Last Updated on October 18, 2006 | 11.14 PM
The occupation of many of the villagers at Mahavilachchiya is small-scale farming. For many families the produce is just enough for consumption. The low income level, inadequate health facilities, close proximity to regions of military conflict, and poor education adversely affect the future of the children of the village. The villagers depend heavily on seasonal rains for agriculture. The life of the farmer is a constant uphill struggle, a battle with the hostile weather conditions and wild animals. The middleman controls the selling prices of the produce, and the farmer invariably gets an unfairly low price for the agro products.
Children are the worst affected as a result of the low income of the family. The parents are forced to spend their earnings to meet the day to day living expenses, and children's education always gets an unduly low proportion of the family income. The children who attend the Horizon Lanka Academy receive a high quality education in spite of the harsh realities of life in the village. They learn the subjects in the standard school curriculum, in addition to getting special training in ICT and English language. The institute has only limited resources, and the MicroScholarships Program gives selected students additional support to continue with their education.