Keells expands ‘Pre-School Meal Programme’ to reach 500 children in flood affected areas

Building on its ongoing commitment to child wellbeing, Keells is embarking on an extension of its social community outreach programme, Brighter Tomorrow for Our Little Ones, in partnership with the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement and a group of likeminded partners. 
The initiative focuses on supporting Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in Kandy, Matale and Gampaha that have been severely affected by the recent adverse weather, providing both immediate support and longer-term assistance to help these centres recover and continue serving their communities.
This initiative builds on the Keells pre-school meal programme, which has delivered over 450,000 meals to children across 101 pre-schools since its launch in 2022. In the wake of the recent natural disaster, extended disruption to pre-schools risks impacting early childhood development, making it essential to help these centres return to normal as quickly as possible. 
With this in mind, Keells, together with its partners, has stepped forward to establish community kitchens and gardens, while also providing learning materials and playtime aids to support regular meals and a nurturing learning environment for young children.
The project focuses on three critical pillars designed to ensure that the development curve for children in affected areas remains uninterrupted:
Nutritional Continuity: The program will expand to 15 ECDs in Kandy, Matale and Gampaha, reaching over 500 children. This will be funded by the “Meal Card” model, available for purchase at Rs. 850 in-store and online, where Keells continues its commitment to match public contributions on a 5-to-1 basis.
Learning Restoration: To replace vital educational materials lost to water damage, John Keells Auto will provide essential school supplies, including stationery, colour pencils, clay, and learning aids, ensuring that 500 children can return to a functional classroom environment.
Rebuilding room for playtime: Recognizing that physical activity and engaging in playtime is vital for cognitive development, the initiative will prioritize the restoration of outdoor play areas and playtime equipment depending on the need of the ECD.
This project brings together a group of like-minded partners united by a shared commitment to supporting children in flood-affected communities. Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement serves as the primary implementation and mobilisation partner, working closely with communities on the ground.
The initiative also draws on the expertise of Ceylon Agri to provide agricultural guidance, along with Thuru, which supports the establishment and upkeep of school gardens.
John Keells CG Auto joins the initiative by providing essential learning supplies to support the children’s education.To ensure strong governance and accountability, BDO comes on board as the assurance partner, auditing the use of funds, while Digital Content supports communications to keep the public informed of progress in a transparent and timely manner.
With initial estimates indicating that over 275,000 children have been affected by Cyclone Ditwah facing displacement, damaged homes, disrupted schooling and heightened health risks, with actual numbers expected to be even higher, initiatives such as Brighter Tomorrow for Our Little Ones offer much-needed hope to impacted communities. By inviting customers to join hands in contributing towards pre-school meal cards and investing in these children’s futures, Keells continues to reaffirm its commitment to improving the quality of life of people across the nation.