Rotary Club of Clackamas made a $550 contribution to the Back to School project run by the Rotary Club of Colombo Uptown.
This is an annual project run by the club to donate books and schoolbags to rural school children. In Sri Lanka, the new school year starts in January.
The initial goal was 55 children, but with our contribution and donations from their members the project was able to provide books and bags to 102 children.
The following three rural villages received the gifts.
- Neboda – 40 children
- Miriswatte – 30 children
- Yatyantota – 32 children
Though public education is free in Sri Lanka, parents have to purchase books, uniforms, and other school materials. So a project such as this is a great help to these rural families. Sri Lanka has one of the most literate populations among developing nations. Its youth literacy rate stands at 98%, computer literacy rate at 45%, and primary school enrollment rate at over 99%.
The Club donated $250 and a few of it’s members also supported by providing generous donations: Joel and Bob donated $300 together.