Merak is the charity arm of The Tree House International, dedicated to autism awareness and environmental sustainability. In 2023, Merak organised the largest autism awareness event in Sri Lanka, bringing together 1,600 participants.

 

In 2026, Merak launched Asia’s largest autism awareness initiative under the theme Inclusion Through Sustainability. This groundbreaking project is unfolding through five connected phases, each carrying a message of environmental responsibility, artistic transformation, and social inclusion.

 

Phase 1: Cleaning the Coast (Completed)

On a single stretch of shoreline, where ocean meets land, volunteers gathered to collect what the tides had brought in. Plastic waste and broken fragments were not simply removed. They were reclaimed and given a new purpose.

 

Phase 2: Autism Awareness Through Community Engagement (completed)

In this phase, members of the community including artists, schools, universities, embassies, and organisations came together to create sensory boards that tell the story of autism. This initiative brings people together in a unique way, using art to communicate lived experiences of autism.

 

Ocean plastic collected during Phase 1 is incorporated into the sensory elements of the boards, highlighting sustainability. Each board tells a different story, reflecting diverse perspectives while promoting understanding and inclusion.

 

Phase 3: International Recognition in Colombo, Sri Lanka (16 to 17 May 2026)

On 16 May 2026, all two hundred panels will come together in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a Guinness Record. Each panel will be created by a partner organisation, who will then take it back to display within their own institution. This is not just a record. It is a symbol of unity, shared ownership, and collective responsibility, placing Sri Lanka on the global stage.

 

Phase 4: A Global Conversation

Selected sensory boards will travel across the world to share this message. They will be exhibited in museums, galleries, and public spaces, carrying with them a message from Sri Lanka that inclusion is not a gesture but a practice, and sustainability is not about what we discard but what we choose to value.

 

The Medium Is the Message

This project does not speak through speeches or slogans. It speaks through touch, colour, and materials once considered waste. It shows that nothing is too small to matter, no one is too different to belong, and no country is too small to lead.

 

For the first time, sensory items for children with autism are being created from recycled ocean plastic, transforming waste into tools of inclusion and dignity. Through Merak, Sri Lanka steps forward as a leader in inclusive practice, environmental responsibility, and human dignity.

 

Partner With Us

Partner with us to be part of one of the largest autism awareness initiatives in the world. If your organisation would like to co create or sponsor a panel, or join this movement for inclusion through sustainability, we welcome your collaboration.