"I DON'T LIKE MY HOUSE, BUT ..."
When 11-year-old Vinithan was asked about his favourite food, he replied “fish” without hesitation. But although his father is a fisherman, he cannot remember the last time he ate fish.
Before the 2022 economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Vinithan’s father, 43-year-old Sandana, was an odd job worker doing masonry work and sand mining, earning 7,000 Sri Lankan rupees (approximately RM84) every week.
When the crisis hit, the construction industry came to a halt and there were no job opportunities so he had to turn to fishing full-time. He borrows a fishing net from their neighbour and in return, has to give half of his daily catch to them. He then goes door-to-door to sell the remaining, leaving no fish for the family.
Prior to the crisis, the family could enjoy three meals a day, with milk in their tea and biscuits for breakfast. Vinithan’s mother, 33-year-old Sumithra, enjoys making a variety of food for the family and would pack lunch boxes for Vinithan to take to school. Now, breakfast is just plain tea and they only eat one meal a day. It’s often just rice and salt. But on good days, they have rice with sambal.
Vinithan and his parents live in a two-room hut with his grandparents and three-year-old sister, Saumi. When it rains, the roof leaks and floods the house, and the family has to manually scoop water out of the house.
In the rainy season, snakes will crawl in through the roof and cracks in the house to seek refuge. Kerosene oil is effective to force snakes out of their hiding places but it is expensive so the family burns dried chilli instead. But the process fills the house with smoke so Vinithan and his sister will wait out in the rain until the snakes leave.
Rain and snakes easily enter the house through the large openings.
Vinithan, who enjoys school, used to have sufficient school supplies. As his parents can no longer afford any new writing books, he uses one book for two subjects. The young student also finds it hard to complete his school work at night as there is no electricity in the house.
Despite his circumstances, Vinithan is contented and appreciates all that his parents are doing for him and his sister. He is ambitious, with big dreams of becoming a doctor. He also has a detailed plan on how he will spend his earnings in the future. He wants to provide the poor with free medications, buy books for all the children whose parents cannot afford, buy clean water for those who don’t have, repair the roof of his house and fix the house with bricks so that snakes won’t be able to crawl in anymore.
Vinithan (in blue, standing) and his family
in front of their family home.
in front of their family home.
Many Sri Lankans are unable to access basic necessities due to the 2019 Easter bombings, COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Then in 2022, Sri Lanka faced its worst economic crisis since its independence.
The multiple crises devastated lives and disrupted livelihoods, driving millions into poverty. 6.26 million Sri Lankans, or three in 10 households, now face food insecurity. Join the 30-Hour Famine and help children and families strike out hunger for a better tomorrow!
Rain and snakes easily enter the house
through the large openings.
through the large openings.
The house is primarily built with tin sheets. In the dry season, it traps heat and makes the house feel like an oven.
Twice a day, Vinithan and his mother will carry these pots and cans to the water selling station one kilometre away to purchase clean drinking water at 3 rupees per litre.
Vinithan (in blue, standing) and his family
in front of their family home.
in front of their family home.
The house is primarily built with tin sheets. In the dry season, it traps heat and makes the house feel like an oven.
Twice a day, Vinithan and his mother will carry these pots and cans to the water selling station one kilometre away to purchase clean drinking water at 3 rupees per litre.
