Location and general information
Categories
Access to Sport - 
Children with disabilities - 
Gender Equality - 
Healthy lifestyle - 
Personal development - 
Strengthening partnerships
Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnershipsContext
Children in Sri Lanka are growing up in environments shaped by the 30-year civil war, the 2014 Sinhala–Muslim riots, the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks and the recent economic crisis. This has weakened social cohesion and reduced opportunities for children to play and develop in safe and supportive environments.
Sport is one of the few activities in which children from different ethnic and religious backgrounds can meet, build trust and learn to live together. However, most families cannot afford sports equipment, training sessions or safe play areas.
Project goals
- Provide regular, safe access to sport for more than 2,200 underprivileged children in nine Child Action Lanka centres
- Strengthen social cohesion by bringing together children from different ethnic and religious backgrounds
- Support the physical and emotional well-being of children
- Ensure that disabled children are fully included in sports activities
- Promote equal opportunities for girls and boys
- Build children’s confidence, teamwork, discipline and leadership skills
- Organise an inter-centre football tournament
- Hold a Child Congress
- Identify children with strong sporting potential and create pathways for long-term development in football or related fields
- Strengthen partnerships between communities, coaches, teachers, local leaders and child protection services
Project content
- Weekly football and multi-sport training sessions at each Child Action Lanka centre, focusing on teamwork, confidence and physical well-being
- Adapted sports activities for disabled children, supported by trained staff to ensure safe and meaningful participation
- Regular friendly matches and practice sessions to help children build skills and prepare for inter-centre events
- Provision of essential sports equipment and safe play areas to make activities accessible to all children, including girls and disabled children
- A large inter-centre football tournament in Colombo, bringing together children from different regions to promote unity, respect and social cohesion
- Mixed-team formations during the tournament to encourage interaction and respect across ethnic, religious and linguistic boundaries
- A Child Congress in Colombo, giving children a platform to speak about children’s rights, peacebuilding, gender equality, mental health and resilience
- Joint activities with local leaders, sports professionals, teachers and child protection services to strengthen collaboration and community support
- Healthy snacks provided during training sessions to support children’s nutrition and overall well-being
Partner
