29th June 2021: ChildFund Sri Lanka understands the road to recovery from COVID-19 pandemic is long and grueling and Sri Lankan communities need help more than ever before. Inviting the general public to join hands as stakeholders in supporting relief requirements stemming from COVID-19 and also supporting the country’s future development requirements, ChildFund Sri Lanka launched its unique ‘Sri Lanka Gives Back’ fundraiser platform recently.
ChildFund Sri Lanka is committing a one-to-one match for all donations received through the Sri Lanka Gives Back fundraiser. For every donation received either in the form of cash or medical equipment pledged, ChildFund Sri Lanka will donate a similar amount in cash or purchase necessary medical equipment.
ChildFund Sri Lanka invites corporates, the public and like-minded groups or individuals to get involved and partner with them on this journey and generously contribute towards this worthy cause, especially to help keep children and their families safe from the effects of the devastating third COVID-19 wave.
Based on its COVID-19 Response Plan, ChildFund Sri Lanka will implement a series of interventions during the next four months, offering a lifeline to those affected as a result of the pandemic. Funds collected from the fundraiser ‘Sri Lanka Gives Back’ will be utilised in supporting these communities.
Through these interventions, ChildFund Sri Lanka aims to reach over 200,000 children and their families in its programme areas. This includes 226 Grama Niladari divisions in 11 districts. Through ChildFund Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 emergency relief, over 500,000 individuals will benefit on a national scale.
Explaining the initiatives, Nalaka Siriwardena, Country Manager, ChildFund Sri Lanka said, “COVID-19 as a global pandemic is threatening children and their families, creating massive disruption in their lives especially in healthcare, education, access to basic needs and services and social interaction. Our ‘Sri Lanka Gives Back’ fundraiser will enable prompt and comprehensive interventions to mitigate these impacts. We invite the public, individuals and other stakeholders to engage and partner in ChildFund’s emergency COVID-19 relief activities and also future programmes towards the development of the country.”
Assisting communities in need, ChildFund Sri Lanka is providing essential foods, dry rations, medicine, masks, sanitizers etc., to the most affected families. These recipients are those inadequately supported through other food distribution programmes.
Recognising that Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals are at the frontline in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and rely greatly on personal protective equipment, ChildFund Sri Lanka is distributing vital lifesaving equipment, safety gears, and disinfectant for strengthening health and hygiene services.
ChildFund Sri Lanka is also supporting the Puthukkudiyiruppu Divisional Hospital to establish a temporary COVID-19 treatment center to improve health facilities in its fight against the virus. Support to setting-up of other centers in rural hospitals is also planned in the future.
Supporting pandemic affected families revive their livelihoods, ChildFund Sri Lanka is also supporting these families in self-employment and income generation activities amidst the new norm.
ChildFund Sri Lanka is appreciative of the willing support to-date of all their magnanimous donors including Global Shapers Kandy Hub, Headstart Pvt. Ltd, John Keells Foundation, Leo Club of Colombo Fort and the Rotaract Club of University Alumni.
Helping the nation and all communities affected by this unprecedented health crisis, ChildFund Sri Lanka is looking to support more projects on a needs basis in the future.
For more information and details of ChildFund Sri Lanka’s ‘Sri Lanka Gives Back’ and ‘COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan’, interested parties may contact Ruwantha Katugaha on +94 716446683 or email rkatugaha@childfund.org.