OUR HEART AND FOCUS: Word and Deed carries the heart of leaving a legacy of a better tomorrow, which is outworked by empowering future generations. As a Christ-centred organization, we take it as our responsibility to follow Jesus' commands, particularly to meet the physical needs of those we serve. VISION TO MISSION: In Practice
EDUCATION - Where education abounds, opportunities for a better life are made available. Providing access to quality education will give children who cannot afford such facilities a stepping stone to a better future. This is made a reality through our *Montessori program, Afternoon school tuition classes, and morning classes for school dropouts.*
NUTRITION - Good and balanced nutrition leads to better concentration in studies. Further malnourishment is a significant problem in our country, especially amongst the impoverished communities.
*Within the classes, each student is given a meal*, to ensure that they receive the necessary nutrition to facilitate their concentration and studies, as many families are not able to provide their children with a full meal each day. To combat malnutrition in Sri Lanka, we work with the *mothers and babies who are diagnosed with malnutrition*. They are provided with needed prescribed nutrition-rich milk powder nourishing food items. Additionally, they are taught about nutrition and health, and their health is progressively monitored with connection to the assigned Area Midwives. LEADERSHIP - Teaching individuals to safeguard and grow themselves, and in turn safeguard and develop their families and communities, is key to the long-lasting well-being of a community of people. The *Women's Empowerment Program* teaches women practical life skills and skills to bring stability to their homes, provide a better home environment for their children, generate additional income, cultivate value through knowledge and ability, etc. Many of the women are quite young and undergoing domestic violence, financial hardship, and unpreparedness relating to child-rearing and homemaking. At the weekly gatherings, they find encouragement and strength through basic counselling, and even inner healing and peace by expressing themselves through crafts, games and activities - which they never had time or space for before. Where children and youth in the area face the growing danger of addictions to alcohol, drugs & gambling, and violence and engaging in other dangerous activities, we provide an alternative of healthier activities and fellowship. A safe environment for young people at the *Kids Clubs* helps foster growth in their community relationships. They learn about good social interactions and ethics, to be well rounded and whole persons as they grow up. EVANGELISM -
Through our *Children’s Outreach programs*, believing that no one is too young to know the love of Christ, we reach out to the next generation leading them to spiritual strength and growth. Connecting with churches across the nation and other Ministries, we have been able to minister to over 60,000 children.
*Teacher trainings* are also conducted to train teachers to steward well the young minds and hearts that will be the future of the church and nation. Teaching them to teach based on age and characteristics of that age, how to best engage through creativity and other methods, learning to utilize available low-cost materials for the best educational experience, and more, is knowledge gained through experience of more than 40 years of successful Sunday School Ministry passed down generationally. At Word & Deed Lanka, our vision of empowering lives for a better tomorrow is accomplished through the projects and programs we undertake and implement year-round. Therefore, we implement different social development projects mainly within estate sector communities in Hatton. Historically tea plantation workers have been categorized as less-than-citizens and have found it very difficult to establish life and culture. With many continuing hindrances in the present day, such as low wages despite harsh working conditions, each generation passes on a legacy of hardship and poverty. Due to poverty, many Sri Lankan children drop out of school to earn an income to support their families. While the minimum legal working age at Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) is 16 years old, one study found that 73% of Sri Lankan children were engaged in employment before the age of 12.*
Long working hours and strenuous labour adversely impact children. Furthermore, child labour means education is not a priority, perpetuating the cycle of poverty even further.*
*Extract from 'THE EXPLOITATION OF TEA PLANTATION WORKERS IN SRI LANKA' by
Karuna Lakhiani | https://borgenproject.org/tea-plantation-workers-in-sri-lanka
