In November 2024, Net4kids visited Sri Lanka to monitor our newest project in the tea plantations. We stayed in Deniyaya, a village in the middle of the tea plantations in the rainforest of the Matara district of Sri Lanka. Our Net4kids team visited our local partner, Sevalanka Foundation, for the first time to check on the progress of our project for vulnerable children and their communities.
The Sevalanka Foundation, active throughout Sri Lanka for many years, has deep roots in both local community development and sustainable agriculture. It was incredibly inspiring to meet our local heroes in person. Project Manager Mr. Krishantha and Mr. Ajith Tennakoon, Regional Project Director, told us about the important work they have been doing for years and also gave us insights into the broader history of the country, including the historical ties with the Netherlands dating back to the Dutch colonial era, and the more recent political changes. Super interesting!
In this first joint Net4kids project in the region, launched in February 2024, we focused on improving access to water, sanitation, healthcare, and education for marginalized communities in the tea plantations of Deniyaya, Sri Lanka.
We linked this project directly to our investor, Haarlem Tea Foundation – the foundation of the tea company Haarlem Tea Company. Through this foundation, they focus on sustainable development, supporting communities in the tea industry, and activities that contribute to improving the living conditions of tea farmers, plantation workers, and their communities.
Education to strengthen communities
Education is a powerful way to strengthen communities and promote sustainable development. Sevalanka focuses on educating local communities about the importance of continuity in quality education. Thanks to our financial support, they have held seminars and interactive sessions in the villages of the project area, reaching hundreds of parents and children and highlighting the benefits of education. Additionally, Sevalanka (together with community members) has improved the infrastructure at local Early Child Development Centers to create safe and pleasant learning environments.
We were warmly welcomed by happy children aged between 3 and 6 who were practicing a dance show. Their teachers showed us the classrooms and play areas of the ECDCs. It was wonderful to see that their play spaces were safe (for example, by placing a fence around the play area) and that they had everything needed. The first reports already showed that, since Sevalanka's support began in these centers, the children's health and learning have improved significantly.
The active participation of the community has been crucial to ensuring that the achievements are lasting. Local parents and villagers have not only benefited from the improvements but have also been directly involved in the projects, such as painting the walls of an ECDC or deciding together with Sevalanka which building improvements take priority. This involvement builds a strong sense of ownership and ensures the long-term success of Sevalanka's work in this area.
Sustainable water security and sanitation facilities
One of the main goals of this project, which also aligns well with our own ambition to further integrate themes such as sustainability and climate change into all our Net4kids projects, is to improve water security and sanitation for the communities. With our support, Sevalanka has built and repaired key water systems, including latrines and water storage facilities. This provides clean drinking water to more than 350 children and their families at 10 Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDCs). By the end of 2024, more than 1,000 people in the community will benefit from these systems, representing a huge improvement in health and
environmental conditions of all members of the community through this sustainable water management.
During our visit, we went to the nearby tea plantations where many families live in so-called 'line houses' – a row of simple houses in the middle of the tea plantations. Since our visit was scheduled for a Saturday morning, most children were at home without their parents, as the latter were working in the tea fields. Older children look after the younger ones, but still, from our Western perspective, it remains a bit shocking to see a small 4-year-old child home alone. We saw new toilet facilities that have significantly improved sanitation and make a tangible difference in the families' daily lives.
But to be honest, it remains impoverished. One way to improve life is by helping parents earn more money. This can be done by making the entire tea industry more sustainable, so that every farmer and their workers receive a fair price for their products. By focusing on fair trade and being transparent about every step in the making and selling of tea, we can truly help families earn a stable income – from growing tea to selling it.
During our visit, we received a 'crash course' on tea production, from which we learned a great deal. We spoke with a tea picker, the mother of one of the children we saw in the line houses. Five to sometimes six days a week, this lady walks through the steep plantations. After about 3 to 4 hours of picking, her basket is full and weighs approximately 15 to 20 kilograms. Although tea is a major source of income on the export market, tea pickers are still among the poorest people. A full day of picking is equivalent to about two to three euros in wages.
Legal support against inequality
That is why one of the other goals of this project is to provide legal support to promote fair labor and equal rights. Sevalanka has, among other things, provided legal assistance to the workers to obtain essential documents such as birth certificates and national IDs. Many of them lack legal status because they are originally Indian Tamils who were brought to Sri Lanka by the British in the 19th and 20th centuries as laborers on the tea plantations. For decades, they have been considered foreigners by other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. Through the mobile legal clinics of the Sevalanka team, we have helped many families obtain these important documents. This enables them to claim their rights and gain access to public services. This work is essential to reduce inequality and support stable communities in this region.
Sustainability and regenerative agriculture
We ended our trip in Deniyaya with a visit to one of the small farmers supported by Sevalanka through their sustainable agriculture projects. At the demonstration farm – which is also frequently visited by other local farmers – we learn how tea (and other crops) can be planted and produced in a sustainable, regenerative way. This is not only a huge improvement for the environment, but this farmer and his employees also receive more money for the high-quality tea and other products such as cinnamon. The farmers share their learning experiences and work together, bottom-up, to improve the tea industry. But to truly make a difference, every stakeholder – from the consumer in the Netherlands to the factory owner in Sri Lanka – must be aware of their role in changing the system towards a fairer and more sustainable one. That is why we are proud to partner with Haarlem Tea Company. They raise awareness among trading partners, customers, and consumers.
“As a family business, we look beyond today and care for future generations of tea drinkers and tea producers.” – Bob & Kim Paardekoper, founders Haarlem Tea Company
Conclusion
Our visit to the project in Deniyaya truly showed us the power of collaboration and the impact of our joint efforts. The projects supported by the Haarlem Tea Foundation, Sevalanka, and Net4kids are great examples of how targeted support and community involvement can lead to major changes. The improvements in water systems, education, and legal support contribute to a sustainable and fair future for the children and families here. Net4kids is pleased to continue with this impactful project, which ends in 2025, and to commit together to new projects by Sevalanka to support the marginalized.
to support communities, the farmers, their workers, and the most vulnerable children in the tea region.
