Save the Children has been working in Sri Lanka since 1974. Their work is based on the UN Convention in the Rights of the Child initiated by their Founder Eglantyne Jebb. In Sri Lanka their work is focused on Education, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance, Health and Nutrition, Livelihoods and Humanitarian. They carry out community-based projects, school-based projects, working with many duty bearers including government stakeholders, civil societies and non-governmental communities to partake in fulfilling and/or to contribute towards recognizing and respecting the rights of children.
WHAT THEY DO
1. CHILD PROTECTION
Save the Children is committed to eradicating all forms of violence and abuse against children. They support both government and community-based child protection systems to provide protection for children. They work closely with the government authorities to reunify children who have been in state and voluntary homes with their families. They are working to make courts friendly to children. They carry out protection activities even during displacement and emergencies by setting up child protection committees and recreational spaces for children.
2. CHILD RIGHTS GOVERNANCE
Sri Lanka signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991. While promoting children's rights among children, parents, teachers and others who work with and for children, they facilitated the creation of a Children's Child Rights Network (CARN), which is a network of local civil society organizations through which children can advocate for their rights. They also help civil society groups at district and national level to advance children's rights.
They have strengthened the capacity of the Child Rights Advocacy Network (CRAN) and its Children’s Networks to undertake Child Centric Budget Analysis. The findings of this analysis were presented to high level appointed and elected government officials.
3. EVERY ONE CAMPAIGN
Under the Save the Children’s flagship campaign to end preventable child deaths, known as the EVERY ONE Campaign, Sri Lanka took part in the Global Day of Action for Child Survival. A hundred children participated in “Race for Survival”, calling for the government to improve the state of child health and nutrition in the country. The race was held with the presence of stakeholders such as the Chief Secretary of Southern Province, District Government Agent, District Education Director, District Child Rights promotion coordinator and District Probation Officer of Matara district. Through earlier preliminary coordination and meetings the government representatives were aware of the importance of improving the state of child health and nutrition in the country. This helped the country programme highlight its new focus on nutrition programmes. The event was used as an opportunity to advocate the need in improvement of child health and nutrition.
The event received media publicity from seven media outlets including print, broadcasting and television in the three languages Sihalese, Tamil and English.
4. EDUCATION
Save the Children’s work in education in Sri Lanka falls under two main categories: Basic Education and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) - reaching nearly 8,000 students each year in classrooms across northern, western and eastern Sri Lanka as well as hundreds of pre-schoolers in Early Childhood Care and Development Centres.
5. HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
Sri Lanka has been experiencing an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, especially hydro-meteorological disasters over the past three years. In 2004, the country was hit by a Tsunami causing losses in lives, livelihoods and infrastructure. Save the Children helps to ensure the safety of children and address their immediate needs. They undertake Disaster Risk Reduction in schools as a member of European Union’s DIPECHO consortium. They are supporting the Ministry of Education to improve Education in Emergencies.
6. LIVELIHOODS
Empowering Vulnerable Women is a series of livelihoods and empowerment programs that are currently underway. These have included the mapping of livelihood opportunities including training and the organization of trade fairs and markets. This has led to small groups of women uniting to undertake self-funded and self-selected community projects together as well as welfare and income generating activities.
