Since 1991, Methodist Church Puhalidam has worked with children and persons with special needs in the Batticaloa and Ampara Districts, building self-confidence, inclusive participation and a better quality of life, and protecting their rights.
“Dignity and a Ray of Hope” for our differently abled children.Our guiding vision
Your support reaches differently abled children, their families and community groups.
Figures from Puhalidam’s organisational records.
Over more than three decades Puhalidam has moved from a single home for children to community-based rehabilitation, Special Education Units, Self-Help Groups and child protection work across the Batticaloa and Ampara Districts.
Read community storiesGive, volunteer or partner with us. Every form of support reaches differently abled children, their families and their communities.
Methodist Church Puhalidam is dedicated, since 1991, to working with children and persons with special needs in the Batticaloa district, developing them toward improved social and economic standards, self-confidence and inclusive participation, while protecting their rights and uplifting their quality of life.
Puhalidam operates under the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka and is legally registered as the Methodist Trust Association of Ceylon under Act No. 17 of 1966. We work without discrimination of race, religion, ethnicity or gender.
“Dignity and a Ray of Hope” for our handicapped children.
Empowering human development through love, care, dedication and sacrifice. Puhalidam works with the unfortunate ones, without any discrimination of race, religion, ethnicity or gender, to better the lives of differently abled children.
To empower differently abled children, people, families and society by promoting social and economic standards and creating a supportive environment, including the protection of their rights, for the uplifting of their quality of life.
A journey of compassion and dedication since 1991.
Puhalidam was established in 1991 under the vision and guidance of Rev. S. S. Karunairajah of the Methodist Church Batticaloa. It began as a modest home providing board, lodging and basic education to differently abled children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
As conflict in the Eastern Province raised the number of children needing care, Puhalidam decentralised in 2001, establishing five centres across 94 villages in the Batticaloa District and reaching 240 children in six D.S. divisions, with eight community centres for their educational needs. Kindernothilfe (KNH) of Germany became a key funding partner, supporting work in the Ampara District.
Puhalidam established eight Special Education Units across three Rehabilitation Centres, introduced income-generation programmes for parents and caregivers, and adopted the Inclusive Self-Help Group Approach and Child Focused Community Development model. It also became a vocal advocate for inclusive education, disability rights, gender mainstreaming and good governance.
Puhalidam protects children from abuse and exploitation and provides safe spaces for healing, growth and education. It works with communities and stakeholders to implement child protection measures, prevent early marriage and combat child abuse, while promoting inclusive education and empowering women.
Puhalidam envisions a future where every child, regardless of ability or background, has access to quality education, healthcare and opportunities to reach their full potential.
Methodist Church Puhalidam functions under the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka and is legally registered as the Methodist Trust Association of Ceylon under Act No. 17 of 1966, an approved charity for funds donated toward education welfare, social service, scholarships, maintenance of orphanages, and housing and building funds, as published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 237/20 of 25 March 1983. Registration number: BT/RVSS/2016/14.
Puhalidam is registered under the Manmunai North, Eravur Pattu, Manmunai Pattu and Manmunai South Eruvil Pattu divisions of the Batticaloa district, and is governed by a Board of Directors under the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka. The Director leads day-to-day operations, supported by Administration and Finance, the HOPE-CWD & SHA Project Team (funded by KNH) and the Inclusive Education Team (funded by BMZ and Kindernothilfe).
Our four areas of work build on more than three decades of community-based rehabilitation, inclusive education, Self-Help Groups and child protection in the Batticaloa and Ampara Districts.
Ask about our programmesSpecial Education Units, learning aids and model inclusive classrooms that help children with special needs enter and stay in school.
View projectSelf-Help Groups and Community Level Associations that build women’s confidence, income and leadership.
View projectCommunity-based rehabilitation, family support and advocacy for the rights of children with disabilities.
View projectChild protection, child rights training and peace and harmony work with local communities.
View projectDates and figures are as recorded in Puhalidam’s organisational records.
1991–2001
Changed attitudes toward disability; pre-school teachers and midwives trained to support children with disabilities.
2002–2015
Changed attitudes toward disability; strengthened children’s abilities; empowered families to manage disability; integrated families with the community for sustainability.
2016–2020
87 SHGs, 8 CLAs and 1 federation formed; 268 children with disabilities supported across 7 centres; 35 children enrolled in formal education and 123 in vocational training; 50 CBR-graduate youth supported into micro-enterprise; peace and harmony sensitisation between Muslim and Tamil communities.
Aug 2017 – Apr 2022
Special Education Units established; special education learning aids distributed; two schools renovated as model inclusive classrooms; greater awareness of inclusive education among state and non-state actors.
2021–2026
106 SHGs and 12 CLAs formed or strengthened; income-generation and food security mini-projects; 7 interreligious discussions on age-appropriate marriage; 20 child rights trainings with the NCPA; 16 capacity-building trainings.
2021–2026
Child-focused community development; first aid and physiotherapy training; medical and counselling support; vocational training and aftercare; support to special and formal education; child rights training; special toilets, ramps and wheelchairs.
Stories can help communities understand what support looks like in practice—always shared with informed consent and respect for privacy.
Stories from participants, caregivers and community groups will be shared here, always with their permission.
Showcase inclusive learning approaches, caregiver perspectives and practical changes that matter to children.
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