One Year of the Al Maddebna Muslim College SFP-21 School Feeding Program
In the year 2020, for many in Sri Lanka, is marked by the growing attention on the COVID Epi Curve. Campuses were shut down, and education had moved online. But as the Provincial COVID Prevention Team and the Ministry of Health started to relax restrictions, our batch decided to apply to return for in-person lectures, diligently following every health guideline. Getting everyone back was one thing; a COVID outbreak spreading across the campus would be a disaster. We needed a plan.
To mitigate the risk, we decided that a COVID prevention lecture was essential for the roughly 150 students returning. I called and then sent a letter to the Provincial Director of Health Service requesting a session.
“Okay, Prabath, I’ll send the School Health Dr,” was the reply.
A few days later, a lady doctor arrived and conducted a two-hour program. This is how I first met Dr. Kiloshini Hendawitharana. I remember speaking to her in my most official capacity—a stiff 100-200 word exchange. That was the end of that story, or so I thought.
The Call to Action
Fast forward to September 2022. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka was biting hard, and many families were struggling. This hardship was starting to seriously impact school attendance, with some children dropping out because their families couldn’t afford to send them.
It was around this time that my Postgrad advisor posted on Facebook about a School Feeding Program in Anuradhapura schools, asking for volunteers to help Dr. Kiloshini.
Coincidentally, a small group of us—Ph.D. students in Missouri and a few others back in Sri Lanka—were already doing a little donation work to help children in the country.
I decided to reach out. “Hello Dr. Kiloshini, how can we get involved in this School Food Program?” I messaged, after a gap of almost two years.
Within minutes, a 15-minute voice recording landed in my inbox, explaining the entire program. A few days later, she messaged, “Mallie, I’ve set up a school for you guys…” and added me to a WhatsApp group that included the school principal and teachers.
A Year of Feeding Hope
That’s how, in October 2022, our small donation team began providing a daily meal to the children of Al Madeebna Muslim Vidyalaya, Nachchaduwa, an isolated school in Anuradhapura.
This month marks exactly one year of running the program.
It’s an incredible journey, and the most surprising part is that almost everything has been managed entirely through WhatsApp. To this day, I don’t know the teachers, the principal, or the children personally. Yet, the program has run beautifully for a full year. Every day, the group shares three or four pictures: photos of the food being prepared and pictures of the children happily eating.
A full tummy can lead to a full mind, allowing these kids to focus on their education instead of the pangs of hunger.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who made this year possible:
• Thank you, Dr. Kilo Akka, for connecting us with this vital program.
• Thank you to the School Principal, Teachers, and the dedicated mothers who cook the meals daily.
• And a massive thank you to all the generous donors who have ensured these children have a plate of food every day:
Sidath, Pathum, Nureshan, Prasan, Umanda, Vindya, Dilki, Nihari, Dileepa, Krishanthi, Dilan, Asha, Nisansala, Praveen, Chavinda, Anudha, Gayanethra, Deshan, Helitha, Praneed, and everyone else who supported us along the way.
Here’s to many more years of nourishing bodies and minds!
By Prabath Pallewaththa
