Sri Lanka
Kandy, the hill capital of Sri Lanka. A children’s orphanage given solar power, a new wing, and a treehouse to make it safer, greener, and a whole lot more joyful.
Kandy: a historic city, an orphanage that needed a fresh start
Sri Lanka has made significant economic progress over the decades, but the 2022 economic crisis hit the country hard, with inflation, power cuts, and fuel shortages affecting communities across the island. Kandy, the cultural capital in the central highlands, is home to a children’s orphanage that had been running on ageing infrastructure, with rising energy costs putting real pressure on daily operations.
Kids at Play came to work closely with the local community to create an environment that was not just functional but genuinely safer, more sustainable, and full of joy. Three improvements defined the project: clean energy, more space, and a place to play.
Solar energy, a new wing, and a treehouse for the playground
In 2024, Kids at Play installed a 5,500 kWh solar energy system at the Kandy orphanage, cutting energy costs and making the facility more resilient. An additional wing was constructed to expand living and activity space for the children. And for the playground, a treehouse was built, giving the children a joyful new space to climb, imagine, and play. Together these improvements made daily life significantly safer, more enjoyable, and more sustainable.
Greener, bigger, and more joyful
Powered by people, powered by the sun.
Raised through the Kids at Play charity run and generous donations, every euro went directly into solar panels, construction, and a treehouse that made children smile.
The Kandy orphanage community
Kids at Play worked closely with the orphanage leadership and the local community in Kandy throughout the project. Their knowledge of what the children needed most shaped every decision, from the placement of the solar panels to the design of the treehouse.
Building sustainably in a country rebuilding itself
Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis left deep marks on communities across the island. By 2024, recovery was underway but fragile. Working in that context meant being thoughtful about what would last. Solar energy was chosen not just because it was the right environmental choice, but because it cuts ongoing costs for a facility that cannot afford to be dependent on expensive, unreliable grid power. The treehouse was the clearest reminder that sustainability and joy are not opposites. The children deserved both.
Sri Lanka
Our seventh project, completed in 2024.
Powered by the sun, filled with joy.
safe, green and joyful.
Sri Lanka showed that building for children means building for the long term. Solar panels that cut costs for years. A treehouse that brings joy every single day. Your donation makes that possible.