Asha Trust

Asha Trust (Sri Lanka) supports local community workers within Athidiya, a challenging area on the outskirts of the capital Colombo. We aim to enable local people to make a difference in their communities. Athidiya is an area where the housing is poor, there are high rates of unemployment and under employment, opportunities  for young people are not great. You would recognise this place as ‚Äö√Ñ√≤an area of high deprivation‚Äö√Ñ√¥. Asha Trust supports a team of community workers who operate from a purpose built community centre in the heart of Athidiya. They run an after schools programme for children and young people providing booster classes for key subjects, plus a wider well-being programme promoting resilience and emotional intelligence, taking time each day to reflect . This is all set within a supportive pastoral context. The centre operates an inclusive policy so a number of young people with disabilities who are out of mainstream education or struggle within it also attend. In addition, Asha Trust provides direct services to young people with disabilities .

So here‚Äö√Ñ√¥s the good news! Over the 14 years Asha Trust (Sri Lanka) has been active, things have improved. The housing is now brick built and not wooden shacks with dirt floors, sanitation has improved, there is more understanding and acceptance of those with disabilities etc. But despite this, there is still a lot to do to enable this community to thrive. We are grateful for ordinary people like you that continue to join us in bringing about change.