits there diligently, and only gives us a quick glance as we walk through the door. “His teacher is only there for three days, so he learns the rest by himself, I am not sure if he can pass, but what other option do we have for him?” his mother Jokeshwary shares.

Amalachchandiran looks up and adds, “Studying hard is the only way to come out from the situation that we are in now”. He is studying for his A Levels (Year 12) and hopes to follow in his big sister’s footsteps who got into university. He also wants to let his father know that his challenges with getting work hasn’t impacted his chance, he sees how his father worries and how he feels he has let the family down.

There are six children in total, four who go to school and two who are yet to enter. Jesuthasan, who is the breadwinner has struggled to earn enough through fishing to feed everyone during this time and wears the burden heavily on his shoulders. “Education is the only way out for our children, they must live a better life than us”.

He walks towards Pathima, his eldest, and places his hands on her shoulders. She got good marks and is able to study with a scholarship she has received from her university. It is a blessing. “But I must bring all my children to this level. Each day I know I am failing them because I can’t make enough money.”

In Sri lanka education is free. However in the rural villages it is difficult to attract teachers. They leave the larger towns on Monday, arriving late Monday afternoon and finish up on Thursday so they can get back home. Others, living on low incomes, withhold some of the syllabus so that families are forced to do extra classes (with payment) to finalise the syllabus. Families who cannot afford the extra classes are unable to learn the full syllabus required for the exams.

 

They are not alone

There are 13 other families just like them.

Kanakeswary – With four children who attend school (ages 8, 10, 14 and 18) and her oldest who is about to sit her A Levels she struggles with her daily labour income to have enough to support their educational needs.

Anushasri – Her husband Suthan fell when tending to labour work, and overnight their life changed. Now bedridden, Suthan is reliant upon Anushasri for his care, while Anushasri has to also tend to her children, manage the household, and be the breadwinner. Her four children, 3 of them who are in school, usually have to go without as she struggles to meet even their most basic needs.

Manoransitham – Having five children to feed, it’s really difficult for Manoransitham as their family has not gotten much income from fishing for the last 3 months. Manoransitham’s only worry is her children’s education as they are good at studies and the first daughter is in university. Sritharan is getting ready to sit for his A Levels and he says he does not go to extra classes as it’s a difficult time for the family right now.

Nageswary – COVID has impacted her ability to find work and over the past year she has been struggling to feed herself and her family. She is a single woman with no one else she can rely on. She knows her daughter, Yalmoli, who is about to sit her A Levels is so bright, but right now the last thing she can think about is her education.

Subasini – It all changed when her husband became paralysed after an accident. Their family fell into poverty and with the weight of the family responsibilities on Subasini’s shoulder she is unable to support her two children through their education. All she is thinking about is putting food on their table and the health of her husband.

Santhirakumari – Five children and the challenges of finding work means that she is unable to support the educational expenses of her eldest. Anusha is about to sit for her O Levels (Year 10 exams) and though it is Anusha’s hope to be educated, she knows how hard it is for her family.

Saththiyapama – A single women with a son who lost most of his vision during the war time and a daughter, Karthika who is studying for her A Levels. Saththiyapama is worried about her daughter’s education but is unable to support her basic needs. She receives a small amount from her father who works in the local grocery store which is how they have been surviving.

Vimala – Heading up the household, Vimala works as a daily labourer to provide for her three children who are studying. Her first daughter is studying in an IT college, her second daughter, a clever girl Lakshiya, is going to start her A Levels, and her son is studying in 4th standard. Having a small motor bike, Vimala never says no to any opportunity to earn income as her only aim is to educate her children.

Ramani – Always worried about the education of her daughter Niveha who is good at studies. With a husband Sivarajah who is a differently-abled person with issues in hip and one leg, she worries constantly about supporting the family with the agricultural activities needed to bring food to the table. Their meagre earnings are not enough to cover the education cost of their daughter.

Santhakumary – Being a women-headed family and experiencing hardship from a young age, Santhakumary doesn’t get enough income  from fishing to cover the family’s basic needs. Her only desire is to educate her children who are good at studies. Her daughter, Piraveena is going to sit for a grade 5 scholarship exam but she is unable to attend special classes like the other kids due to the financial issues.

