Supporting 7 Children Impacted by Cyclone Ditwah Through Emergency Child Sponsorships

In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, the damage left behind went far beyond destroyed homes and flooded villages. For many children, the cyclone and resulting landslides tore apart the very foundations of their lives, taking parents, livelihoods, and the stability needed to continue their education.

As part of Phase 2 of our Cyclone Ditwah emergency response, Vanni Hope has now begun sponsoring seven children whose lives were profoundly disrupted by the disaster. These sponsorships were not identified from behind a desk. They were found on the ground, through the tireless work of our field officers who travelled to remote and hard-to-reach villages, many inaccessible by vehicle, to listen to families, school principals, and local officials.

When we shared these seven cases with our supporter network, the response was overwhelming. All 7 children were fully sponsored within just 4 minutes! We are so grateful for the overwhelming support we have received and the faith you have put in us to deliver.

Below are the stories of the children now supported through our Student Sponsorship Program.

Kiruba

Kiruba’s life changed forever when a landslide claimed both his parents, leaving him orphaned at just 16 years old. With no parental care or financial support, he now lives with relatives and depends entirely on extended family for shelter and daily needs.

Despite unimaginable emotional trauma, Kiruba remains determined to continue his Grade 11 education. Without sponsorship, his schooling was at serious risk of interruption due to the inability to afford uniforms, books, and examination-related costs.

Kiruba’s sponsorship ensures he can remain in school during one of the most critical academic years of his life, offering stability, dignity, and a pathway forward after devastating loss.

Vidhurshika and Vimarshan

Siblings Vidhurshika (Grade 10) and Vimarshan (Grade 6) lost their father, the family’s sole breadwinner, in a landslide triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. Their mother, a housewife with no independent income, was left to care for both children without financial security.

The family was forced to leave their home and now resides with their grandmother, struggling to meet even basic daily expenses. The emotional toll of losing their father, combined with the sudden financial instability, placed both children at high risk of dropping out of school.

By sponsoring Vidhurshika and Vimarshan together, we are ensuring continuity of education for both siblings and restoring a sense of hope and stability to a family that has already endured immense loss.

S. Lathish

Lathish’s father passed away in a landslide, leaving his family without its only source of income. His mother, a housewife, is unable to earn independently, and the family is currently living with relatives.

Now in Grade 9, Lathish is a motivated student who wants to continue his education, but financial hardship following his father’s death made this increasingly difficult. School fees, uniforms, and books became unaffordable, placing his education at serious risk.

Through emergency sponsorship, Lathish can continue his studies without interruption, supported during a time of profound grief and instability.

Sasikala

Sasikala is just 7 years old and already familiar with loss. One of her brothers tragically died in a landslide, compounding the financial hardship faced by her family. Her father works as a daily wage labourer, and the family relies heavily on the income of older siblings working in shops to survive.

Despite these challenges, Sasikala is a bright and determined student in Grade 2, eager to learn and progress in school. Sponsorship provides her with essential school supplies, uniforms, and educational support, giving her the opportunity to grow in a safe and supportive learning environment.

M. Krithika

Krithika’s family home was severely damaged by flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Cracked walls, collapsed sections of the house, and the destruction of schoolbooks and uniforms forced the family to relocate to a relative’s home.

Her father works as a daily wage labourer, and the family depends entirely on his unstable income. As a Grade 7 student, Krithika faced the real possibility of her education being interrupted due to the loss of basic educational materials.

Her sponsorship ensures she can continue her schooling with dignity and stability, despite the upheaval caused by the disaster. We have already supported her family as part of phase 2 of our response, with our household item packs valued at Rs. 20,000 which include items  such as a gas cookers, mattress, rice cooker, kettle, bed sheets etc.

Ramaiah Saran

Saran is an Advanced Level student following the Biological Science stream, with aspirations of pursuing higher education in the science or medical field. Cyclone Ditwah caused major structural damage to his family home, forcing them to move into rented accommodation and placing additional financial strain on an already vulnerable household.

With tuition fees, study materials, and transportation costs mounting, Saran’s ability to continue his A-Level studies was under threat. Emergency sponsorship now allows him to remain focused on his education during a critical academic period.

We have already supported his family as part of phase 2 of our response, withour household item packs valued at Rs. 20,000 which include items  such as a gas cookers, mattress, rice cooker, kettle, bed sheets etc.

Finding These Children Through Community Networks

What makes this initiative possible is the way Vanni Hope works. Our field officers did not wait for referrals to arrive. They travelled across affected districts, often to remote villages inaccessible by car, working closely with school principals, community volunteers, and local government officials such as Grama Sevakas and Divisional Secretariats to identify children most in need.

These sponsorships reflect not just rapid response, but deep community trust.

A Community Response That Restores Hope

The fact that all seven children were fully sponsored within 4 minutes speaks volumes about the compassion and generosity of our supporter community. At a time when so much was lost, this response showed what is possible when people come together to protect the futures of children.

This is only the beginning. Many more children have been identified, and further sponsorships will follow as assessments continue.

There is more to come. Stay tuned!

Thank you again to everyone for your ongoing support of our cyclone response!