Sewalanka is helping CBOs on two Hatton tea plantations develop programs for their children.

The plantation workers from the hill country of Sri Lanka live in the tea estates on which they work, in their own secluded communities. Their lives tend to follow a cycle of waking up, plucking tea, cooking and eating lunch, plucking tea, cooking and eating dinner and sleeping. They are isolated by their lack of the Sinhala language and by minimal interactions with surrounding communities. Wages are low and malnutrition and illiteracy are above the national averages.

Although there are movements towards improving the situation of these communities and to enhance their integration into civil society, there is still a lot to do.

Sewalanka Foundation has been working with 20 community-based organisations (CBOs) in the Hatton area for about 12 years. As part of Sewalanka’s planned program for plantation communities, Children’s Societies will soon be established with support from two model plantation CBOs. Skills development activities will be conducted through these societies.

District Director for the plantation region, Ms S. Sivapackiyam said the aim of the program is to build the capacity of estate children to help them have a better future and access to opportunities that were unavailable to their parents.

“Children’s Societies will be established in the Stockholm and Bloomfield Estates and all children living in the estates will be given the opportunity to participate,” Mrs Sivapackiyam said.

“Within the Children’s Society, leaders will be elected by the children to organise events and classes, spread messages and motivate other children to participate.

“Employing youth from within the estate to help run the programs and events will engage them in the development of their own communities and encourage them to use their time effectively and productively.

“Activities are being initiated with full support from the estates and Sewalanka is maintaining a constant dialogue with the estate managers to ensure that the program can continue into the future,” she said.

Children’s society activities will incorporate Sinhala language courses, hygiene, trust building and interactive games, and English language courses.

Creative and play activities will include art, singing, drama and sports. An environmental education component will focus on recycling, conservation and tree planting.

“We expect that children who participate in the Children’s Society activities will acquire skills to improve their interaction with other children, function better outside the estate, have opportunities that they would not otherwise have had, approach their own future with more certainty and confidence, and see improvements in their quality of life.” Ms Sivapackiyam said.

During a recent focus group discussion with children at the Stockholm Estate, participants were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. One child responded shyly that he would like to be a doctor. It is hoped that this program will contribute to these children being able to fulfil their ambitions by increasing their confidence and providing opportunities that are not available on the plantations.