World Vision has been involved with Sri Lanka’s tea estate workers for many years and Lindula ADP is an extension of this work. Tea plantation workers have been marginalised in Sri Lanka for a very long time. Originally brought in from South India over 150 years ago, they were eventually exploited for work and isolated from the rest of the country. World Vision’s interventions focus on the well-being of children to ensure that their health, nutrition, education and social needs are met.

In Lindula ADP, majority of the people work as pickers and labourers in the tea estates. They are paid daily, and when work is not available, they face a severe shortage of income.

Also, children lack proper education, and 45% of the population under 12 years old are illiterate. This is due to long travel distances, poor transport facilities and lack of finances for education resulting in a dropout rate of 14.5%, almost 10 times the national average.

In terms of healthcare and child protection challenges, 74% of people live in dismal housing. Whole families live in a single room that is linked to others to form a “line house”. There is little ventilation, no privacy, and conditions are often unsanitary. Only 67.1% of households have their own latrines and the remaining families share common latrines or defecate in open areas.

World Vision started an ADP in 2014 after a thorough assessment of Ende in 2012. Measured against standard indicators of economic development needs, Ende emerged as an area where the vulnerability of children needed to be urgently addressed. 

In Ende, traditional attitudes towards children are harsh and unsympathetic. They are viewed as free labour and are often denied their right to study so that they can work to supplement the family income. Cases of physical and sexual abuse are not taken seriously and are unreported or left unsolved, affecting and scarring children emotionally and mentally. 

In terms of healthcare concerns, the main issues that compromise the health of children are the lack of access to clean water, the prevalence of unhygienic behaviours and poor sanitation systems. Approximately 40% of the community practices open defecation as there are no proper toilets. 

Also, Ende's economic development falls behind national statistics. Their main source of income is agriculture but the productivity of existing farming methods is low due to a lack of understanding, poor management, pests and diseases. 

World Vision began an assessment study in Musosolokwe in July 2009. It was found that the target area was hampered by insufficient health facilities, ill-equipped schools and a lack of food security. Children had to walk long distances to reach medical centres that were inadequately stocked, schools lacked necessary items like desks and learning materials and food was not available all year round. Recognising these needs, the Musosolokwe ADP began its initiatives in April 2010.

The harsh landscape in Musosolokwe deprives children of a fair chance at education. Children have to cover over 25 km to reach one of three schools in the area. Flooding also destroys roads and flood waters can wash away and drown children.

In addition, there is a high rate of malaria, diarrhoea and malnutrition among children. This leads to high mortality and stunted growth in children, which further perpetuates poverty in Musosolokwe.

Also, over 40% of children have only one meal a day due to poor crop harvest as a result of bad weather conditions and poor farming methods. Alternative sources of income are hard to come by, and natural resources in Musosolokwe are slowly being exploited by the community to earn more income.

World Vision has been involved with Sri Lanka’s tea estate workers for many years and Lindula ADP is an extension of this work. Tea plantation workers have been marginalised in Sri Lanka for a very long time. Originally brought in from South India over 150 years ago, they were eventually exploited for work and isolated from the rest of the country. World Vision’s interventions focus on the well-being of children to ensure that their health, nutrition, education and social needs are met.

In Lindula ADP, majority of the people work as pickers and labourers in the tea estates. They are paid daily, and when work is not available, they face a severe shortage of income.

Also, children lack proper education, and 45% of the population under 12 years old are illiterate. This is due to long travel distances, poor transport facilities and lack of finances for education resulting in a dropout rate of 14.5%, almost 10 times the national average.

In terms of healthcare and child protection challenges, 74% of people live in dismal housing. Whole families live in a single room that is linked to others to form a “line house”. There is little ventilation, no privacy, and conditions are often unsanitary. Only 67.1% of households have their own latrines and the remaining families share common latrines or defecate in open areas.

World Vision has been involved with Sri Lanka’s tea estate workers for many years and Lindula ADP is an extension of this work. Tea plantation workers have been marginalised in Sri Lanka for a very long time. Originally brought in from South India over 150 years ago, they were eventually exploited for work and isolated from the rest of the country. World Vision’s interventions focus on the well-being of children to ensure that their health, nutrition, education and social needs are met.

In Lindula ADP, majority of the people work as pickers and labourers in the tea estates. They are paid daily, and when work is not available, they face a severe shortage of income.

Also, children lack proper education, and 45% of the population under 12 years old are illiterate. This is due to long travel distances, poor transport facilities and lack of finances for education resulting in a dropout rate of 14.5%, almost 10 times the national average.

In terms of healthcare and child protection challenges, 74% of people live in dismal housing. Whole families live in a single room that is linked to others to form a “line house”. There is little ventilation, no privacy, and conditions are often unsanitary. Only 67.1% of households have their own latrines and the remaining families share common latrines or defecate in open areas.

World Vision began an assessment study in Musosolokwe in July 2009. It was found that the target area was hampered by insufficient health facilities, ill-equipped schools and a lack of food security. Children had to walk long distances to reach medical centres that were inadequately stocked, schools lacked necessary items like desks and learning materials and food was not available all year round. Recognising these needs, the Musosolokwe ADP began its initiatives in April 2010.

The harsh landscape in Musosolokwe deprives children of a fair chance at education. Children have to cover over 25 km to reach one of three schools in the area. Flooding also destroys roads and flood waters can wash away and drown children.

In addition, there is a high rate of malaria, diarrhoea and malnutrition among children. This leads to high mortality and stunted growth in children, which further perpetuates poverty in Musosolokwe.

Also, over 40% of children have only one meal a day due to poor crop harvest as a result of bad weather conditions and poor farming methods. Alternative sources of income are hard to come by, and natural resources in Musosolokwe are slowly being exploited by the community to earn more income.