Sri Lanka's economic crisis has not eased for rural families. Government school meals still stop at Grade 5, so older children go hungry, faint in class, fall behind and drop out. For parents already struggling, an empty cupboard becomes an impossible choice over which child eats that day. That daily desperation is what pushes families to hand children to institutions, in the false hope they will be looked after. We ran this programme before and saw it work; the need has not gone away.

We provide a nutritious daily meal to 259 vulnerable children aged 5 to 18, so hunger is never the reason a family separates. Parents tell us it lifts a daily weight; children tell us they can concentrate, play and learn. Alongside meals, we train families and staff in nutrition and food growing, so gains outlast this campaign, while we work with government toward lasting, state-funded provision.