ChildFund to bring in $ 5.25 m for development of children

By Nizla Naizer

CCF Sri Lanka which re-launched their corporate brand as ChildFund Sri Lanka last week, announced that USD 5.25 million will be obtained through international sponsors and grants to ensure the development of close to 20,000 children in the island this year.

From left: ChildFund Sri Lanka Sponsor Relations Manager Dinantha Thambavita, ChildFund Sri Lanka Programme Director Senthra Manel De Silva, ChildFund Sri Lanka National Director Guru Naik, ChildFund Sri Lanka Operations Manager P. Jaganathan, ChildFund SL Finance Director Madhuka Dias at the launch of the new brand name

ChildFund Sri Lanka Director Guru Naik explained that the launch of the new name increases access to funds from over 12 more destinations taking the reach of the NGO to over 56 countries. “From USD 4.5 million in 2008, we have increased the sponsors to USD 5.25 million.” This includes 14,000 individual sponsors with over 50% contributed by the USA and the remainder from Germany, Taiwan, Japan and New Zealand.
Naik explained that while a portion of these funds will be utilised to establish centres in the North in Vavuniya in particular, they have already established two centres in Trincomalee and Batticaloa to enable the development of children in those areas. “The disruption in a child’s education is the most disturbing factor we come across,” Naik explained, “And since education is the biggest asset to a child we will focus our energy in the North to returning children to the education mainstream.”
The NGO previously called CCF underwent an international change in the brand in order to refocus their attention on the development of a child through its infant, school going and youth stages. Previously the fund used to develop children on a sector basis with attention provided to health and sanitation, nutrition and education to name a few. While it has been in operation in Sri Lanka for the last 24 years, Naik explained that it takes a global perspective and collaborative effort in to substantially impact the issues of poverty and lack of development that are facing children today.