Some Highlights of Our Work to Date

#1 Stipends

We sponsor students from low-income families, helping them to stay in school and continue their education. We support their parents with stipends to cover the costs of school uniforms and supplies, and, in some cases transport to school and back. We do this by working directly with schools who have approached us for assistance to help their underprivileged students to remain in school despite their families' financial means. Our on-the-ground partner organization, Uplift Lanka, provides the management and oversight.

We fund university and vocal school students who might otherwise not be able to finish their education to complete their courses to be gainfully employed.

#2 English literacy

We fund textbooks and teaching aids to setup English literacy programs at underserved schools.

#3 Undergarments and uniforms

In 2025, we received a request to fund undergarments for schoolchildren which made us realize the broader needs required to help vulnerable students remain in school. We will continue to support clothing needs for school attendance.

#4 Supplies and photocopy machines

We fund underserved schools needing supplies and items like photocopy machines to provide the day-to-day lessons for their students.

We work with SLACO (Sri Lanka Association of Community Ophthalmologists) and other partners to restore vision and hope to those in need across several age groups.

#1 Schoolchildren

In partnership with the Ministry of Health's Colombo Municipal Council Eyecare Unit, we have an ongoing program to provide vision screenings, eye exams and custom-made prescription eyeglasses to students at 31 schools identified by the CMC as being underserved. Starting in October, 2025, each week, small batches of students are visiting the CMC's Eyecare Clinic located in Colombo 06 (Wellawatte) chaperoned by dedicated teachers and parents. These students were flagged as needing follow up when vision screenings were conducted onsite at the schools. The students receive a full eye exam and a prescription for eyeglasses as needed. Neat Optics (Pvt) Limited is providing custom-made eyeglasses at a highly discounted rate which Care for Lanka pays for. The students return to the clinic to pick up their glasses and are checked by the clinic staff to ensure that the comfort and fit is correct. Our hope is that by restoring full vision to students, they could continue their education on the path to eventually gaining employment.

#2 Working-age adults

Cataract surgeries for working age adults in their fifties and early sixties is critical to ensure continued employment and economic independence. We are supporting SLACO's mobile clinics and coordination of surgeries at Lions Hospitals given the backlog at government eye hospitals. Additionally, we are providing lenses and disposables to government eye hospitals to assist with clearing the numerous waitlists. The mobile clinics are also an opportunity to provide reading glasses and custom-made prescription glasses to those needing these aids.

#3 Seniors

Seniors are supported with cataract surgeries and eyeglasses. Restoring vision to seniors enables them to regain their mobility and freedom and eliminates the need for younger family members to compromise their work and education serving as caregivers. 

Addressing Period Poverty

In 2026, we are getting back to supporting this initiative which was one of our earliest which we paused until we could figure out the sustainable longer-term solution to address this critical need.

With the economic crisis of 2022 and the continued increase in cost of living, low-income households have to make trade offs. Essential health products like sanitary pads are not affordable with monthly income often not even covering basic food needs.

Lack of access to menstrual products is a key reason girls and women are missing school and work. In 2026, we hope to ensure uninterrupted schooling and work days by providing environmentally-friendly low-cost disposable sanitary napkins to underprivileged students and working adults. Towards the end of the year, we hope to explore potentially setting up a deserving community with a pad making capability that would at once provide economic development and necessary personal health products.