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Donor - Neelan Thiruchelvam Trust (NTT)
The project titled “Enhancing Nutritional Well-being and Early Childhood Development among Preschool Children in Vaharai DS Division, Batticaloa” was designed to address the persistent issue of malnutrition and stunted growth among children from poverty-affected families, exacerbated by Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic crisis. The initiative directly aligns with the National Nutritional Policy (NNP, 2010) and UNICEF’s national objective to ensure that vulnerable preschool children receive at least one nutritious meal daily as a buffer against food insecurity and poor learning outcomes.
Project Objective and Strategy
The project aims to empower local communities by creating an enabling environment for preschool children that promotes nutrition, health, and early learning, while fostering socio-economic transformation through community participation.
Key activities include:
- Value addition to existing mid-day meal programs across 21 preschools (458 children);
- Capacity building and awareness programs for parents and teachers on nutritious food preparation, hygiene, and child health;
- Stakeholder coordination with the Divisional Secretariat, MOH Office, and Preschool Education Bureau to ensure quality and sustainability.
Implementation and Achievements
Implementation began in Vaharai DS Division, one of Batticaloa’s most marginalized regions through ESCO’s facilitation and community-based planning. Activities were executed via mother-led roster groups responsible for food preparation, hygiene, and monitoring.
Key outputs include:
- Regular provision of nutritious mid-day meals meeting health standards developed with MOH guidance.
- Activation of 13 previously underperforming preschools (293 children) through improved attendance, hygiene, and learning environments.
- Improved infrastructure, including roads, toilets, and preschool repairs in collaboration with local partners.
- Increased parental engagement through training, roster systems, and community meetings.
- Cultural and health promotion activities (Children’s Day, herbal porridge awareness, midwife clinics).
Outcomes and Impact
The project contributed to measurable improvements in children’s health and developmental outcomes:
- Improved BMI and attendance rates across preschools.
- Enhanced confidence, communication, and participation among children, resembling urban preschool standards.
- Improved hygiene and reduction in plastic use through behavioral change.
- Increased parental capacity to advocate for children’s health and educational rights.
- Stronger inter-agency coordination between ESCO, MOH, Divisional Secretariat, and RDS networks, ensuring sustained program oversight.
Alignment and Variances
Overall, the implementation closely aligns with the original project objectives, particularly in improving child nutrition and community ownership.
However, several variances emerged:
- Partial coverage (13 out of 21 preschools) achieved due to resource limitations and delayed stakeholder coordination.
- Pending health certification for some cooking teams due to administrative delays.
- Unregistered preschools (Kunchankulam and Kallarrippu) and teacher recruitment challenges affected timely implementation.
Despite these challenges, ESCO demonstrated adaptability through local partnerships, reallocation of responsibilities, and interim support mechanisms (e.g., community contributions and NGO collaborations).
Conclusion
The project has made substantial progress in achieving its intended results by strengthening the nutritional and developmental foundation of preschool children in Vaharai. The participatory implementation model, anchored in community ownership and multi-stakeholder coordination has created a replicable framework for integrating nutrition, education, and empowerment within early childhood development. With continued support, this initiative can serve as a sustainable model for scaling similar interventions in other vulnerable divisions across Sri Lanka.
