The children in Sri Lanka are continuously caught up in poverty cycles: in the society, if you are born poor, chances are high that you will die poor. The only way to break out of this cycle is by getting an education, with the hope of landing a good job in one of the major cities in the country. “While we were in Sri Lanka in 2005, we saw many children in rural areas walking to school barefoot on hot tar roads in 100F/40C degree weather. We realized these children (and their parents) could not afford to buy even a pair of shoes,” – said the founders. – “In Sri Lanka, the average price of a pair of school shoes is about 14 USD a pair, which many poor families can’t afford. Most children wear rubber flip flops to school (which wear out quickly), while others cannot even afford a pair [of flip flops]. When one adds the cost of shoes, books, and school essentials, one could argue that it’s better to stay at home and look after the younger siblings (or work in the farm) without going to school. As the result, 25% of the children drop out of school after Grade 5 to help their parents earn a living, instead of completing their studies.”

This immediate call for action gave roots to the Kalmat Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in 2011 and based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. We also has an active branch in St. Gallen, Switzerland.