Araliya Pre-school, Gonakowila

Project manager: Christina Ahlberg. cahlberg@hotmail.com

Supervisor Thilaka Wijesundara is posing in front of the school's new signpost

For more than 32 years the Aid Association of Swedish Friends of Children in Sri Lanka have enabled operations at Araliya Pre-school in Gonakowila, a poor area about 20 kilometres south of Colombo the oldest commitment of the association.
The supervisor is Thilaka Wijesundara and she has worked at the preschool from the start.

Approximately 50 to 60 pre-schoolers are attending the school. The aid association of Swedish Friends of Children in Sri Lanka contributes to maintenance of the premises and to educational materials for the children.

In the year of 2006 the aid association of Swedish Friends of Children in Sri Lanka along with the supervisor Thilaka Wijesundara and three preschool teachers and the parents formed the Sweden - Sri Lanka Ratmalana Friendship Society.

The authorities have provided house and land free of charge. Apart from very small contributions from the parents the aid association of Swedish Friends of Children in Sri Lanka defrays for the overall operation including reparations performed.

During 2010-2011 the aid association of Swedish Friends of Children in Sri Lanka contributed to an extensive renovation of the preschool.

It is with pride the supervisor and preschool teacher Thilaka Wijesundara is posing in front of the school's new signpost.


The ladies at the preschool Araliya in Gonakowila have broader horizons
The aid association of Swedish Friends of Children in Sri Lanka along with the four teachers at Araliya Pre-school applied for and received grants from Forum Syd in Sweden to implement a democracy and education project.

A typical day at preschool - but the photographer was there of course!