The Guardian Angel

Nimali Kumari has dedicated herself to protecting the rights of orphaned children, striving to reunite them with their families whenever possible and ensuring they quickly find their place in the world with access to higher education and jobs.

Nimali’s commitment to this cause is deeply rooted in her own life experiences, having spent over 15 years in three different orphanages. This personal connection fuels her determination to help others in similar situations find success and stability as they transition into adulthood.

Known to many as Nimmu, is the Alternative Family Care & Foster Care Project Coordinator at Their Future Today, a non-governmental organization operating in England and Sri Lanka.

Before joining Their Future Today, Nimmu spent a decade working with the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka’s largest NGO, where she focused on educating communities to prevent children from entering orphanages in the first place.

In 2017, she co-founded Asia’s first network for youth leaving alternative care, guided by SOS Sri Lanka. For seven years, this initiative—run entirely on a volunteer basis—has provided vital support, including legal aid, counselling, job placement, and higher education opportunities, to those over 18 who have aged out of orphanages.

Looking to the future, Nimmu aspires to become a lawyer to continue her advocacy for children’s rights. With nearly 9,000 children currently living in 379 orphanages in Sri Lanka, Nimmu’s work is crucial. She has already positively impacted the lives of over 1,000 children, guiding them through programmes designed to build leadership and resilience.