WHAT WE DO:
Free Early Childhood Education
for Underprivileged Children
in Sri Lanka
At Sumi Foundation, our mission is to provide underprivileged children in Sri Lanka with free early childhood education and essential life resources by equipping them with foundational knowledge and confidence. We aim to prepare these children for Grade 1 and beyond, significantly reducing dropout rates in primary schools.
Building Schools in Rural Communities
We focus on constructing schools in rural areas, ensuring that quality education is accessible near home. If a new school building is needed, we purchase land and construct preschools from the ground up. In cases where existing buildings are available, we renovate them into fully functional preschools.
Our schools are designed with spacious classrooms, comfortable furniture, clean washrooms, kitchens, access to clean water, and reliable electricity. Additionally, we create outdoor play areas equipped with slides, swings, and other play structures. Adhering to strict safety standards, our schools provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where every child can thrive.
Providing Teachers with Transportation
We carefully select and interview qualified preschool teachers, offering them competitive salaries with benefits and pensions.
To ensure a professional environment, we provide Sarees as uniforms. For teachers who live far from the preschools, we arrange transportation for their daily commute. By supporting our educators, we establish a stable and effective learning environment, ensuring no child is left behind in their educational journey.
Providing School Bags, Uniforms, Supplies, and Nutritious Meals
We work closely with local government agents to identify underprivileged children, ensuring our support reaches those who need it most. We provide essential resources such as school uniforms, school bags, supplies, and nutritious food to prepare these children for a successful start in school.
In addition, we supply educational tools like building blocks and other learning materials that foster creativity and cognitive development. We also encourage children to showcase their talents through exhibitions and competitions, helping them build self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
Teaching Essential Skills and Education
Our approach to education goes beyond academics. We focus on teaching essential life skills and promoting values of respect, inclusivity, equality, and patriotism. Establishing a consistent daily routine helps children develop time management skills. We foster language and listening skills through storytelling and discussions, while interactive methods teach basic counting and learning concepts.
Children learn teamwork, communication, and discipline through singing, rhymes, and collaborative activities. We emphasize building hand-eye coordination, following instructions, and understanding numbers and letters while making learning enjoyable and engaging. Our goal is to equip children with the skills they need to succeed in school and life.