‘Hoppers London’ joins Hemas to provide nutrition packs to Piyawara Preschool Children affected by ongoing crisis.

United Kingdom’s popular restaurant ‘Hoppers’, partnered with Hemas Outreach Foundation to provide nutrition packs to children in Piyawara Preschools to combat malnutrition in the formative years of early childhood development. 

The ongoing economic crisis has affected many children and families in vulnerable communities leading to malnutrition and starvation across the country. 

 In an effort to address this issue, ‘Hoppers’ collaborated with the Hemas Outreach Foundation to meet the nutritional needs of the children at the Piyawara Preschools through their ‘Feeding the Future’ initiative.  

The ‘Feeding the Future’ project, with the assistance of the Early Childhood and Care Development (ECCD) Officers around the island, will provide nutrition packs valued at £25 to 367 families from 15 of the worst-affected Piyawara preschools in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Monaragala, Mannar and Ampara. 

The short-term aim of the ‘Feeding the Future’ project is to provide essential nutrition to preschool children to ensure their development needs are met.  

This will also motivate the families to ensure their children attend preschool regularly for their early learning.  In the longer term, once the crisis has abated the project plans to focus on other needs.  

Commenting on the partnership Hemas Outreach Foundation / AYATI Trust Sri Lanka Executive Director Shiromi Masakorala said: “Malnourishment has always been a major problem for children in vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka, and we hope through this project we will be able to combat this in communities that are affected the most by the present crisis. 

“Hemas Outreach Foundation has always been at the forefront in enriching the lives of the underprivileged children in Sri Lanka through early childhood care and development. We are honoured to have Hoppers London join hands with us to help the children of our Piyawara preschools by ensuring they receive the needed nutrition during these challenging times.‘’