Susithodaya Child Development Center is the core institution of St. Vincent’s Home, providing a safe, structured environment for children facing early life challenges. Our mission is to equip these young people with essential life skills, education, and the integral formation needed to face the future with courage and determination.

Its history stretches back to 1881, when the Italian missionary Fr. Luigi Piccinelli founded a Boys’ Orphanage in Maggona. The Oblate Missionaries, who took over the institution from Fr. Piccinelli, began a new chapter in 1895, when they established a Reformatory School for juvenile offenders. The Reformatory was later renamed the ‘Approved School’ in 1956 and then formally given the name ‘Susithodaya’ in 1970.

Today, we have successfully merged the former Orphanage and the Reformatory under the single banner of ‘Susithodaya Child Development Center’. We provide a quality life for children who have lost parental love, those from poor and problematic family backgrounds, and those referred by the courts or the Probation Department. While giving priority to academic education, we foster a spirit of brotherhood, embracing all children equally regardless of religious or racial background.

The origins of the Technical School trace back to 1892, when the British Government granted 202 acres for the establishment of an industrial school for Catholic juvenile offenders. By April 24, 1895, the school received official government certification from Governor H.E. Havelock. Several European Oblate Brothers, who were experts in various trades, were sent to help these young offenders. They were initially taught carpentry, sewing, and agriculture, and by 1897, the curriculum had expanded to include printing, bookbinding, and metalwork.

Today, as St. Vincent’s Technical School, we continue this tradition by providing specialized vocational training for young people whose secondary education was interrupted. We operate several key departments, including Motor Mechanics, Electrical Mechanics, and Lathe Mechanics. Our goal is holistic development: students are also equipped with essential future talents such as English proficiency, gardening, and animal husbandry alongside their trade skills. We proudly provide a structured home for young people referred through courts or the Probation Department, offering them a clear path toward a skilled and independent future.

Mazenod Youth Center is an institution dedicated to providing holistic character formation to young men and women across Sri Lanka. We offer a vibrant and inclusive environment where Leadership Camps, Spiritual Retreats, and Orientation Programs are organized to build strong personalities filled with empathy, regardless of race or religion.

Our Centre provides all necessary facilities for hosting one-day and multi-day residential workshops. We are proud to be the preferred partner for schools, youth associations, Sunday schools, and universities who constantly seek our services. Furthermore, the Mazenod Youth Center serves as the headquarters for ‘Mazenod Youth Journey’, the dedicated youth group of the Missionary Oblates in the Colombo Province.

We believe that no child or youth should be marginalized due to physical or mental disabilities. Driven by this conviction, St. Vincent’s Home is preparing to launch a dedicated center to empower children and youth with special needs. This facility will be a supportive workplace and training environment, set aside specifically for their well-being and integration. We are currently conducting the necessary feasibility studies to ensure this vital project, aimed at providing dignity and skill development, becomes a reality in the near future.