In late November last year, as we all prepared for Christmas, Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka with ferocious intensity, unleashing torrential rains, widespread flooding and deadly landslides across the island.

Homes and fields were inundated, infrastructure washed away, and entire communities were cut off by water and debris. Millions of people were affected, hundreds lost their lives, and vast numbers of families were displaced into makeshift housing, where they were given basic food and clothing.

For our communities in the remote tea estates of the hill country, the impact was especially severe. Landslides blocked already fragile roads, hampered rescue efforts, and cut off access to essential services, from drinking water to healthcare.

 

Already busy planning a new intake of students for this year (more on that soon), our volunteers on the ground swung into emergency mode. Making their way through by any means possible, they delivered basic food supplies and 150 warm bobble hats to temporary shelters housing families who had lost their homes, including many children unable to return to school.

 

Things are gradually returning to normal now, thanks to the resilience and determination of the Sri Lankan people. However, the damage across the region has been substantial, and many families are still rebuilding the foundations of everyday life. With your continued support, we will be helping wherever we can in the coming year.

Thank you once again for your generosity. By helping meet the most basic needs first, you make it possible for families to look beyond survival and towards education, opportunity, and a brighter future for their children.