Marappalam Pre-School

Pre-schools provide children aged 3-5 with nutrition, and early childhood learning and prepare them to start school with the age appropriate social, motor and cognitive skills.

Challenge

There is no national system of pre-schools in Sri Lanka. This adds to the vulnerability of poor children in their preparation for schooling. Additionally many children lack proper nutritional support. Villages on the Badulla Road region of Batticaloa District were particularly isolated and impoverished during the war years. Marapalam is one of the villages in this region whose children also require support to prepare for school with early learning and nutrition.

Solution

A pre-school that supports 25-30 children aged 3-5 each year. A pre-school that provides working class and poor children with an opportunity to develop a foundation for life through nutritional support and early childhood learning.

Long-Term Impact

Marapalam Pre-School is a relatively new school that the local community has asked CACM to take responsibility for and run from 2020 onwards. Providing long term support will ensure that the children of this community will have access to early childhood education which otherwise they would have travel further to attend.