Sri Lanka

Country Situation: At the time MH Sri Lanka (MH SL) established itself in the country, Sri Lanka had just faced a major Tsunami in 2004 and almost 30 years of devastating war which left millions displaced and 80,000 dead. Since then, the country has made it a national priority to address its long-neglected development. Since 2017, Sri Lanka has focused heavily on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (which it has incorporated into the National Policy Framework). However, the country’s is facing dire economic times caused by financial mismanagement which has resulted in the collapse of currency, rising inflation, and a humanitarian crisis due to severe shortage of essentials.

Muslim Hands International was active in Sri Lanka through local partners since the 2004 Tsunami but has only formally setup its country office in 2008. with an aim to provide humanitarian and development aid to victims of poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, etc. MH SL works in the following sectors: Education for orphans, WASH, livelihood, health, Food security and emergency.

Education

Muslim Hands Sri Lanka helps to deliver education by scholarships (sponsoring expenses of needy students), building schools, providing educational material and developing programmes of study. MH SL’s programmes range from pre-school initiatives to scholarship opportunities and adult education programmes. Through Education, we aim to give people the skills they need to create a sustainable, brighter future for themselves and their communities.

Muslim Hands School of Excellence (MHSOE): MHSOE was established in the year 2010 with two primary classes, but has since expanded to 850 students and teaches upto GCE A-Levels. Although there are free government schools, they do not provide students the quality of education nor the long-term opportunities that they desire. MHSOE is unprecedented in not just being aimed almost entirely at orphans and children with little to no financial support, but is also one of the only quality English medium schools within a 45km radius, public or private. English medium education is important for giving rural children more opportunities and social mobility in modern era. Thus, the school addresses a vital need of quality education for orphans, poor and needy children in the area.

At MHSOE, orphans which comprises the majority of the student body enjoy additional benefits like free education, meals, medical checkups, uniforms, books and transport whereas paying students get free meals, transport and medical checkups.

Orphan Sponsorship: MHI’s orphan programs are built from the ground up to respect the principles of child protection. It aim to address the needs of orphans in some of the world’s poorest countries, who are a mostly ignored but extremely vulnerable group.

MH’s orphan program is two-pronged in that it matches orphans with foster families and then most importantly, ensures that these promising orphans and their foster families are given the financial resources to give the child a proper education as well as meet their basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, education, healthcare, etc. (not all foster families in poor areas are financially able to give orphans a good future). Although all of these orphans are deprived of financial support, and in many cases, their foster families are also from poor areas, by matching these children with financial donors, they can live a life of dignity and with a brighter future. MH SL currently has more than 357 Sponsored children studying in Sri Lanka. They are continuously monitored by supervisors of Muslim Hands Sri Lanka to ensure their well-being and to audit expenses. These orphans are supported until 18 years of age.

Rural Schools: In this program, the beneficiaries are a community of internally displaced people who live in one of the resettlement areas of Sri Lanka. These are extremely needy people who have suffered for many years. There is a severe lack of schools in the area with some children having to walk several kilometers to attend the closest school. By building smaller rural schools in the area, MH SL has ensured that more needy children are able to access a quality education in a convenient and easier way. The rural schools consist of two classrooms and an office.

WASH

MH SL WASH division has been engaged in building and improving WASH infrastructure and spreading hygiene awareness in under-developed or disaster-affected communities of Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Mannar, Puttalam and Batticaloa districts of Sri Lanka.

The WASH interventions have involved construction of Dug Wells, Tube Wells, Community Wells and Drinking Water Supply Systems (DWSS) in order to provide these areas with access to clean drinking water. In addition, interventions also involve latrines for sanitation. Moreover, the community is involved with the design, construction, Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of the WASH infrastructure. For long-term sustainability, MH SL forms Community-Based Committees to assign responsibilities for O&M of the wash facilities.

The beneficiary communities are identified based on need assessment. Where need assessments identify gaps in hygiene Knowledge and Practices (KAP) of the targeted community, the WASH intervention also incorporates an Hygiene Promotion and Awareness program with local community with the support of Public Health Inspector, Consumer society and CBOs.

Health

MHSL has established Medical Camps which provide remote and deprived areas with access to qualified medical doctors for consultation and diagnosis. Furthermore, MHSL provides these health camps/remote villages health with supplies such as drugs, equipment and some infrastructure facilities.

In addition to general care, MHSL has also provided some specialized healthcare services such as eyecare, including cataract surgeries to identified patients in its special Eye Care Camps.

Livelihood

Vocational Training Program: MH SL runs a vocational training program aimed at war and flood-affected victims and resettled families in the Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Mannar, Puttalam and Trincomalee districts. It has a goal of giving them the vocational skills to make them a financially stable income within 12 months of induction into the vocational training programs.

Depending on the area, as well as the specific preference of the beneficiary, MH SL provides a number of options such as cattle farming, poultry farming, home gardening, fishing, grocery shops and many other self-employments. In each case, MH SL links beneficiaries with skill trainings and also provides beneficiaries with the inputs (supplies and equipment) that they need to get their new employment started immediately.

Disability Support Program: MHSL supports disabled persons with financial support, vocational training (based on their unique capacities, on a case-by-case basis) and linkages with market employment opportunities. The beneficiaries of the program are Disabled persons from areas which, at the time, were recovering from war or natural disasters. Benefiaciaries include youth and adults with intellectual disabilities, long-term mental illness and physical disabilities in a range of community-based, residential and vocational programs.

Emergency Humanitarian Relief:

At the time of MH SL’s arrival in the country, Sri Lanka was still recovering from 30 years of civil war and Natural and Manmade disasters, especially Tsunami devastation in Sri Lanka, but also flooding, Drought, Landslides and Wild life attacking and many more disasters.

During these emergencies MHSL has regularly taken part in the humanitarian relief and rehabilitation activities partnering with government and public stakeholders. MHSL has been providing regular emergency food aid services; such as Food items, safe drinking water and Non-Food Items (such as hygiene packs). MH SL has also relocated its medical camps based on needs at various times.