How's your summer?
The monsoon is
approaching here; the weather is literally changing by the minute. Everyone is
building up defences in preparation for the heavy rains which caused so much
destruction with mud slides last year. But it all adds to the eclectic Sri
Lankan routine.
So, we've been busy. As you would expect (I hope).
Charity Status!!
I guess the first news is we did it! After months of hard
work and evaluation The TEA Project became UK Charity No.1163485. This takes
The Project to another level, opens up more funding avenues and support. We are
so happy that the needs of the children and the work of the project have been
recognised. The next step is to get the green light on our charity bank
account; then we can register with Just Giving etc. We should hopefully hear about
that in the next couple of weeks. If you fancy doing some fundraising for The
Project or have any ideas please get in touch at info@theteaproject.org.uk.
The 30/30 Appeal
A BIG thank you to everyone who supported our 30/30 Appeal
through September. From the donations raised we will be running a Leadership
Camp, L.I.F.E Training and Arts Programmes in the coming months. We will
contact you personally with news and photos from the days you made possible
soon. You're TRAY-mendous!
RIS
Our School partnership between RIS in Kurunegala and Henry
Richard School in Wales is strengthening. The TEA Project has also been tasked
to implement an ongoing weekly 'English Development Project' at RIS to help
improve teaching standards and raise the level of English for their rural students.
Healthy Living Project
This sizeable health project will be running from December through
to January. We are grateful to have medical professionals arriving from
Scotland to volunteer their valuable experience and time to the project.
Programmes will be delivered to children, rural women's workers and street
mothers. Training subjects will range from basic first aid to sexual health
awareness and health packs will be handed out to attendees. This is such an
important opportunity to really raise health awareness amongst poorer communities.
Christmas!
We don't have Halloween or Bonfire night in SL so we can be
forgiven for planning a little early for Xmas! A shipment of 80
handmade TEA-Christmas cards arrived last week in the UK. If you would like to
make a donation and buy any cards then please get in touch at info@theteaproject.org.uk.
100.01% of profits go back into funding essential TEA Project programmes for
vulnerable children. Thank you to Elaine, Joanne, Amy and Jane for supplying
the distribution. Girl Power!
We
said goodbye to our first project apprentice recently who accepted a position
in Dubai; made possible by extensive support and completion of an English
Language coarse provided by The TEA Project.We will be
looking to appoint a new young person onto the apprenTEAship when a suitable
candidate becomes available.
On a Personal Note
Racheal's 400th birthday is on 10th October and friends
arrived from the UK to share in the celebrations en-route to a new life in NZ. Our
son Kyan took the opportunity to break his arm an hour after their arrival! Thankfully
he was treated well and released from hospital the same day but with a full arm in cast
this has seriously hampered any swimming or body boarding plans he was
harbouring for Racheal's 'Big Beach Birthday Bash'. Unbelievable timing. Poor Kyan.
If you would like to drop Racheal a birthday message on the big day please send
it to carl.gale@theteaproject.org.uk.
*We
would personally like to thank Amy & Kate from Surrey, UK, who completed
The Byfleet 10km Run for TEA last month. Fantastic achievement girls. Thank you
both so much.
TEA Life Continues
Additionally we run 3 weekly arts workshops, a weekly drop in
at the girl's home, are excited to be starting a new Yoga programme at a local government
school on the 19th, are building up the Kandy 'Joining Hands' School network, starting
urban art redevelopment projects in the coming month, managing the UK/SL School
Partnerships, running training, fundraising, accounting, financing, directing,
blogging/posting, planning, admin...........lol.
Not bad for only two of us!
But seriously if you have any professional skills that you
think could help the project then please do drop us an email and get in touch.
We would welcome hearing from you.
Pull on those jumpers and enjoy spooky October. We'll catch
up with you in November with a weather update and more TEA news.
C&R xx