By James Houston | Fundraiser
Dear Friends of Tea Leaf,
As we come to the end of 2024, we want to take this opportunity to thank you for your commitment to the tea estate communities of Sri Lanka. Earlier this month, we held five joy-filled graduation ceremonies to celebrate the dedication and sacrifice of more than 450 students and their families to improve their circumstances. Below are a few of our favourite photos from this year’s events - your support made this possible.Service projects 24
During their one-year Main Diploma, students complete Service Projects to address community needs. From taking care of patients in hospitals to stitching school uniforms for school children, they see needs and create real solutions. Across all five of our centres, our students have supported and strengthened more than 100,000 people in their communities. We hear from TLC Nuwara Eliya student, Abigayal.
"Inspired by Success and Ethics lessons at my Tea Leaf Centre, I wanted to tackle air pollution in my community, I raised 2,500 LKR (£7) by selling homemade sweets at AOG Church in Nuwara Eliya and used the funds to buy 10 tree plants. With my father’s support, I partnered with local authorities to plant them in suitable community areas.
My project showcased Tea Leaf's values of responsibility, creativity, and community spirit. I hope that my example will inspire others in our community. I hope they will see that small, well-intentioned efforts can have a positive and lasting impact on the community and the environment.”
How your support brings brighter futures.
By donating to Tea Leaf Trust, you’re not just funding education - you’re investing in future leaders, change-makers, and voices of hope. Meet Tharika Perera, former Tea Leaf Teacher, Principal, and Professional Development Manager.
Tharika credits TLT for transforming her life, empowering her to believe in herself and take on new challenges. Through TLT’s training and mentorship, she developed leadership, people skills, and the confidence to inspire others.
Now Deputy Headmistress at Royal International School, Kurunegala, Tharika continues to apply TLT’s values of openness, respect, and professional growth. She fondly describes TLT as a “magical place” that deeply shaped her personally and professionally.
Volunteer update
This year we’ve had more than twenty volunteers join us at our Tea Leaf Centres, supporting students with conversational English. Many of them have carried out tea picks to fundraise for the staff and students they worked alongside. We are incredibly grateful to Karan, Miggy, Callie, Randal, Huey Yun, Anja, Lukas and Samantha and their friends and family - you are awesome!
Malaysian volunteer Huey Yun shares why she felt so passionate about fundraising for TLT following her volunteer experience in November.
“Volunteering with TLT has been a life-changing experience for me. I had the opportunity to serve as a teacher for Main Diploma and Basic English Programme students. I was amazed by their growth, confidence and how much they valued the opportunity to learn English. Their stories were incredibly inspiring and deepened my passion for education.
I discovered that TLT is more than just a school. There are several projects that TLT run and they always focus on relieving poverty and empowering estate workers, particularly women. I am so grateful to have volunteered at TLT, it is hard to put my feelings into words but once you experience it, you will understand exactly how I feel!”
As we prepare for 2025, we hope you know how grateful we are for your support. You’re part of the Tea Leaf Family and we look forward to supporting more students and strengthening more communities together! If you have any questions or would like to have a chat and find out more details, please do get in touch via the website.
James
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