Transforming the care of children in Sri Lanka

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We’re so pleased to share with you some of the important milestones and inspiring developments at Their Future Today (TFT) over the past six months, as we continue our mission to ensure that every child in Sri Lanka grows up in a safe, loving family, not an institution.

This period has marked both powerful progress on the ground and real steps forward in national systems change.

New Resources to Strengthen Family-Based Care

In January, we launched our much-anticipated Alternative Family Care Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Handbooks, developed specifically for frontline practitioners supporting children in care. These clear, practical guides cover foster care, kinship care, and adoption and are designed to help probation officers, social workers, legal professionals, and NGO staff make decisions that prioritise child safety, stability, and family connection.

Developed using global best practices and local insight, these resources are grounded in human rights principles and include guidance on safeguarding, placement processes, and long-term support. Feedback from government commissioners and practitioners has been overwhelmingly positive—they’ve told us these tools are long overdue and will be crucial in filling longstanding gaps in training and care standards across the country.

Celebrating Our Progress with Key National Partners

To mark this important step forward, we were honoured to be hosted at a special celebration by His Excellency Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, at his residence in Colombo.

The day began with a pioneering roundtable discussion on foster care, led by our specialist partner Dr Vasundhra, from India’s Centre of Excellence in Alternative Care. The guest list was extraordinary—bringing together the National Probation Commissioner and six of the nine district commissioners, some of whom had travelled over seven hours to be part of this conversation. The Prime Minister, while unable to attend, sent a message of support that was deeply appreciated.

Following a heartfelt address by His Excellency, the evening continued with a reception attended by over 30 key stakeholders, including senior representatives from UNICEF, banks, NGOs, corporate supporters, and several care leavers. Together, we launched the handbooks and screened our award-winning film (produced by Helpfilms UK), which was warmly received and sparked meaningful dialogue.

Engaging Communities: Promoting Education & Raising Awareness

Shortly after, we held one of our largest-ever community outreach events in Pinkanda. Over 1,100 children received school book packs in a vibrant and joyful celebration, marking 20 years of TFT’s work and the distribution of more than 40,000 book packs to children across rural Sri Lanka.

But more importantly, this event served as a platform to raise awareness about the dangers of institutional care and the need for family-based alternatives. With around 3,000 families and caregivers in attendance, we used storytelling, testimonies, and heartfelt speeches to spark conversation and provide hope.

Southern Province Commissioner Rasika Dissanayake delivered a powerful address, commending TFT’s commitment to preventing abandonment, reuniting families, and promoting a future where children grow up with love, stability, and dignity. This event was a vivid reminder of how education and care reform are deeply interconnected, and how community engagement remains one of our most powerful tools for change.

Welcoming Nimmu – Leading with Lived Experience

We’re also thrilled to share that we’ve welcomed Nimali (Nimmu) to the TFT team as our Project Coordinator for Foster Care. A care leaver who spent over a decade in institutional care, Nimmu brings invaluable lived experience, passion, and professional insight to her role.

She holds a degree in Journalism, Advertising, and Mass Communication from NIILM University in India and additional qualifications in psychology, criminal investigation, and social sciences.

Nimmu leads our foster care programme and continues to raise awareness through national media, international platforms, and her co-leadership of two care leavers' networks. Her belief is clear and heartfelt: no child should grow up alone.

Launching the House of Dreams Project

Under Nimmu’s leadership, we’ve also launched one of our most impactful new initiatives—The House of Dreams Project—designed to support children still living in Sri Lanka’s Child Development Centres (CDCs).

This therapeutic programme helps children reflect on their lives using the Three Houses Model:

• House of Worries (acknowledging their fears),

• House of Good Things (celebrating strengths), and

• House of Dreams (imagining their ideal futures).

Through creative expression, peer mentoring, and structured group work, children are developing resilience, emotional awareness, and practical life skills. 

As part of the project, Nimmu is also engaging directly with CDC matrons, collecting vital data on:

• Children who could be reunited with their families

• Reasons for abandonment

• Staff knowledge and perceptions of foster care

Many staff are now expressing concerns over children leaving care unprepared at 18, and some have directly called for public education campaigns to raise awareness of foster care as a real and needed alternative.

Together, through strategic advocacy, community engagement, and the lived leadership of inspiring individuals like Nimmu, we are helping to shape a brighter future for children in Sri Lanka—one where they are protected, supported, and surrounded by love.

Thank you, as always, for sharing this journey with us. Your belief in our mission and continued generosity make everything we do possible.

With deepest gratitude,
Joel

Links:

• Our new film