The slums in Colombo have come up due to people moving from villages and coming to the city carrying a myth that city life was the answer to their poverty. The victims of that mistake are the children and grand children of those who made the mistake. It took a lot of effort to clear that myth and motivate them to think anew.
There are now about twenty five families who are willing to take that daring step We have been working among the slum dwellers for the last thirty five years. The slums of Mattakuliya – Colombo 15 in Sri Lanka were created due to the village people looking for better pastures in the city and by the action of the politicians to get rid of the squatters who were all over more important parts of the city of Colombo .
We had been helping children’s education. While it has done immense good, they get added to the unemployed youth as it is a major issue in the city and as they are from the slums there is a social stigma that disqualifies them in spite of the certificates. Most of the youth give up education half way as they get attracted to do some casual jobs and earn a bit of money. This adds up to the problems as they get into all types of unhealthy habits as well as dangerous company. So their whole life is a vicious circle.
To get out of it they really must come out of the slums.
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