CHILDREN’S EDUCATION PROGRAM – Kandy Friends In Need

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Foster Children’s Education Program

Implemented by the

Kandy Friend-In-Need Society

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world
Nelson Mandela

Having been officially established in November 1837 under the patronage of the then British Governor of Ceylon, Sir Stewert Mackenzie, the Kandy Friend-In-Need Society (KFINS) is one of the oldest Social Service Organizations in Sri Lanka. The Government Agent of Kandy was appointed as its ex officio President and the District Judge of Kandy as the Vice President. The main objective of the KFINS was to work out ways and means to render assistance to plantation workers who had been displaced due to the coffee blight, and were congregating around the roads and by-ways of Kandy town. It started activities by offering a monthly payment of a few rupees to these unfortunate people who were in dire need of such assistance. At its inception, KFINS was funded mainly with contributions from the plantation community and the government civil officials.

At present, KFINS stands out as one of the leading ‘Elder Care’ facilities in Sri Lanka, with two Elders’ Homes providing free residential accommodation to over 100 senior citizens, and a Retirement Home with 20 inmates who make a nominal monthly payment for the services they receive. It is now managed by a Board of Trustees, and a Management Council elected by its members. To mark the completion of 185 years of uninterrupted social service, and mark its 185^th Anniversary, KFINS has now decided to venture into a new domain, while making an effort to expand its elder care activities, considering the unfortunate plight of some school children, and the need to address numerous issues affecting the sustenance of social service organizations like the KFINS.

The Foster Children’s Education Program launched on 4^th November 2022, is an opportunity to all those interested in providing some assistance to devoted school children in the Central Province, who are performing well in their educational activities, but are unable to make use of the opportunities available to them to receive a better education, due to financial difficulties faced by their parents. Arrangements will also be made for the Foster Children to visit the KFINS head office and the Elders’ Home at Mulgampola at regular intervals, to show them the activities being undertaken, and to make them appreciate the need for the sustenance of such organizations to meet future challenges.

A Foster Parent will make a monthly payment of Rs. 3000/- for the first 11 months and an additional Rs. 2000/- for December of each year for a period of seven years, to meet a part of one Foster Child’s educational expenses from Year 6 to Year 12 (inclusive). A Foster Parent may assist more than one Foster Child and/or make a donation to the Foster Children’s Education Fund (FCEF) maintained by the KFINS to meet the costs of operating the program. Those who do not wish to be Foster Parents can also subscribe to this program by making a donation to the FCEF.

Further information about the Program can be obtained,