{"id":126863,"date":"2026-08-14T09:00:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T07:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/?p=126863"},"modified":"2026-08-14T09:00:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T07:00:02","slug":"in-sri-lanka-la-salle-provides-nutritious-meals-to-the-most-impoverished-because-no-child-can-learn-on-an-empty-stomach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/en\/in-sri-lanka-la-salle-provides-nutritious-meals-to-the-most-impoverished-because-no-child-can-learn-on-an-empty-stomach\/","title":{"rendered":"In Sri Lanka, La Salle provides nutritious meals to the most impoverished, because \u201cno child can learn on an empty stomach\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"image_pdf\"PDF<\/span><\/a>\"image_print\"PRINT<\/span><\/a><\/div>

The Lasallian presence in Asia and its educational service to the most impoverished transcends borders, cultures and religions, and extends to the island of Sri Lanka, south of India. \u201cThe De La Salle Brothers of Sri Lanka, we have been working for over 150 years providing quality education to this country,\u201d says Brother Jerad Mathews, of the Lasallian South Asia District (LASAD).<\/span><\/p>\n

There, in the Mannar region, amongst the Tamil community \u2013 a vulnerable and marginalised minority group \u2013 where access to basic services is very limited, and where families are unable to provide their children with a nutritious diet, lies the La Salle English Medium School in Madhu.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis school is situated in the north of part Sri Lanka, where the Brothers have been working for more than 75 years providing quality education to these students,\u201d says Brother Jerad, explaining that this mission, founded on 17 September 2018, \u201cis situated in a sacred area and in the middle of the jungle\u201d, in line with \u201cthe concept of going beyond borders and responding to the needs of the poor people, and also to work in the peripheries\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Meeting basic needs<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

However, as well as meeting educational needs, the Brothers know that \u201cno child can truly learn on an empty stomach\u201d. That is why providing the children with a nutritious meal every day not only fulfils a basic human right, but also safeguards their right to education, gives them the opportunity to stay in school and helps them to pursue their dreams.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith the help of the<\/span> La Salle Foundation, we are providing nutritious food to our kids every day,\u201d continues Brother Jerad. \u201cThese kids come from very far and some kids did not eat proper food since yesterday, but this meal is really helping them because some of their parents also told me that we are providing a good food to our kids, so this food is really nourishing them to to have a better edification, and also the students they come to school every day; that is a big success for this program\u201d, as they come every day, eat together and learn.<\/span><\/p>\n

The programme also involves parents in preparing the meals. \u201cEach parent prepares the food and they bring it here, and also we are providing quality food for our students,\u201d states Brother Jerad. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

We invite you to find out more about this story:<\/i><\/b><\/h2><\/div>