Our Ongoing Projects
Arthacharya recently opened two new Community Colleges in Godakawela, in the Ratnapura district, and Balapitiya, in the Galle district, to create self-employment opportunities for community members, especially married women living below the poverty line.
In Sri Lanka, a large number of students drop out of school before reaching the O Levels or at that level, due to poverty, a lack of facilities and teachers in schools, and parental ignorance. In areas such as Tanamalwila and Wellawaya, where Arthacharya and Arthavida operate, travelling to school is a major challenge in the interior because schools are located far away and bus services are poor or non-existent. Besides, the wild elephant menace is a serious problem that children encounter when they go to school early in the morning.
Many women in the difficult areas where we work remain unemployed and without any income of their own after marriage, which often occurs early. Our Community Colleges, which serve low-income communities, conduct a market scan to identify which forms of self-employment are viable in the local market, enabling women to eventually start small businesses they can run from home. Our training programmes are designed based on the findings of the market scan. Men, who are often underemployed due to a lack of irrigation during the dry season and longstanding droughts, are also a focus group of the programme.
The outcomes and impacts of the Community College programme, already implemented in Wellawaya, Tanamalwila, and Nikaweratiya, are impressive. Our surveys show that a high percentage of trainees earn an independent income from their small businesses. Some have grown to the point that they are no longer small, even creating job opportunities for others.
Another special feature of the Community College is that, through its partnership with Arthavida, Arthacharya’s microfinance arm, beneficiaries can access loans at a reasonable interest rate.
Sampath Foundation in the Netherlands played a key role in mobilising donor support for the two new additions to the Community College network, as it has always done. In Balapitiya, the school is funded by an anonymous donor, while in Godakawela, the Community College building is to be erected soon, with resources from the Vebego Foundation. The location for the Godakawela Community College was proposed by Iresha and Inoka Knops, the Dutch sisters who will fund the College's operational activities.
At present, Arthacharya, together with the Sampath Foundation, plans to establish another Community College in Puttalam, an area facing significant ecological and infrastructure challenges.
Our Ongoing Projects
Engaged in poverty reduction Arthacharya is an organisation which focuses only on the poorest of the poor in the society. Also, it is definitely not yet another service delivery operation.
Community College Project
The Community College Project provides inclusive, non-formal vocational education for poor and vulnerable individuals who have missed formal education opportunities. Unlike conventional training models, it has no age, gender, or educational restrictions, making it accessible to youth, women, school dropouts, and older adults alike. With poverty as the main criterion, the project offers demand-driven skills training linked to local market opportunities, helping beneficiaries build livelihoods, start small businesses, and move toward greater economic independence and self-reliance.
Vikalpa Project
The Vikalpa Project empowers poor families through sustainable beekeeping as a livelihood opportunity. By providing practical training, technical guidance, and ongoing support, the project helps beneficiaries develop beekeeping skills, generate additional income, and build long-term self-reliance. Over time, the project has expanded beyond honey production to include value-added products, market access, and local leadership through the beekeeping association, creating a more sustainable and community-owned model for economic empowerment.
The Home Gardening Project primarily targets women and aims to ensure family food security by helping poor and vulnerable households grow their own food. It was introduced as a practical response to the food and economic crisis, when many families were struggling to afford basic meals and were limited to only one or two meals a day. Through training in home gardening and providing essential material support the project supports families to access healthy home-grown food, reduce household expenses, improve nutrition, and strengthen long-term self-reliance
Home Gardening Project
CKD(u) Prevention Project
The CKDu Prevention Project helps vulnerable rural communities reduce the risk of Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) through awareness, prevention, healthier lifestyle practices, and support for early diagnosis. A key aim of the project is to promote early prevention, as CKDu can severely affect the wellbeing and livelihoods of entire families, making poor households even more vulnerable. Through health education, practical guidance, community-based support, and assistance for health screenings, the project enables families to adopt safer habits, identify risks early, and make informed decisions to protect their long-term health and wellbeing
Project Gallery
ARTHACHARYA
Engaged in poverty reduction Arthacharya is an organisation which focuses only on the poorest of the poor in the society. Also, it is definitely not yet another service delivery operation.
CONTACT
info@arthacharya.LK
94 11 2635249
94 11 4863730
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