In the island country of Sri Lanka, a young girl, Rajitha, dreamed of an education. Like many other children in rural developing regions, poverty was a significant obstacle in her academic journey.

According to a ChildFund blog post, Rajitha’s family relied on their crops for food and income. Unpredictable and sometimes disastrous weather conditions posed serious threats to their ability to have enough food and afford materials like books and backpacks for school. But in 2003, Rajitha received sponsorships through the ChildFund in Sri Lanka that changed everything.

Poverty and the ChildFund in Sri Lanka

ChildFund is an international children’s charity that strives to help children grow up healthy and safe, with an education that will allow them to reach their full potential. According to the ChildFund website, the organization works with “nearly 200 independent local organizations” across the countries they serve in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The goal of this community-based approach is to make an impact that is both effective and lasting. The ChildFund works to empower communities so that positive change is self-sustaining.

Rajitha’s family is not alone in the struggle to meet basic needs and access education in the face of poverty. According to a World Bank study on poverty in Sri Lanka, 2002 poverty rates (the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line) in Sri Lanka, around the time Rajitha received sponsorship, were approximately 23%. The same data indicates poor households in Sri Lanka tend to have higher dependent ratios, meaning more children or elderly family members to support. Educational attainment rates are also lower among poor households, which indicates it is more difficult for children living in poverty to receive an education

Rajitha’s Sponsorships

The sponsorships that Rajitha received were through the ChildFund’s Sponsor a Child program, an opportunity for anyone in the world to give a monthly donation that supports a specific child facing poverty. Rajitha’s sponsorships allowed her to afford materials like notebooks, books, and shoes, and to participate in academic programs. Highly motivated and eager to make the most of this opportunity, Rajitha graduated secondary school with honors, and went on to earn a bachelor degree from the University of Peradeniya.

While Rajitha’s success story is unique and a testament to her own determination and resilience as well as the generosity of those who supported her financially, it is not altogether unparalleled. The ChildFund’s blog has an array of children’s stories that show the positive impact the organization can have, and therefore the power of generosity and collaboration. Stories like Rajitha’s demonstrate the expansive possibilities and reverberative effects of investing in education, specifically for those living in poverty.

A Ripple Effect

Now a young woman with a successful career, Rajitha wishes to help children who are held back by poverty in their path to education, as she once was. Emboldened by her education and the opportunities she had available to her, Rajitha got involved with the very organization that helped her as a child. As of 2019, Rajitha works as a program officer for a local partner of the ChildFund in Sri Lanka, the Abhimana Community Development Association. Her educational pursuits continue as she studies Human Resource Management and takes accounting classes.

The sponsorships that Rajitha received through ChildFund had an impact beyond her as an individual. With three children, Rajitha’s family had long struggled to afford things like food and school supplies. When Rajitha was able to receive her education for free, her family had more money for other necessities.

The Future

Rajitha’s story can lend evidence to the well-established correlation between education and socioeconomic stability. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), investing in education has significant economic and societal benefits, improving individuals’ employability and earnings, and promoting overall peace, security and economic growth.

Receiving an education through the ChildFund in Sri Lanka sponsorships meant that Rajitha was able to improve her life, her family’s lives, and work to help other children in her state receive the type of support she did. Rajitha’s story shows how investing in education can have enormous returns not only for one person, but an entire community.

– Emma Kelsey

Emma is based in St. Paul, MN, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr