Sri Lanka’s education renovation

In 2004, these 7 girls lost three of their school buildings in the tidal wave disaster on 26 December.

Today, they attend Sri Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya in Kalutara District Sri Lanka after a three-story school building, complete with 32 classrooms and toilets was built for their community for USD $500,000 under the World Vision tsunami response.

“The students had limited classroom space for studies and sometimes classrooms had to be shifted under trees to accommodate students,” said Mrs. Nepala the school principal who was also the principal at the time of the disaster.

Since then, the school has been elevated to the status of a National School - a school funded and administered by the Ministry of Education – for its increase in the school enrollment, sufficient and quality infrastructure, and other such criteria.

“There have been scientists, doctors, engineers and many leaders born out of this school and my vision is that we continue to improve on the quality of education for our students and groom them to be good citizens,” said principal Nepala.

World Vision built over 80 schools and preschools under its Tsunami Response in Sri Lanka benefitting over 72,400 students and distributed educational relief packs to over 97,000 school children helping them return to school.

Ashini, Shenoli, Chamudi, Malmi, Anjali and Buthmini (left to right). The girls are studying at the same school, now in grade 10. (The seventh girl from the 'before' photo was absent from school the day this photo was taken.)