Opportunity For All

The village of Niyamgamdora is located in Nuwara Eliya District, about 180 kilometers from the city of Colombo. Travel to this region is limited due to narrow, bumpy, and windy roads that are in poor condition. However, these roads offer incredible views of the area.

Nuwara Eliya District is famous for tea production. During colonial times, English tea planters gathered in the town of Nuwara Eliya to celebrate social events. Adam's Peak, a very famous, tall, conical mountain, is also located in this district, drawing local and foreign tourists to the area. The area is also famous for cultivating vegetables as well as for growing flowers for commercial purposes.

Most of the villagers earn their livelihood by farming or performing manual labor. They depend on the rains for paddy cultivation, which they harvest twice a year. During the fallow periods, they seek work in the adjoining villages. The houses here are built with burnt or unburnt bricks, and the roofs are covered in clay tiles or corrugated galvanized iron (CGI) sheets. Though electricity is available in the village, residents have to collect water from common wells.

The completed School Room is a spacious, 1500-square-foot building with a lot of light and ventilation. This is a single-story building with three classrooms and built-in chalkboards. Room to Read provided 60 desks and 120 chairs for the Primary children, and 3 tables and 3 chairs for the teachers. The new School Room is painted to match the existing buildings at this school. It is an attractive addition to this community that draws a lot of positive attention.

During the opening ceremony, the school principal and the president of the School Construction Committee said, “Two classes were conducted in the open under trees. During rainy days and hot days, the classes had to be conducted indoors under crowded conditions. The teachers and children were having a very difficult time. Children were distracted very often. The parents and the school administration tried to solve the space problem on many occasions. We requested that the Department of Education help us address these issues. However, they had other priorities, and our request was turned down. But they heard that Room to Read was helping schools in Sri Lanka. After a request by the Department of Education, Room to Read agreed to help us. With the help, support, and guidance of Room to Read, we have been able to complete a building with modern facilities. We thank Room to Read and the donors who have supported us unconditionally. “