The new Sarvodaya Suwasetha Creche (Day care centre) and Kindergarten built with generous donations received from Sarvodaya Netherlands and equipped by “Project Tear Dropâ€, New Zealand, was declared opened recently by Her Excellency Angela Bogdan, the Canadian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.
“Suwasetha†is the symbol of Sarvodaya’s philosophy of compassion, loving care and concern for the helpless child and adult. (www.sarvodayasuwasetha.org)
The Day Care Centre will serve 15 babies (1-3 years of age) of the 20 teenage mothers of Suwasetha Masevana (Shelter for Mothers) while they attend to different educational and skills training programmes. The Kindergarten provides care 15 other children who between the ages 3-5 which include some children of the teenage mothers as well as nutritionally rehabilitated children from the Sarvodaya Suwasetha Nutrition Centre.
 
Mrs.Neetha Ariyaratne, the Honorary Secretary of the Sarvodaya Suwasetha Sewa Society welcoming High Commissioner and the guests acknowledge the contribution made by the Canadian International Development Agency towards the establishment of a fully equipped Bakery as an employment training facility for the teenage mothers.
Ma-Sevana Home was started in 2000 to provide facilities for 10 young mothers and then extended the facilities for additional 15 mothers with their babies. At present there are 22 teenage mothers and 15 babies receiving secure residential care facilities. Nine young mothers are receiving formal education in Government schools while staying in Suwa Setha Girls Homes. Six of the past mothers are successfully employed while one has been secured in self employment in Bakery trade. Two of them have settled down in marriage.
The new building is a generous donation from Sarvodaya Netherlands built at a cost of Rs.3.5 million and equipped with the sponsorship of members of Project Tear Drop in New Zealand mainly due to the initiative of Mrs. Hiranthi Abeygunasekera and Mrs. Roshani Cabral. This modern facility was designed by Architect Ranjan Nadesapillai. me.
Among the many benefactors and well-wishers to this project include Mr. Deva Rodrigo and Ms. Emily Castell and members of North American Women’s Association (NAWA).