We are travelling 5,419 miles from London to Colombo Sri Lanka where for two weeks we will teach primary school children in the impoverished Tsunami region in the South of Sri Lanka. Time and again, research has proven the incredible power of education to break poverty cycles and economically empower individuals from the most marginalised communities with dignified work and upward social mobility.
We thus aim to raise £5,419 for this cause to help improve the future of many disadvantaged children in these underprivileged regions.
As a family of four with two teenage daughters we have decided to give our time and share our knowledge with others less privileged in the world. We strongly believe that education is a powerful driver of development and one of the strongest tools in the reduction of global poverty and gender inequality.
For two weeks, from 19 October, we will be in Sri Lanka, in the Tsunami area located two hours South from Colombo, where we would teach English as well as other subjects to primary school children in the Akurala Primary School. In the afternoon we would be teaching English in a community class organised in a makeshift school located in the rural village of Galagoda. The after-school education programme provides free English lessons and education opportunities to all children in the surrounding area.
As with many developing countries around the world, the ability to speak English is becoming ever more paramount. The tourism industry in Sri Lanka is increasing year on year and is now one of the main income sources for the country. On top of this, many Sri Lankans head abroad to the Middle East and other regions in search of higher paid jobs, with English being one of the main requirements.
We aim to pack our luggage full with donations for the children and the school. However, funds are needed for building new facilities, maintaining and improving the current ones as well as acquiring much needed equipment such as computers. Schools in these deprived areas receive minimal funding but are expected to serve large communities. The facilities are very basic and it's not unusual to find 40-60 children in each class.
Your donations will help improve the future of many underprivileged children in the local impoverished communities.