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Title of the activity Multilevel Approaches to Address the Poly Crisis in Sri Lanka |
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Description of the activity Meals for Pre School. Koralaipattu North DS Division (Vaharai), located in the northern part of Batticaloa, is bordered by the Trincomalee District to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south, and the Batticaloa Lagoon to the west. This division is rich in natural resources, including fertile agricultural land, abundant fishing areas, and pastureland suitable for cattle farming and goat rearing. It has a population of 29,160, comprising 9,591 families, with fishing being the main source of income. Vaharai is one of the poorest and most marginalized areas in the district. In recent years, the global COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a prolonged national economic crisis, has severely affected children’s education in particular. According to an assessment conducted by the Divisional Secretariat Office, 13 preschool locations have been identified as the most vulnerable, accommodating a total of 239 children. Some of these locations—such as Kallarripu, Kunchankulam, Mathurankeni, Kayankeni, Kaddumurivu, Omadiyamadu, Punnani East, Alenkulam, Raloodai, Kirmichi, and Aandankulam—lack basic facilities such as transport, electricity, and safe drinking water. Before ESCO’s intervention, these preschools were not functioning properly. There were no proper attendance records or logbooks, poor maintenance of school premises, a lack of hygienic practices, and an inability to provide nutritious food supplements for preschool children. Teachers are often recruited locally from remote villages, typically those who have completed the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) with the required subjects. If they are willing to teach, they are appointed as preschool teachers. However, in areas like Kayankeni, Kunchankulam, Raloodai, and Kaddumurivu, it was very difficult to find qualified teachers with GCE O/L qualifications. Whenever teachers are appointed by the Government Education Department, many are reluctant to continue teaching in these schools due to the difficult living and working conditions. They often seek transfers to schools with better facilities, including access to transportation, electricity, and safe drinking water. Furthermore, due to the Preschool Bureau’s prioritization criteria, these vulnerable locations have become even more marginalized, facing the absence of nutritious food programs and a shortage of qualified teachers. The parents of these children are highly vulnerable. Their main sources of income are daily wage labor and seasonal agricultural work. Most families earn income only during the farming seasons, working as laborers in crop production or engaging in small-scale fishing using locally made nets. Before these preschools began functioning formally, mothers more often go to the fields to harvest fruits, groundnuts, and maize during the cultivation season. They also collected fish from local nets for household consumption, while both mothers and fathers often worked behind the beach seine Mudalalies. Due to the severity of poverty and the lack of nutritious food for their children, parents were often unable or unwilling to make consistent efforts to send their children to preschool. In response to a request from the Divisional Secretary of Vaharai, ESCO was asked to provide nutritional support for preschool children. Consequently, ESCO conducted additional stakeholder consultations at the village level, engaging with RDS groups, the midwife, the MOH office, the PHI, and local leaders to finalize appropriate intervention strategies. At the initial stage, ESCO conducted awareness and training sessions for each mother to enhance their knowledge of children’s development—particularly focusing on early childhood development for cognitive growth, nutritional empowerment for physical development, and strengthening immunity. In addition, ESCO emphasized the proper maintenance of preschools to ensure their long-term sustainability. |
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Output /outcomes of the activity (Outputs/outcomes should include not only immediate outputs but also intermediate and long-term outcomes, where relevant. These outputs/outcomes may be quantitative, qualitative, or a combination of both) Output: Every mother gained practical experience in managing preschool operations efficiently Gradually, mothers became more active and involved in preschool activities such as cleaning the preschool area, sweeping and maintaining the premises, preparing mid-day meals, and addressing issues as instructed by the Preschool Bureau. A roster system was introduced for mothers, with the support of the preschool teacher, to cook mid-day meals and clean cooking utensils. This system ensured that every mother gained experience in efficiently maintaining the preschool, allowed responsibilities to rotate among them, and promoted long-term sustainability. Nutrition and Food Provision Before initiating the intervention to provide nutritious food for preschool children, ESCO collaborated with the MOH office to obtain technical guidance based on Sphere standards regarding the required nutrient intake per child. The meals included high-protein dry fish, eggs, carrots, potatoes, beans, and other vegetables. While providing these meals, ESCO field staff observed that most children were reluctant to eat boiled bean seeds. To improve palatability, the bean seeds were