Sri Lanka-Tea Workers (2)

They provide health care, child care and other services. But there is still a lack of basic facilities.
When they parade in the morning for work, sometimes they’re late; so when you ask the basic question as to why they are late they say: we don’t have toilet facilities; we don’t have water...
Sri Lankan tea brings in millions of dollars every year, but plantation workers - who are the backbone of the industry, see very little of it.
While there have been improvements in recent years, many still live in houses like this.
But now, this new project is aimed at improving their lives.World Vision has worked with a plantation company to introduce a pilot scheme for workers. 32 families have been given specially designed houses, with running water and dedicated toilets.
The project also allows people to raise some extra money by raising chikens and growing vegetables.
We have always lived with our in-laws. We have three children of our own; and we share the common living space. So it’s for everyone’s benefit that we’ve got this house of our own.
The people at WorldVision say that the success of this project means that 75 more houses will be built.
For these workers, who play such a vital role in the tea industry, they’re happy, finally, to have a decent place to live.