The Mia Fratino foundation was very happy to support families with their back-to-school expenses again this year.  We have distributed school packs to almost 350 needy children.   Each pack consisted of a school bag, exercise books, writing books and some stationery items.

In accordance with health guidelines, the children were organized into small groups to receive their packs.  These children are from very poor families, many of whom were already struggling before the pandemic hit Sri Lanka.  With the lack of tourists and a slow-down in the economy, they are desperate to meet their basic needs. 

In the village of Kandapola, the school packs were given to the children in the police school drop-out programme.  A police task force in this area has identified children with poor school attendance, and is working with them and their families to get them back to school. In other areas we worked with Sunday school groups from the local temple, school principals in marginalized communities and children living in the tea estates. 

With school students in the highly populated Western Province still waiting for the green light to return to school, these children from the Central Province are very happy to be starting school this year. We are happy to be doing our part to make that return as smooth and stress-free as possible.