Hambantota, Sri Lanka — July 2005 — Just two months ago, the sanitation facilities at Kudagammana 01 Primary School were falling apart with cracked walls, poor operation and a collapsing roof. Today, the story is different as 128 children have access to brand new facilities thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the labor of their Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and the work of IRD in Sri Lanka.

Under IRD’s Hambantota Educational Support Improvement Project (HESIP), IRD will improve the infrastructure of 37 schools over a two-year period. At each school, IRD works with the PTA to help them assess and identify the most important repairs. The community contributes a 25% cost share in the form of in-kind payments such as building material and labor and IRD provides the other 75%. IRD staff carefully monitors the progress to ensure construction meets environmental standards. Kudagammana is one of the first schools to receive assistance.

In addition to the school repairs, IRD is also providing 12,000 children in these 37 schools with milk daily. IRD hopes the milk improves attendance rates, particularly during the harvest seasons when parents keep children at home to provide assistance, as well as improves learning retention and reduces the number of children fainting. A complimentary health and hygiene program will work to reduce parasitic infection and engender healthier habits.

The project will enable children from the District of Hambantota to experience learning in healthier environments.