CandleAid assists low-income families by supporting them under its Food Programme, giving them a monthly subsistence of LKR 4,000 by enrolling them in the GAM program. At any given time, we have about 200 such families. If there are 4 people in each family, it means we are assisting 800 people. You may be one of our current sponsors or you may be a potential sponsor who is browsing this page. We are confident that you will be happy to be associated with this programme.
Selections of beneficiaries for a sponsorship
Recipients are selected with careful consideration through a laid down procedure to determine their eligibility for assistance irrespective of race or religion. After assessing their financial circumstances preference is given to families with children. The selected family will be monitored by a Coordinator who has the responsibility to keep CandleAid informed of any changes of circumstances of the family.
The family also will submit an initial letter of thanks and acknowledgement to the sponsor once enrolled. Further the family will write at least once a year to the sponsor giving an update of their status. The sponsor can contact the recipient family by phone or surface mail or visit the family if desired.
Two months before the sponsorship expires CandleAid will write to the sponsor seeking his/her intention regarding the continuation of the sponsorship. The overview gives more fuller information.
Sponsorship terms
Minimum period of sponsorship is one year, and the sponsor has the discretion to renew thereafter. If there is any impediment to do so, the sponsor will give CandleAid at least a month’s notice so that we could find a new sponsor for the family.
The total annual commitment is LKR 52,800 which includes an administrative fee of 10%.
Stories of some selected families
Mrs G Arulmani – Nuwara Eliya
Arulmani is a mother of three daughters. Her husband had passed away in September 2022 due to a heart attack. He was the sole breadwinner of the family and after his death she has to face many difficulties. Currently she works as a tea plucker and earns around LKR 8,400 per month. Her eldest daughter is studying in Grade 07 and her 2nd daughter is in Grade 03. Her youngest daughter is in Grade 01. Her brother works in a Grinding Mill and supports the family with LKR 10,000 per month. The income earned by Arulmani is inadequate for their day-to-day expenses and children’s educational expenses.
K M Dilani S Lakmali - Rathnapura
Dilani is a mother of three children. Her husband suffered from Glaucoma and even after surgery his eyesight had significantly deteriorated rendering him unable to engage in gainful employment. He needs to attend the clinic at the National Hospital, Kandy once in 03 months. Their eldest daughter is studying in Grade 11. Their eldest son is a cancer patient since July 2022 who had gone through surgery recently for a tumor in his leg. The child attends a clinic once in 03 months at Maharagama Apeksha Hospital & Lady Ridgeway Hospital. Recently he has started schooling from Grade 06. Their youngest son is in Grade 01. Dilani got employed as an Office Assistant in January 2024 at the Ratnapura National Museum and earns LKR 35,000 per month. She has given part of their house on rent, and receives LKR 12,000 monthly. The income which they receive is not sufficient for their living expenses, medical expenses and children’s educational expenses.
The situation is pathetic with hardly an answer in sight. CandleAid has them in the Gift-A-Meal program and are looking for ways to help them more.
There are too many families suffering from hunger in Sri Lanka. Sadly, most affected are the children. We are simply trying to do what we can at least to feed some of the hungry.
Statistics as of 31th July 2024
No. of families enrolled since inception - 875
No. of current families - 165
No. of current Sponsors - 94
No. of current Coordinators – 136
GAM Overview