Ahead of the 2026 academic year, BUDS-UK partnered with 15 schools across Batticaloa to distribute school starter packs to 200 children from the most economically deprived families in the district. Each pack included two sets of uniforms, exercise books, textbooks for the appropriate grade, stationery, a school bag, and a water bottle.
The distribution was led on the ground by the BUDS-BT team alongside school principals and the Zonal Education Office. Priority was given to children from war-widow households, families affected by the 2024 floods, and households where parents work in informal or seasonal labour and could not otherwise afford the materials needed to send their children back to school.
"For many families in our villages, the start of a new school year is a moment of real anxiety," said one principal at the handover ceremony. "When a child arrives without uniform or books, they often stop attending within weeks. What BUDS-UK has done is remove that barrier — these children now start the year on equal footing with their classmates."
This year's distribution was made possible by donors across the United Kingdom who contributed to the Education appeal between January and March 2026. The BUDS-UK Education subcommittee will continue to monitor attendance and progress for the cohort throughout the year, with a follow-up review planned for the end of Term 1.
If you would like to support our work in education, you can donate to the Education programme directly, or get in touch with the team to learn more about scholarship sponsorships.