mixed with dry fish as curry and served with rice. As a result, the children’s consumption of bean seeds increased significantly. Infrastructure and Access Furthermore, ESCO, in coordination with another donor agency, constructed a concrete road in Kallarrippu village to improve access to transportation, health services, and agricultural activities. Consequently, children now have easier access to health facilities and transportation. With the facilitation of another donor agency, ESCO also constructed ten toilets in the most needed areas of Kallarippu village. Provision of Preschool Infrastructure, Cultural Activities, and Support Services At the Kathiravely Preschool, with the facilitation of ESCO, the parents and teachers organized a cultural program. Along with many interesting activities, the highlight of the event was a procession by the children. The procession started from the preschool, passed through the inner roads and the main road, and concluded back at the preschool. This event helped raise awareness among parents and children and led to an increase in preschool attendance. At Kallarrippu Preschool, FACE-NGO has contributed a monthly salary of Rs. 10,000.00 for the teachers, supported the construction of a children’s park, and provided temporary shelter, furniture, and school uniforms. Due to the lack of kitchen utensils, the ESCO organization supplied nutritious dry rations to mothers on a rotational basis, enabling them to cook and serve meals to the children on time. ESCO field staff also coordinated effectively with the local Pradesha Sabha office to ensure the regular supply of drinking water to two preschools located in Kayankeni and Kallarrippu. At the initial stage, Kallarrippu Preschool lacked proper seating facilities; therefore, ESCO provided woven mats as a temporary arrangement for the children. In addition, Omadimaadu Preschool, Main Door frames and door sashes were found to be damaged and had not been repaired by the Education Department for a long time. Considering the vulnerability and safety of the children, ESCO contributed by providing new Door frames and door sashes for the school premises. Outcome: Regular provision of nutritious meals and food supplements contributed to the healthy growth and development of preschool children. After ESCO’s intervention, the preschools became fully operational with proper attendance records and logbooks maintained regularly. The school premises were improved and kept clean, hygienic practices were implemented, and children began receiving nutritious meals and food supplements to support their healthy growth and development. Improved Child Health, Nutrition, and Development As a result of ESCO’s intervention in 13 preschools consisting of 293 children, school attendance increased and the children’s BMI improved, as reflected in the record sheets. ESCO collaboratively worked with government stakeholders and conducted regular follow-ups to ensure the sustainability and continuity of the program. Parents also learned how to prepare nutritious food for their children and gained valuable knowledge and experience to support their children’s overall development. The GN and Economic Development Officers (EDOs) made regular visits to monitor progress and follow up on the support provided to sustain education. Overall, collaboration and coordination among stakeholders have improved, leading to enhanced performance and development of the children. ESCO has been working closely with the Divisional Secretariat and the MOH office. Relevant staff from these offices regularly visit and monitor the functioning of the preschools and report their findings to the Divisional Secretary. In addition, Rural Development Societies (RDS) and Village Leaders also visit the preschools to monitor children’s attendance, parents’ contributions, preparation of mid-day meals, availability of water facilities, and the maintenance of a healthy cooking environment. Children showed significant improvements in participation, confidence, communication, and personal habits, reflecting overall development similar to urban children Based on the evaluation conducted by the NTT team, significant positive results were observed. Children showed overall improvement in various areas, including play activities and extracurricular activities such as singing, dancing, and stage performances. Their communication and confidence have also improved noticeably; earlier, some children were shy and hesitant to participate in activities, but now they actively take part. Children have also developed good personal habits, such as dressing neatly and wearing their clothes and shoes properly—similar to children in urban areas. In addition, all preschools have stopped using plastic containers such as water bottles and have begun promoting the use of reusable materials, including stainless steel items. Parents have also shown great interest in observing and listening to their children’s performances. In all project locations, parents have collectively taken responsibility for paying the preschool electricity bills and have expressed their willingness to contribute toward teachers’ allowances in the future. Furthermore, in addition to ESCO’s provision of nutritious food, mothers have taken the initiative to supplement the meals with additional nutritious items such as fish and meat. Regular visits and guidance from the Ayurveda Medical Officer and Divisional Secretariat officers improved the nutritional practices in preschools, including the introduction of herbal porridge, and raised awareness among mothers on healthy feeding.
