OUR MISSIONCreating Sustainable Food SystemsThat Guarantees Everyone Has Access to Nutritious, Affordable, and Consistently Available Meals

“When written in Chinese, the word crisis is composed of two characters. One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.”

John F. Kennedy

“Rise Up” is an integrated model designed to showcase and address the current food crisis in Sri Lanka. We see this crisis as an opportunity to reimagine and transform our food system, including our agricultural policies, practices, and business models. Our goal is to create a sustainable and secure food system that is in line with modern principles of sustainable agriculture and food security.

Rise Up aims to leave a legacy by demonstrating to current and future generations in Sri Lanka that we have the ability to achieve food security within our own resources and become a self-sufficient nation. Our model aims to inspire and empower people to rise up and make this a reality.

VI Nanayakkara
Founder & CEO

ABOUT USRise Up Journey

27^th May 2022. It was an ordinary morning for the Avaaya Research team at our agronomy research center at Meegoda in Colombo District. The CEO of Avaaya Research received a call from Dr. Tara De Mel, Former Secretary of Education in Sri Lanka.

She sounded worried & concerned. Her request was specific and clear.” Vijitha, I know you are into food & agriculture-related research work. There is an issue brewing among schools as attendance rates are dropping due to the food crisis. I have tried a moderate intervention. But the challenge is more alarming and needs a more holistic approach and a model. Can your team help?”.

And he said “yes”. The food & Agriculture unit of Avaaya Research was studying the situation since the fertilizer ban in May 2020 and was well aware of the nature and magnitude of the challenge the country is facing.

It was another opportunity for Avaaya Team to show that our food and agriculture policy needs a complete revamp and the need for reimagining our food system. A position Avaaya is maintaining since its inception.

Years of research in this domain were useful again. It was an opportunity to Rise Up to the occasion. And show the country and world community Sri Lanka has everything needed within our reach to “Rise Up” again. Hence mission was named “Rise Up”

Within 12 working days, On 20^th June 2022, with the support of a few generous private donors, Phase 1 of the “Rise Up School Meal Program” was launched covering 384 students in 5 schools in the Deraniyagala education division of the Kegalle District in the Sabaragamuwa Province.

Within a week two more education divisions were added from Hambantota Education Division (Hambantota District, Southern Province) and Mahaoya Education Division. (Ampara District, Eastern province) and a total of 2084 students from 15 schools started receiving complete and balanced mid-day meals in school 3 days per week.

Rise Up began its Mission.

2022

JUNE

Rise Up School Meals Phase 1 – 2,085 Students

The program was launched on 20^th June 2022 and phase 1 covered 5 schools each from

- Deraniyagala Education Division (Kegalle District) – 384 students
- Mahaoya Education Zone (Ampara District) – 5 Schools – 473 Students
- Hambantota Education Zone (Hambantota District) – 1,228 students

JUNE

July 2022 – Rise Up School Meals Phase 2 – 1,945 Students

The second phase was launched within four weeks of launching phase 1, covering another set of 5 schools each from;

Dimbulagala Education Division (Polonnaruwa District) – 704 students
Puttalam Education Zone (Puttalam District) – 688 students
Nuwaraeliya Education Zone ( Nuwaraeliya District) – 553 students

AUGUST

Rise Up School Meals Phase 3 – 3,782 Students

With mounting requests for support, Rise Up Launched Phase 3 in August, adding 19 more schools.

Moneragala Education Division (Moneragala District) – 693 students
Killinochchi South Education Zone (Killinochchi District) – 676 students
Killinochchi North Education Zone (Killinochchi District) – 583 students
Colombo Education Division (Colombo District) – 602 students
Sri Jayawadanapura Education Zone (Colombo District) – 634 students
Minuwangoda Education Zone (Gampaha District) – 594 students

SEPTEMBER

Rise Up Food Garden Project Launched

One key feature of Rise Up School Meal Program is the integration of local agriculture and school gardens with the project. Named as “Rise Up Food Gardens” this is an environment created for students to learn basic elements of agronomy and to understand where their food come from and how to create sustainable food systems. This model also links parents with the program by integrating “Rise Up Home Gardens” to build a more sustainable supply chain with lesser carbon foot print.

By 31 st of March 2023, Rise Up aims to source all of it’s vegetables and greens from Rise Up Food Gardens created in schools or by parents of Rise Up Schools.

OCTOBER

Rise Up School Milk Program

With malnutrition among school children becoming more challenging, Rise Up launched the School Milk
Program offering a cup of milk (125ml) as a breakfast supplement from milk sourced directly from the
farmers. As of 31 st December 2022, Milk Program covers 5,317 students in 12 districts in schools where
Rise Up Meal Program is already operational.

Hambantota Education Zone (Hambantota District) – 802 students
Deraniyagala Education Division (Kegalle District) – 100 students
Mahaoya Education Zone (Ampara District) – 5 Schools – 251 Students
Dimbulagala Education Division (Polonnaruwa District) – 704 students
Puttalam Education Zone (Puttalam District) – 120 students
Nuwaraeliya Education Zone ( Nuwaraeliya District) – 183 students
Moneragala Education Division (Moneragala District) – 443 students
Killinochchi North Education Zone (Killinochchi District) – 261 students
Sri Jayawadanapura Education Zone (Colombo District) – 622 students
Minuwangoda Education Zone (Gampaha District) – 359 students
Mahawa Education Zone (Kurunegala District) – 118 students
Mulathivu Education Division (Mulathivu District) – 922 students
Thunukai Education Zone (Mulathivu District) – 432 students

NOVEMBER

Rise Up School Kitchen Program Launched

One of the key challenges faced by Rise Up School Meal Program is the lack of proper infrastructure to prepare meals in schools. Building suitable school kitchen is an essential component for any meal program to be successful and sustainable at school level. Rise Up is currently working with NERD Center (National Engineering Research & Development Center) to introduce suitable cooking stoves and school kitchen solutions to address this issue. First set of cooking stoves were handed over on to 4 schools in Deraniyagala Education Zone.

DECEMBER

Rise Up School Meals CSR Project With BMICH – 4,220 Students

With BMICH coming on board as a strategic partner, another 26 schools were added covering 6 more districts.

Mulathivu Education Division (Mulathivu District) – 1,076 students
Thunukai Education Zone (Mulathivu District) – 294 students
Kebithigollewa Education Zone (Anuradhapura District) – 546 students
Naula Education Division (Matale District) – 1003 students
Maho Education Zone (Kurunegala District) – 359 students
Balangoda Education Zone (Ratnapura District) – 708 students
Hatton Education Zone (Ratnapura District) – 234 students

DECEMBER

Rise Up School Fruit Garden Project Launched

As a part of Rise Up Food Gardens Project in Schools, The Fruit Garden Project was launched from Peddogama KV, Mahawa Education Zone of Kurunegala District. Rise Up Fruit Gardens will be established in every school Rise Up is operational to create a long-term fruit supply chain for school children.

[bold_timeline_item_button title=”Expand” style=”” shape=”” color=”” size=”inline” url=”#” el_class=”bold_timeline_group_button”]

Rise Up School Meal Dashboard

View Dashboard

Projects

Rise Up

Connect with us

+94 11 280 4118

Subscribe to our new letter to receive updates, latest news, and special projects about Rise Up.