Mr. Bandaranayake and Ms. Umrani will present findings from a survey of 150 individuals aged 15-18 across three groups in Sri Lanka's tea plantation areas: children living in plantations and attending school, children living in plantations who dropped out of school to work, and children who moved to cities for labor. The study aimed to understand their experiences and recommend measures to reduce dropout rates and improve safeguarding. Key findings revealed high rates of poverty, violence, abuse, and sexual exploitation. Many children leave school due to lack of resources, low family income, and pressure to work, often facing harsh labor conditions. Root causes identified include the long-term impact of Sri Lanka's colonial history, the 25-year civil war, and continued marginalization of the Tamil community. Plantation schools lack resources and qualified teachers compared to non-plantation government schools. The results underscore the urgent need for intervention. Recommendations include financial assistance for education, school system reform, expanded childcare, improved housing, strict enforcement of child labor laws, and rehabilitation services for abuse victims. A multi-stakeholder approach is needed to implement protective policies and programs. Attendees will gain critical insights into the circumstances faced by children in Sri Lanka's plantations and learn about potential collaborative solutions.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Dr. Madeline Stenersen is a researcher, psychologist, current Assistant Professor of Psychology at Saint Louis University, and head of Evaluation and Learning at the up! Collective. She has a specific expertise in community-informed research and evaluation focused on combatting violence and exploitation around the globe.
Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Bandaranayake is the Founder/Director of Youth Voice International, which has worked to address the specific challenges of children in Sri Lanka since 2010. He has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Peradiniya, an MBA from the University of Colombo, and a Post Graduate Diploma in International Relations.
Anjum Umrani completed her undergraduate studies at Loyola University in Chicago, studying Psychology and French Literature. Anjum is a current student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Saint Louis University, Missouri. Her research interests include race and intergroup dynamics and global disparities in access to education and healthcare.
Dr. Glenn Miles is the Senior Advisor for up! Collective and has conducted research with young people for over 20 years. He pioneered three international NGOs in Cambodia and before that was a pediatric nurse. He is a researcher, trainer, and advocate for children and vulnerable people.
Jarrett Davis, a researcher, advocate, and founder of the up! Collective with over 15 years of experience, specializes in the rights of children and vulnerable groups. His work focuses on designing and evaluating evidence-based research and programming for children who have experienced sexual exploitation and violence. He is a Senior Research Scholar in GAHTS.