The Ayurveda Medical Officer attached to the Vaharai Division, along with two officers from the Divisional Secretariat, visited four preschools -Mavadyodai Preschool, Panichchankerny Preschool, Vammivedduvan Preschool, and Puchchankerny Preschool. During their visit, they inspected the feeding materials provided to ensure their nutritional value and held discussions with parents, teachers, and our Field Officer, doctor emphasis the provision of leave herbal porridge, ESCO taken the points and did awareness to all pre-schooling children’s mother and right now provide herbal porridge, The doctor also interacted with the children, encouraging them to participate and play actively. The team was highly impressed with the overall condition of the children. The doctor’s report of the visit has been documented and is printed page in log book. Furthermore, the MOH Department has arranged for counselling staff to visit the preschools to engage in dialogue with children and parents and to report any issues that may require attention. In Kathiraveli, a specific case was identified, and the counselling officer handled it effectively to resolve the issue. During this reporting period, children’s attendance increased in almost all preschools, accompanied by noticeable improvement in their weight. The schedule reflecting these improvements is attached herewith. Kunchankulam Preschool now has a fully qualified teacher in place with salary secured, ensuring uninterrupted quality education for the children. At Kunchankulam Preschool, the Preschool Bureau identified that a teacher had been teaching for the past three years without the required G.C.E. O/L qualification. Based on this finding, the Preschool Bureau officially terminated her service. The ESCO field staff only coordinated the situation and provided necessary support to the Bureau during this process. Following the termination, the ESCO field staff identified a qualified teacher from the adjoining village of Mathurankenikulam. In collaboration with the Divisional Secretariat and the Preschool Bureau, this teacher was appointed to educate the children. However, the Bureau has not yet finalized the payment of her salary. In the meantime, the Valaichchenai Private Bus Association from a nearby village agreed to provide her with a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000. However, the appointed teacher discontinued her service in March 2025, as she was earning more through private tuition and showed little interest in continuing her work at Kunchankulam Preschool. Subsequently, the ESCO field officer identified four eligible teachers from nearby villages. With the support of Divisional Secretary of Vaharai, interviews were conducted, and a suitable teacher was finally appointed. Her salary is now being paid through the Divisional Secretariat office. As a result of the increased attendance and improved performance of preschool children, other children have also become interested in attending school Parents, particularly mothers, have improved their ability to independently voice their children’s rights and developmental needs to relevant authorities such as the Divisional Secretariat, MOH office, and Pradeshiya Sabha. ESCO enabled preschool children and their parents to celebrate Children’s Day and Saraswathi Pooja, promoting cultural engagement for the first time in the project areas.
For the first time, preschool children in ESCO’s project areas had the opportunity to celebrate Children’s Day and Saraswathi Pooja. ESCO facilitated these events, during which both children and parents actively participated in various cultural activities. Average Weight Improvement of Preschool Children Before and After the Mid-Day Meal Program (June 2024 – October 2025)
Description All six preschools recorded a positive increase in average weight, indicating improved nutritional intake and overall child health. The average weight gains (deviations) ranged from 1.72 kg to 2.60 kg during the intervention period. Elavernil Pre School showed the highest improvement with an average weight increase of 2.60 kg. Sri Sri Lanka Pre School recorded the lowest—but still meaningful—gain of 1.72 kg. The consistent improvements across all schools demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the mid-day meal program Average Weight Improvement of Preschool Children Before and After the Mid-Day Meal Program (June 2024 – April 2025)
Description Across all preschools, there is a noticeable increase in the average weight of children after receiving daily nutritious meals. The weight gain ranges from 0.93 kg to 2.02 kg, indicating that the intervention had a positive impact on children’s nutritional status.
Overall, the table demonstrates that the Mid-Day Meal Program has effectively contributed to enhancing the growth and nutritional well-being of preschool children across the seven participating communities. The consistent upward trend in weight confirms the value of sustained nutritional support during early childhood. Average Weight Improvement of Preschool Children Before and After the Mid-Day Meal Program (May 2025 – October 2025)
Description The data indicates a consistent improvement in the average body weight of children after receiving the daily mid-day meal. Weight gains ranged from 0.82 kg to 1.11 kg, showing meaningful progress in early childhood nutrition.