Komalam– Having a fully bedridden daughter who is 4 years old, Komalam’s only desire is to educate her elder daughter, Thadshayini who is studying for her O Levels. Since they have spent all their assets for the treatment of their younger daughter, they do not have anything left now. The only source of their income is fishing which no longer bring in enough income.

Nakeswary – Since husband died, Nakeswary is struggling alone to provide for her two daughters. Since the girls are good at studies, Nakeswary’s main goal is educating them. She does all the work, even construction, working hard to save each penny for their education. However, the income she is earning is not enough to cover all the costs.

Jeyanthini – After losing a son at the age of 20, Jeyanthini tends to forget everything, often thinking about her son. Her life is revolving around the few goats that she has been taking care of, not leaving much time to think about her three daughters. Niro, the eldest who is going to study for her A Levels, is struggling to continue her education. Since her school is located 7 kilometres away from her home, she has to join her younger sister to school on a small bicycle she received as the result of Passing the scholarship exam. However, as their class times are different, Niro has to walk back home most of the time. Yokanathan, the father who is working as a daily labour is unable to support the daughters’ education with his meagre income.

 

What we can do with your help

With your support we will:

  • Provide immediate support for the children who are studying at O Level or A Level to attend the extra classes required to be able to sit their exams
  • Provide basic school equipment for the school-going children in the family
  • Work with their schools to ensure that the children can catch up on the classes they have missed through the year
  • Work with their families to ensure they are able to support their remaining children into the future

 

The bigger picture

These fourteen families are part of a larger program that Palmera is running called Graduating the Poor, which focuses on hundreds of families struggling to eat three times a day. To learn more about that program, click here.

 

How we will provide you an update

We want to share with you the impact you have had by supporting these families. We will share a video through to your mobile (so make sure you provide that on your donation).

Fourteen Kids to Educate

$30 a month for 12 months will provide the temporary support these children need to get the education they deserve.

The light is dim when we arrive, but he sits there diligently, and only gives us a quick glance as we walk through the door. “His teacher is only there for three days, so he learns the rest by himself, I am not sure if he can pass, but what other option do we have for him?” his mother Jokeshwary shares.

Amalachchandiran looks up and adds, “Studying hard is the only way to come out from the situation that we are in now”. He is studying for his A Levels (Year 12) and hopes to follow in his big sister’s footsteps who got into university. He also wants to let his father know that his challenges with getting work hasn’t impacted his chance, he sees how his father worries and how he feels he has let the family down.

There are six children in total, four who go to school and two who are yet to enter. Jesuthasan, who is the breadwinner has struggled to earn enough through fishing to feed everyone during this time and wears the burden heavily on his shoulders. “Education is the only way out for our children, they must live a better life than us”.

He walks towards Pathima, his eldest, and places his hands on her shoulders. She got good marks and is able to study with a scholarship she has received from her university. It is a blessing. “But I must bring all my children to this level. Each day I know I am failing them because I can’t make enough money.”

In Sri lanka education is free. However in the rural villages it is difficult to attract teachers. They leave the larger towns on Monday, arriving late Monday afternoon and finish up on Thursday so they can get back home. Others, living on low incomes, withhold some of the syllabus so that families are forced to do extra classes (with payment) to finalise the syllabus. Families who cannot afford the extra classes are unable to learn the full syllabus required for the exams.

 

They are not alone

There are 13 other families just like them.

Kanakeswary – With four children who attend school (ages 8, 10, 14 and 18) and her oldest who is about to sit her A Levels she struggles with her daily labour income to have enough to support their educational needs.

Anushasri – Her husband Suthan fell when tending to labour work, and overnight their life changed. Now bedridden, Suthan is reliant upon Anushasri for his care, while Anushasri has to also tend to her children, manage the household, and be the breadwinner. Her four children, 3 of them who are in school, usually have to go without as she struggles to meet even their most basic needs.

