Sri Lanka

ChildFund Sri Lanka supports children’s education by expanding learning opportunities, improving school environments and supporting holistic development. Through structured literacy and numeracy programs, children received targeted support to build strong foundational skills, while digital education initiatives — covering information and communications technology, mathematics and English — have introduced tech‑enhanced learning that is boosting engagement and academic performance. The establishment of Community Resource Centers and Village Learning Circles creates accessible spaces for children to learn beyond the classroom. Social-emotional learning activities, paired with teacher training and community awareness, promote mental well‑being, positive behavior and essential life skills. To ensure safer schools, ChildFund Sri Lanka also helps form School Safety Committees and facilitate workshops that strengthen disaster preparedness and child‑friendly environments. Smart classrooms have further advanced inclusive, child‑centered teaching through digital tools. Finally, our extracurricular programs such as EDGE (English and Digital for Girls' Education) Clubs encourage creativity, collaboration and leadership.

Our programs help young people develop life skills through a comprehensive blend of early childhood support, foundational learning, emotional development and youth empowerment. Beginning in preschool, the REACH tool enables early detection of developmental delays among children aged 3–5, ensuring timely interventions that set the foundation for lifelong learning. The Responsive and Protective Parenting (RPP) program further enhances children’s physical, cognitive and socioemotional development by supporting families with the knowledge and skills to provide nurturing, protective care. To bolster learning, ChildFund develops supplementary curricula that improve literacy and numeracy for at-risk learners in both schools and community child resource centers. A dedicated Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) framework and teacher training materials strengthen children’s self-awareness, protection skills and well‑being across school and community settings.

For adolescents, our English and digital education (EDGE) programs — implemented in partnership with the British Council — boost language proficiency and digital confidence among teenage girls. Youth development initiatives provide leadership training, soft skills development and media literacy in the form of active youth clubs, while vocational guidance and entrepreneurship training help to equip youth for future careers. Environmental projects further cultivate a sense of responsibility and stewardship. All together, these integrated efforts reach more than 10,000 youth, building strong foundations in leadership, career readiness, critical thinking and community engagement.

ChildFund Sri Lanka works to strengthen the safety systems around children at every level — individual, family, community and national — while upholding robust safeguarding standards across all our programs. At the individual level, children and youth build knowledge and resilience through our Child Clubs and School Child Protection Committees, where they learn about child rights, safe internet use, protection strategies, mental health and psychosocial support, positive behaviors and drug prevention through interactive activities such as debates, drama, art and discussions. At the family and community level, ChildFund enhances prevention and response by supporting parents with positive parenting and online safety skills, assisting community consultations to identify risks, and reinforcing Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms through Village and District Child Development Committees. Teachers, youth and community leaders alike are trained to recognize risks, manage referrals and lead safety initiatives — including youth-led microprojects and social media campaigns promoting responsible online behavior. Nationally, ChildFund advances child protection through initiatives like the Web Safe & Wise campaign and support for Sri Lanka’s national online reporting portal, working in partnership with bodies such as the National Child Protection Authority, the Internet Watch Foundation and Save the Children. Through youth consultations, policy dialogues and expert-validated training materials, ChildFund also contributes to national policy reform — including cybercrime legislation and advocacy for banning corporal punishment. Across all levels, rigorous safeguarding policies and risk assessments ensure that staff uphold the highest standards of conduct, creating safe, supportive environments where children are protected and able to thrive.