Sri Lankan students celebrate the opening of the new Thirukkovil Kumara Primary School.

With the arrival of December, many people are anticipating the celebration of Christmas Day on December 25 and Boxing Day sales on December 26. For thousands of children, families and communities in Sri Lanka and across Southeast Asia, however, December 26 is instead a day of mourning and remembrance—it is the two-year anniversary of the 2004 Asian tsunami.

In Sri Lanka alone, the tsunami killed more than 40,000 people and displaced close to one million more. In response to this tragic event, Free The Children youth members and supporters immediately began providing medical supplies and long-term development projects, such as schools, clean water systems and vocational training centers.

With the help of Free The Children supporters like you, 2,639 children in Sri Lanka now attend fully functioning Free The Children schools! One of these schools, Thirukkovil Kumara Primary School, provides hundreds of Grade 1 through 5 students with access to quality education and opportunities to expand their knowledge and become active, engaged members of their communities. Building the Thirukkovil Primary School is just one of many necessary steps toward rebuilding the lives of children and families in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan students in the classroom of their new school.

We can continue to express the true spirit of the holidays this year by remembering the struggle of the Sri Lankan people and by increasing our efforts to help them rebuild their lives. Schools such as the Thirukkovil School are a great first step, but there is still much left to be done.

Learn more about Sri Lanka
Build a school in Sri Lanka
Donate to projects in Sri Lanka

At Kensal Park School in London, Ontario, Grade 6 student Liam Wilson gave his classmates a holiday challenge: give up one present to help children in Asia and Africa.

We would like to pass along Liam’s challenge to you!