Manoransitham – Having five children to feed, it’s really difficult for Manoransitham as their family has not gotten much income from fishing for the last 3 months. Manoransitham’s only worry is her children’s education as they are good at studies and the first daughter is in university. Sritharan is getting ready to sit for his A Levels and he says he does not go to extra classes as it’s a difficult time for the family right now.

Nageswary – COVID has impacted her ability to find work and over the past year she has been struggling to feed herself and her family. She is a single woman with no one else she can rely on. She knows her daughter, Yalmoli, who is about to sit her A Levels is so bright, but right now the last thing she can think about is her education.

Subasini – It all changed when her husband became paralysed after an accident. Their family fell into poverty and with the weight of the family responsibilities on Subasini’s shoulder she is unable to support her two children through their education. All she is thinking about is putting food on their table and the health of her husband.

Santhirakumari – Five children and the challenges of finding work means that she is unable to support the educational expenses of her eldest. Anusha is about to sit for her O Levels (Year 10 exams) and though it is Anusha’s hope to be educated, she knows how hard it is for her family.

Saththiyapama – A single women with a son who lost most of his vision during the war time and a daughter, Karthika who is studying for her A Levels. Saththiyapama is worried about her daughter’s education but is unable to support her basic needs. She receives a small amount from her father who works in the local grocery store which is how they have been surviving.

Vimala – Heading up the household, Vimala works as a daily labourer to provide for her three children who are studying. Her first daughter is studying in an IT college, her second daughter, a clever girl Lakshiya, is going to start her A Levels, and her son is studying in 4th standard. Having a small motor bike, Vimala never says no to any opportunity to earn income as her only aim is to educate her children.

Ramani – Always worried about the education of her daughter Niveha who is good at studies. With a husband Sivarajah who is a differently-abled person with issues in hip and one leg, she worries constantly about supporting the family with the agricultural activities needed to bring food to the table. Their meagre earnings are not enough to cover the education cost of their daughter.

Santhakumary – Being a women-headed family and experiencing hardship from a young age, Santhakumary doesn’t get enough income  from fishing to cover the family’s basic needs. Her only desire is to educate her children who are good at studies. Her daughter, Piraveena is going to sit for a grade 5 scholarship exam but she is unable to attend special classes like the other kids due to the financial issues.

Komalam– Having a fully bedridden daughter who is 4 years old, Komalam’s only desire is to educate her elder daughter, Thadshayini who is studying for her O Levels. Since they have spent all their assets for the treatment of their younger daughter, they do not have anything left now. The only source of their income is fishing which no longer bring in enough income.

Nakeswary – Since husband died, Nakeswary is struggling alone to provide for her two daughters. Since the girls are good at studies, Nakeswary’s main goal is educating them. She does all the work, even construction, working hard to save each penny for their education. However, the income she is earning is not enough to cover all the costs.

Jeyanthini – After losing a son at the age of 20, Jeyanthini tends to forget everything, often thinking about her son. Her life is revolving around the few goats that she has been taking care of, not leaving much time to think about her three daughters. Niro, the eldest who is going to study for her A Levels, is struggling to continue her education. Since her school is located 7 kilometres away from her home, she has to join her younger sister to school on a small bicycle she received as the result of Passing the scholarship exam. However, as their class times are different, Niro has to walk back home most of the time. Yokanathan, the father who is working as a daily labour is unable to support the daughters’ education with his meagre income.

 

What we can do with your help

With your support we will:

  • Provide immediate support for the children who are studying at O Level or A Level to attend the extra classes required to be able to sit their exams
  • Provide basic school equipment for the school-going children in the family
  • Work with their schools to ensure that the children can catch up on the classes they have missed through the year
  • Work with their families to ensure they are able to support their remaining children into the future

 

The bigger picture

These fourteen families are part of a larger program that Palmera is running called Graduating the Poor, which focuses on hundreds of families struggling to eat three times a day. To learn more about that program, click here.

 

How we will provide you an update

We want to share with you the impact you have had by supporting these families. We will share a video through to your mobile (so make sure you provide that on your donation).