Ajithkumar (12) runs home after school, quickly changes his school uniform, cleans up and goes to his little sister. The 10-month old baby sister is thrilled to see him and jumps into his arms. Being the eldest in a family of five children Ajith has many responsibilities and this is his favourite.
10-year-old Dinithi Dimalka waits eagerly until Tuesday afternoon, because it is her favourite time of the week. She attends an English class which World Vision conducts in her village. She is among 1,200 children benefiting from English classes that were studied one year ago in Giribawa.
Lahiruni (8) suffered from a rare skin disease since the age of four. The infection that spread in her scalp and her elbows stole four years of her childhood making her backward and withdrawn from friends.
Sulakshitha (5) lives by the lagoon in a small fishing village in Willuwa. Although living by a large body of water, clean water was not easily accessible for the 150 families in the Serathkuliya community. The families made rounds in the morning and the evening to tube wells to fetch water for their drinking and cooking. For bathing, they gathered at the common well. Sulakshitha’s mother also spent 2 hours everyday fetching water in pots and cans. Sometimes the little boy too went with her, sacrificing his playtime.
Thameesha (7) frequently suffered from heavy wheezing and breathing difficulties all through his childhood. It was more common to him than a cold. It locked his growth and denied him the enjoyment of his childhood. Wheezing came to him at all odd hours and difficult times of the day.