iSLE
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iSLE
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implementing Sri Lankan Empowerment
Annual Report 31[st] December 2023
1. Introduction
iSLE (Implementing Sri Lankan Empowerment) is a UK-based registered charity established in 2022 to improve the lives of individuals and communities in Sri Lanka through greater access to basic resources including clean water, nutrition, healthcare, shelter, education and networks.
We work with international partners in Sri Lanka to ensure our projects are sustainable and focus on areas that could most benefit from our support. All trustees are volunteers to allow maximal resources to be delivered to the underprivileged.
2. 2023 Projects
Project MUNCH (Malnourishment in Underprivileged Children)
Sri Lanka in 2022 was in the midst of its worst economic crisis since 1948. The rising cost of fuel and food prices combined with stagnant or reduced household incomes has affected a large proportion of the population[1] . UNICEF has estimated that more than 5.7 million people required humanitarian assistance in Sri Lanka; this includes 2.3 million children who are disproportionately affected by the current crisis, with an estimated 56,000 children suffering from extreme malnutrition.
The number of children affected were expected to rise further, with Sri Lanka already being among the top 10 countries for the number of malnourished children. Levels of school absenteeism/dropout rates were also likely to rise as a result and further exacerbate inequality and poverty rates.
In response to ongoing financial hardships, 70% of Sri Lankan households are said to be reducing meal according to the President of the Food First Information & Action Network (FIAN)[2] .
Mullaitivu lies within the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and is home to communities which were heavily affected by the armed conflict that lasted for nearly three decades in Sri Lanka. Statistics reported by the Demographic Health Survey (2016) show that 26% of children aged 0-5 years are
1 https://www.unicef.org/media/126106/file/ROSA-Humanitarian-SitRep-30-June-2022.pdf
2 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63868497
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underweight within this region, higher than the national average of 21%. Furthermore, the issue is compounded by poor hygiene and sanitation locally which lead to increased prevalence of infections that cause sickness and diarrhoea.
Project MUNCH (Malnourishment in Underprivileged Children) was a collaborative project between the charities iSLE and Child Aid Lanka, with support from ZDE-RDHS-Nallur Rotary. Our aim was to alleviate some of the acute burden of malnutrition within the Mullaitivu district of Sri Lanka, improve school attendance and create a lasting and sustainable change through education in nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation.
A total of £5,700 was raised to help 111 beneficiaries aged between 6 and 10 years old from two local schools (Karunaddukeny School and Thimpilly School). Each received a nutritious free daily meal for the entirety of the 2022/2023 academic year, accessible via their school canteen. Additionally, project MUNCH was designed to have a lasting impact via:
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Providing training for teachers & parents on proper nutrition, hygiene and sanitation.
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Demonstrations of nutritional food preparation for parents.
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Promoting hygiene practices among the children.
The project commenced in September 2022 and closed in September 2023.
3. Trustees
All three trustees elected to continue as trustees for the year ending 31[st] December 2024 namely:
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Dr Luxshman Somanathan (M.B.B.S, B.Sc, F.R.C.S.)
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Mr Anthony Sean Joseph McQuaid (B.A. Oxon, M.B.A)
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Dr Thomas Pearson (MPhys, MBChB, PhD)
4. Accounts
The finances for MUNCH were provided before iSLE was officially recognised by the Charities commission and so the accounts here only reflect financial movements from the date of recognition which is the 23[rd] of January 2023.
During this time there were no outgoings except bank charges (£49) but £2,440 was raised in donations.
| Sum of Debit |
Sum of Credit |
|
|---|---|---|
| Bank charges | 49 | |
| Donations | 2440 | |
| Grand Total | 49 | 2440 |
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