A new pre-school for Kumbukkollawewa village

Whether there is rain or sunshine, the children at Kumbukkollawewa village are eager to attend pre-school, to learn new things, play with their friends and also to bask in the sunshine under the kind attention of the two volunteers who function as their pre-school teachers.

The 25 children did not have a proper pre-school building till very recently. A religious building served as a temporary location but when religious programmes were underway, the kids had nowhere to go.

Their village, situated 10 Km from Horopathana town of the Anuradhapura District is very poor. The village chiefly depends on paddy cultivation for their income. Tough times year in and year out is the norm within the village.

The villages are constantly affected by both drought and floods. During the dry season the entire population of around 200 families has no income; the recent floods washed away livestock and destroyed crops.  Paying Rs. 100 per month for a pre-school with no permanent location added to the difficulties faced by these hapless parents.

The slightly older kids, who attend primary school, trek four to five to reach a small school as the village does not have public transport facilities. In this backdrop the chances of a child starting their education with the firm foundation of a primary education was indeed questionable.

When Muslim Aid Sri Lanka (MASL) was contacted by their local partner Hope for People, MASL saw the opportunity to better the lives of these deserving villagers. Education is a must for all and through education, society can aspire to reach better levels of living standards. MASL’s aim was to provide a long lasting solution for pre-school children with a permanent pre-school building in the area.

The construction of a permanent pre-school building began with the support of the community who pitched in with their labour and skills. MASL hopes that the new pre-school building would enlighten the way of primary students for the future.

MASL hopes that the number of kids attending pre-school will now increase, with the improved facilities in place.

The new building was opened by Muslim Aid Sri Lanka Country Director and the Chief Incumbent of the Pahala Kumbukkollawewa temple and a Senior Official of the Hope of People Faizer Khan.

The handing over ceremony was attended by a Ahsanal Uloom Arabic College Horopathana Director, Assistant Directors of Education from the Zonal Education office of Kebithigollawa, Principals of the neighbourhood schools and other dignitaries.