Overall, the findings highlight that the Mid-Day Meal Program continues to play a crucial role in supporting healthy weight gain and improving nutritional status among preschool-aged children. This consistent upward trend reinforces the importance of sustained nutrition interventions within early childhood education settings. Overall, the details of pre-school children are as follows: At the beginning of the intervention by ESCO, from June 2024 to April 2025, 13 pre-schools with a total of 293 children were involved. During the period from June 2024 to December 2024, the same 13 pre-schools included 292 children. From June 2024 to October 2025, 11 schools with a total of 215 children participated. The reduction in the number of schools occurred because the government took over 7 schools. Subsequently, the government requested ESCO to provide support to 5 additional schools, selected based on their vulnerability and remote locations, from May 2025 to October 2025. (Refer to the attached baseline data for further details. |
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Challenges encountered (if relevant) Medical check-ups for the cooking teams in all preschools have been completed; however, only two schools have received their health certificates, while the others are still pending. These medical check-ups are mandatory for all members of the preschool cooking teams. The matter has been referred to the Public Health Inspector (PHI), who has agreed to address it shortly for each preschool. However, the Health Department has not yet been able to complete the process. The PHI mentioned transport difficulties and noted that, since the cooking teams operate on a small scale, there is a perception that certification may not be necessary, assuming their work is carried out hygienically. Furthermore, a few challenges still remain. The preschools in Kunchankulam and Kallarrippu have not yet been registered with the Preschool Bureau. In addition, the preschools in Kunchankulam, Aandankulam, Mathurankernykulam, and Kirimichchai lack adequate space for healthy cooking. Family violence and parents’ addiction to alcohol also continue to be major social issues affecting the well-being and development of children in these communities |
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Lessons learned (if relevant) ESCO has built a good rapport with all relevant departments and collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Field Midwives of the division. ESCO contact them whenever support is needed regarding children’s health issues. However, due to the current priority given to the dengue prevention campaign — including house-to-house and community cleaning activities as well as work in schools — the Health Department, particularly the Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), have focused much of their attention on dengue prevention. As a result, they are sometimes unable to visit our preschools as regularly as before. Monthly clinics are conducted by the midwife at each preschool location. However, some parents miss these clinics due to their distance and involvement in income-generating activities, assuming they can attend the next session. When a parent misses the clinic for a particular month, the midwife provides alternative dates and notifies them of another location. Unfortunately, these alternative locations are often far from the original site, making it difficult for parents to attend due to long travel distances, limited transportation options, and high travel costs. Each month, ESCO’s field office records the weight of the children, while the midwife is responsible for measuring their height every six months as a mandatory requirement. However, in practice, height measurements are often taken only once a year. Using the available weight and height data, the ESCO field staff are able to calculate each child’s Body Mass Index (BMI). Success Story
ESCO’s Intervention Brings Growth, Nutrition, and Learning to Rural Preschool Children
Kaddumuruvukulam is a remote village consisting of 213 families with a total population of 913 people. A preschool had previously been operating in the village but had been abandoned for a considerable period. The main reason for this was the teacher’s irregular attendance—she often arrived around 10:00 a.m. and spent only about half an hour with the children. At the same time, most parents were engaged in traditional income-generating activities such as collecting honey in the jungle and walking long distances to catch fresh fish. Since these activities often required them to stay in the jungle for several days, some parents took their preschool-aged children along, disrupting the children’s early education. This was the situation before ESCO’s intervention. When ESCO began its work in the area, the organization first organized a meeting with the Director of Planning, the Grama Niladhari (GN), the Economic Development Officer (EDO), parents, and the Rural Development Society (RDS). During this meeting, they decided to reorganize the preschool and discussed key issues such as the children’s feeding program and the teacher’s punctuality. Meanwhile, ESCO’s field staff conducted house-to-house visits to raise awareness among parents about the importance of early childhood education and nutritious food. With the support of all stakeholders, the preschool was reopened with 14 children. ESCO staff conducted regular monitoring visits to ensure smooth functioning. The teacher began reporting on time, nutritious meals were provided to the children, and the preschool operated until 11:30 a.m. The Field Officer, Field Midwife, and village volunteers jointly visited families and conducted awareness sessions on the importance of nutrition for children’s cognitive development and healthy growth during early childhood. At present, 26 children are attending the preschool. Initially, the preschool did not have access to electricity. ESCO field staff facilitated discussions between parents and the nearby Milk Board, through which the preschool was able to obtain a power connection. To address the issue of drinking water, ESCO provided a water pump and materials for the community to install a pipeline to supply clean water for the children. The community took full responsibility for mobilizing people to install the system and for its ongoing maintenance and repairs. Similarly, the preschool located in Kandalady also received a water pump and pipeline support from ESCO, with the RDS taking full responsibility for its operation and maintenance. In Kunchankulam, government officials—including the GN and the EDO—conduct regular monitoring visits. The GN visits the preschool around three times a week, while the EDO visits twice a month. To overcome the shortage of kitchen utensils, ESCO provided the necessary cooking equipment to the community. Kitchen utensils were also supplied to the Kunchankulam community. Following this home visits, there is a change in parents attitude ex. Children’s attendance to preschool increased, parent’s participation, children’s weight increased, and also teacher’s commitment.
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