The Bethlehem Creche

The poorest areas of Colombo contain many mothers who have to work in order to feed their young children, but no safe place to leave them during the day. Their only alternative was to leave the children at home alone, which led the nuns to establish a day creche for the children so that they wouldn't come to any harm. It is funded purely by donations and the nuns have a daily struggle to provide a nourishing meal for the children and basic educational supplies to keep them occupied.

The creche is located in a slum area of Colombo and is attended by 100 children. Most of the mothers are single parents, mostly widowed or abandoned, working in low-paid jobs such as domestics or sweeping the streets and their daily wage is barely enough to keep themselves alive, let alone feed, house and educate their family.

Many of the children also receive a gift at Xmas from Australia providing them with a set of clothes. (See Anne's Xmas Presents)

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