School for children with Special Needs
Social Values
Scholarships and Training: Opening Doors and Extending Impact
The Tree House International offers a world class model of education, featuring a one to one teacher to student ratio led by certified behaviour therapists. The fees from these services enable us to reinvest in communities by providing scholarships to local students and delivering free training to parents, teachers, and hospitals across Sri Lanka. Our impact does not stop there. We extend our reach regionally, offering free training from Sri Lanka across the Maldives, reaching communities from Malé to Kulhudhuffushi in the north and all the way to Addu in the south. We also provide support through webinars and on site visits, ensuring that evidence based practice reaches even the most remote areas.
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“What some families invest allows us to give freely to many others.”
Merak: Inclusion Through Sustainability
Our charity wing Merak brings inclusion to life by linking it directly with sustainability. In 2023, Merak organised the largest autism awareness event ever held Asia, uniting families, educators, and communities in an unprecedented movement. Building on this, in 2025 we will lead Asia’s largest autism awareness initiative, tied to a Guinness Record. This project blends autism awareness with environmental action. In collaboration with Parley, we are carrying out beach clean up projects at strategically chosen locations. The collected ocean plastic is being transformed into sensory items attached to beautiful panels depicting the heritage and landscapes of Sri Lanka. These panels will travel the world, promoting autism awareness and inclusion while also celebrating the beauty of Sri Lanka and stimulating tourism to help rebuild the national economy after its collapse.
For more information about Merak, click here.
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“From ocean waste to sensory art, Sri Lanka’s pride in inclusion shines worldwide.”
Impactful Applied Autism Research
The Tree House International is rooted in applied autism research that delivers real benefits for families and communities. A team of researchers from The Tree House International, led by Dr Anton James, will conduct applied research on autism in collaboration with Villa College in the Maldives. This work will focus on supporting sensory needs and addressing behavioural challenges within the neurodiversity paradigm.
Our research is not limited to theory. It is focused on practical solutions from understanding sensory needs to addressing behavioural challenges that can be applied in classrooms, homes, and therapy settings. Through this Memorandum of Understanding with Villa College, we are advancing projects that respond directly to the needs of children, parents, and professionals.
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“Every programme we deliver is built on evidence and upheld by integrity.”
Advocacy at Every Level
The Tree House International campaigns for evidence based treatment and awareness from the grassroots to the highest levels of government. We work with parents, teachers, and hospitals in villages, while also engaging with ministries in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Education in the Maldives, diplomatic missions, and international partners. This combined bottom up and top down advocacy ensures that inclusion becomes a regional priority, not just a school initiative.
“From villages to government ministries, we carry one message of inclusion powered by science.”