Word and Deed – Sri Lanka

International

Empowering Communities in Sri Lanka

Australian Mercy is dedicated to providing crucial aid to communities facing desperate needs around the world. In Sri Lanka, we partner with Word and Deed Lanka, a well-established local non-profit organization with 40 years of experience in community development. This partnership allows us to extend our reach and offer direct, personal support to those who need it most, fostering local empowerment and sustainable change.

  • A Holistic Approach to Poverty, Health, and Education.

Our current focus is on the historically marginalized tea estate communities in the Hatton Estate Sector of Sri Lanka's Central Province.

Descendants of Indian Tamil workers, these communities have faced generations of exploitation, low wages, and inadequate living conditions since the 19th century. Despite recent wage increases, many families still struggle with poverty, unable to afford basic nutritional food, leading to widespread malnutrition.

Children are particularly vulnerable, often dropping out of school to contribute to family income, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and limiting future opportunities. The recent economic crises in Sri Lanka have further deepened their plight.

To address these critical challenges, our project implements a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach centered on four key pillars: Education, Nutrition, Leadership, and Kids Clubs. Through the Education Project, we provide pre-school and after-school tuition for children, ensuring they have the confidence and resources to stay in school and pursue better futures.

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  • Supporting Children, Mothers, and Leaders

The Nutrition Project works with malnourished mothers and babies, providing essential food items and health awareness programs in collaboration with local healthcare workers. Our Leadership Project trains teachers and parents, equipping them with skills in childcare, financial management, and community guidance. Finally, Kids Clubs offer safe spaces for children to develop ethics, skills, and positive relationships, with broader outreach programs reaching additional children.

This initiative is designed for long-term impact and sustainability. Word and Deed Lanka's team are predominantly from the Hatton community itself, many having benefited from the organization's programs in earlier years. This ensures deep institutional knowledge and a profound understanding of local needs.

By empowering community members to lead and manage these programs, we are building self-sufficient structures where progress can be sustained across generations. Our ultimate goal is to help these communities grow in knowledge and skill, access more opportunities, and steadily move towards a life free from poverty-determined lifestyles.