For the past 35 years, the fulcrum of SOS Children's Village's work has revolved around safeguardingthe rights of children in difficult circumstances. SOS Children's Villages Sri Lanka hassupported children devoid of parental care and whose families live in difficult conditions, and hasalso tirelessly worked in the country's socio-political spheres, lobbying for the rights of Sri Lanka's children.
SOS Children's Villages, Sri Lanka will mark its 35th anniversary with a cultural show showcasing the talents of toddlers and teens from all 6 SOS Children's Villages. The cultural show will be held on January 7, 2017 at 6pm.
Founded in 1981 in Sri Lanka, SOS Children's Villages Sri Lanka has served more than 41,000 Sri Lankan children in six Children's Villages and Family Strengthening Programmes.The work of SOS Children's Villages has also been tightly intertwined with the country's narrative. The SOS Children's Village in Nuwara Eliya initiated in 1984, succeeded in building a tight knit community which transcended ethnic barriers, despite the convoluted political climate which existed in Sri Lanka during its inception. Furthermore, the organization has also been closely involved in safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of the country's children in the aftermath of exigent events such as the 2004 Tsunami and the conclusion of a 30 year long war in 2009.
2016 marks a pivotal year for the organization beyond its 35th anniversary. Since its inception, SOS Children's Villages Sri Lanka was predominantly funded by Europe-based international donors and philanthropists.
With Sri Lanka now classified as a middle-incomecountry in Asia, the Sri Lankan arm of the international organization is facing a subsidy reduction as donations are now being channelled to poorer countries in Asia and other continents. In light of this, SOS Children's Villages Sri Lanka is faced with the task of bridging this financial gap through support from local well-wishers and corporates without compromising the quality of the work thus far or closing down existing projects which have reaped positive results.
“It is our moral and social responsibility to ensure that the children of our country are cared for and have access to a conducive environment to thrive in,” SOS Children's Village, Sri Lanka National Director Ananda Karunarathne said.
“We invite the public to join us for our cultural show and support our endeavours to uplift Sri Lanka's children.”
The childcare concept of SOS Children's Villages is one that exists in 134 countries to date.
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