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When Kumari was expecting her first child, she realised there was no preschool in her neighbourhood. Sri Lanka has, as one of few countries in the region, a strict compulsory schooling. Going to preschool gives kids a good headstart for primary school.
Kumari followed a Montessori training of two years and got her diploma. She was able to start a preschool back in 2006. There were only five kids, including her own son. They used her sister Chandi's veranda.
Kumari and her husband Hemantha had little means to finish building their own house. Only the kitchen and two bedrooms, that could be locked at night, were ready. The rest was just a hollow cask with openings for a door and windows.
The following year five more children entered the school and Kumari and her husband fitted the unfinished living room with linoleum and used it as a classroom.
One of their Dutch friends met the family for the first time, when she visited the country. The following winter she decided to have a little X-Mas rally. This initiative motivated another friend to help them finish their home!
After that, they had a reasonable classroom, only still in their own home. The school inspection subsequently gave them an official licence for a preschool.
A plot of land
In 2008, a local beneficiary gave them a piece of land. This land is conveniently situated next to the plot were they live and closer to the main road. Parents can bring their children to the school more easily and the location is also free publicity in a sense that people will see there is a school.
The first group did so well that parents started to tell other parents what a good school it is. Kumari charges 300 Rs per child. When they have a better facility she can charge 500 but no more, since the parents have such a small income. When the new building is finished, they can have two groups and an extra teacher.
Everything is now ready to start building.
Everything? Uhm, what about the financial resources?
