A bag full of new beginnings

In a makeshift classroom set up in a rural temple in Gampola, located in central Sri Lanka, children buzzed with excitement as they gathered around stacks of school bags. Some unzipped the bags immediately, eager to discover what's inside. Others carefully lay each item inside the bags, that included new books, crayons and even a water bottle, on their desks before admiring all the items and packing it all neatly away once again.  

For many of these children, it was the first time since Cyclone Ditwah that they owned a complete set of school supplies.

Initial estimates in the immediate aftermath of Ditwah indicated that over 275,000 children were impacted by the Cyclone. The cyclone washed away far more than homes and classrooms for these children. It swept away their school bags packed for the next day, their favourite crayons, exercise books filled with neat handwriting and everyday belongings that helped them feel ready to learn.

As communities slowly recovered, many children returned to school carrying the weight of those losses. Replacing school supplies was a luxury the affected families could not afford at the time, as the weight of rebuilding their lives had already overburdened them.  

With generous support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, UNICEF helped thousands of children take an important step towards normalcy by providing learning kits for children affected by Cyclone Ditwah. 

A total of 5,000 learning kits were procured for primary school students across the Eastern, Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces. Each kit contained A5 single-ruled and square-ruled exercise books, an A4 drawing book, pencils, erasers, pastel crayons, a school bag and a water bottle. These simple items meant children could return to the classroom ready to learn.

As children opened their bags together, teachers watched the excitement also replace uncertainty. For many, receiving the kits was more than having new school supplies. It was a reminder that they were not forgotten.

“When children return to school after an emergency, especially after a disaster like Cyclone Ditwah, they often need even the most basic tools, which allow them to participate and feel included. These learning kits eased the burden on families who had already lost so much. They helped children return to learning with confidence and dignity. We appreciate this timely support. It has made a great difference in helping children and schools restore a sense of normalcy,” said Mrs. T. Nayomi Hettiarachchi, Provincial Director of Education, Central Province.

Recovery also meant ensuring the youngest learners were not left behind.

For preschool children, learning happens through play and exploration. In a post-emergency context, these experiences become even more important, helping children rebuild confidence and regain a sense of routine.

To support early childhood learning, UNICEF also procured 530 preschool learning kits via funding from The Church, which are currently being distributed across all nine provinces.

Each kit contains a rich collection of educational materials, including wooden toys, counting games, puzzles, alphabet and number flash cards in English, Sinhala and Tamil. The kits also include other play-based learning materials such as building blocks, art supplies, emotion matching cards, and story sequencing activities, which will help preschool teachers create engaging learning environments for their students.

"Play is one of the most powerful ways young children learn and recover after an emergency. These kits have given preschool teachers practical resources to engage children in meaningful learning while also supporting their emotional wellbeing,” said Mr. S.J.U.B. Koralegedera, Director Early Childhood Development Authority, Sabaragamuwa Province.

A school bag cannot undo the losses caused by a disaster, but it can represent a new beginning.

They are a reminder that recovery is not only about rebuilding roads and homes, but also about helping children reclaim their childhoods. Through the generous support of The Church, thousands of children affected by Cyclone Ditwah have returned to classrooms with the tools they need to look ahead with hope.

The learning materials were procured and distributed with support from The Church, as part of the United Nations Sri Lanka Humanitarian Priorities Plan, providing essential support to children and families affected by Cyclone Ditwah.