The economic crisis facing Sri Lanka–which has seen food prices almost double in the last year and shortages of fuel and other goods–has created unimaginable obstacles for families and the nation’s schools. Roughly 20 percent of students in the fall of 2022 arrived each day with empty stomachs, and many families did not send their children to school at all due to financial hardships and concerns about Covid. The Ministry of Education announced a delay to the start of the 2023 school year due to problems in completing the past year’s curriculum.

Chrysalis, a Sri Lankan affiliate of longtime BGR partner CARE International, helps students return to school by offering financial support alongside a project that will make them agents in community change. Beginning in August 2023, Chrysalis will work with 30 schools in northern Sri Lanka to create school gardens. The gardens will help combat nutritional insecurity while helping students develop skills needed to maintain healthy food systems. The program will benefit approximately 3,000 people. Chrysalis will also provide vouchers to help 1,000 students purchase shoes, uniforms, and school supplies. New project.

The economic crisis facing Sri Lanka–which has seen food prices almost double in the last year and shortages of fuel and other goods–has created unimaginable obstacles for families and the nation’s schools. Roughly 20 percent of students in the fall of 2022 arrived each day with empty stomachs, and many families did not send their children to school at all due to financial hardships and concerns about Covid. The Ministry of Education announced a delay to the start of the 2023 school year due to problems in completing the past year’s curriculum.

Chrysalis, a Sri Lankan affiliate of longtime BGR partner CARE International, helps students return to school by offering financial support alongside a project that will make them agents in community change. Beginning in August 2023, Chrysalis will work with 30 schools in northern Sri Lanka to create school gardens. The gardens will help combat nutritional insecurity while helping students develop skills needed to maintain healthy food systems. The program will benefit approximately 3,000 people. Chrysalis will also provide vouchers to help 1,000 students purchase shoes, uniforms, and school supplies. New project.