ABOUT THIS PROJECT

The Kalapuwa Sri Project involves the design and documentation of a new orphanage facility located near the city of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The new facility will more than double the capacity of the existing Sumadra Sri Orphanage, itself a major successful local institution located in the same area. Funding for the construction of the project was provided by Asiana Education Development (AED), a non-profit organization based in Sri Lanka with US offices in Seattle, WA.

The project was divided into two phases: The Phase I portion houses approximately 400 boys ranging in age from 2 to 16 years old in clustered residential cabanas. These cabana clusters are arrayed around a large fresh water lagoon that provides numerous recreational and vocational opportunities. The lagoon itself also serves as a primary part of the site’s water management and drinking water reclamation system. Phase I was constructed and opened in May, 2008. Many of the pictures can be seen in the gallery below.

Phase II included a diverse set of additional amenities, including a nursery, an infirmary, educational facilities, kitchen and dining facilities, meeting spaces, and guest quarters to be shared between the two orphanages.

We were delighted to learn that after the new construction, the orphanage introduced a robust vocational training program focused on sustainable fish farming – a critical skill and real opportunity for these youth with few options.

Child Empowerment International: “Child Empowerment International constructed a fish processing facility that has added greatly to the scope and efficiency of the previous vocational training program. The unit helps facilitate the cleaning, processing and ultimately the marketing of the fish where the children can be directly involved. The facility also provides training on the best practices, methods of maintaining the quality and standard of the farmed fish, and the packaging and final delivery of the fish. Students are also involved in the money management aspect of the project and have the opportunity to learn important accounting skills.”