Introduction

SRI LANKA 2010 - “Making a Difference”

In summer 2010 we are taking a group of young people to Sri Lanka on a ‘volunteering working visit’. This will be Eston Park School’s second visit to Sri Lanka, the first being during the Summer of 2008. The overwhelming impact of this visit was so great for both us and the people we worked with that we have decided to repeat the experience. 17 young people from school, 3 from the 6th form, together with 3 staff and a youth worker will make up the team.
 
‘Making a Difference’ is our aim, not only to all of the trip participants but to the community with which we will be working.
 
Our project work in Sri Lanka will again focus on a school and a pre-school nursery, serving Athidiya, a very deprived community. Our ‘Making a Difference’ activities will involve drama, sports, English conversation, music etc as well as refurbishing classrooms. We will be working alongside the Head of the school, Mrs Da Silva (a woman of huge dedication and commitment) and other inspirational community workers, including Sister Concepta, a nun who has committed her life to serving the poor.
 
The young participants who will be ‘Making a Difference’ have been selected after a lengthy process which included a range of activities. The group has committed itself to raising all of the money for the trip itself as well as providing a range of educational and other materials.
 
This is a challenging task and we will need the support of the entire community. We will be carrying out a range of fundraising activities and we are seeking support from local businesses and groups.
 
Our young people are fully prepared to work with groups in return for sponsorship or support and they will readily address groups both before and after the trip, if requested.
 
The trip is another exciting project for Eston Park School, helping to develop our ‘outstanding’ practices even further. Eston Park is a happy confident school; we serve some of the most deprived areas of the country and are providing a quality of education which, we know, is as good as is available anywhere. This trip will give some of our young people an unequalled opportunity to learn and develop, to change their lives and those of others.
 
We all hope and trust that everyone will pull together to help us in ‘Making a Difference’.