Education

Education opportunities for children with special educational needs from poor families have additional challenges due to the lack of state facilities for this group of children.

Supporting education of poor and vulnerable children is a key pillar of the Sanmarga Trust.

The Trust is working in collaboration with SEED in the Vavuniya District on programmes to support education of children from poor and vulnerable families. These are outlined below.

Development Through Education (DTE)
This is a flagship programme of SEED which is supported by the Sanmarga Trust. The programme provides financial and livelihood assistance to families in extreme poverty to progress the education of their children up to their O and A-levels.

These families are unable to afford the basic costs of school books, uniforms, school meals, transport etc to continue educating their children in schools. The support to children from vulnerable families provided under the DTE programme covers their annual cost of education. The programme also provides targeted livelihood support to families to improve incomes and financial security. The programme’s impressive outcomes are evident from the majority of students completing their O and A-Levels and progressing their development to successful employment careers.

Image: Sanmarga Trustees Baghi Baghirathan and Jeya Baghirathan with a family in Vavuniya supported by the trust.
Education for Children with special needs
SEED has pioneered education for children with special needs with their Empowerment Campus in Vavuniya providing education with trained teachers and support staff. This is a part of SEED’s Inclusive Education programme which collaborates with the State Education Department in the Vavuniya District to enable children with special needs to continue their education in state schools where appropriate with those with more severe special needs continuing at SEED’s Empowerment campus.

The Sanmarga Trust values the importance of education for children with special needs and has been supporting SEED’s education programme, particularly at the Empowerment Campus. The EC offers a very conducive environment for these children with trained teachers and facilities designed for these children, including those requiring special support and care.

Image: Children with Special Needs developing art and craft skills at SEED’s Empowerment Campus.

Development Through Education (DTE)

Education for Children with special needs

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