Newsletter December 2023
Naomi Booth :: Monday 4th December 2023 :: This Story
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30 volunteers visited Sri Lanka in October 2023 and over 10,000 students and families were impacted by this visit.
5 Samba Bands are operating in Batticaloa Schools thanks to the fundraising of students from Calthorpe Park School, Fleet.
Over 2500 nutritious meals have been provided by our Feeding Programmes to preschool children in remote communities
One of our sponsor children graduated from the University of Jaffna with a Degree in BioScience and another is a successful entrepreneur who has helped over 1000 Sri Lankans improve their digital skills.
Hope House projects continue to provide village women with skills that empower them to set up their own businesses.
OST Trustees met for their annual Strategy Planning Day in September and agreed on the Action Plan for the year ahead.
A residential Teacher Training was held for 70 Ocean Stars teachers in July 2023
Over 1000 preschool students assessed in our Child Development Programme.
Our latest Newsletter
Naomi Booth :: Monday 4th December 2023 :: This Story
Our Newsletter is now out so why not have a look and see what we have been up to in 2023. There are reports from our Chair, John Bunter, on our October visits with Calthorpe Park School and Team 2, our Child Development Programme, Sponsorship Schemes as well as lots of other news.
Here is the newsletter
link https://oceanstars.org.uk/files/newsletter-nov-23.pdf
or to the page it is on -
https://oceanstars.org.uk/blog/publications/584-autumn-newsletter-2023
As we enter our 19th year of Operations the support from our donors, sponsors and regular givers is very much valued and appreciated and helps us continue with our work empowering children through education in Sri Lanka. Maybe you would like to become an Ocean Star and set up a regular payment and transform the lives of children in Sri Lanka? To find out how to donate please visit our website www.oceanstars.org.uk
Bake Sale
Following on from our recent successful Bake Sale you are warmly invited to come along to Finchampstead Baptist Church on 6 December for our next Bake Sale for Ocean Stars Trust.
Naomi Booth :: Friday 1st December 2023 :: This Story
Lots of scrumptious delicious home made cakes for sale.
All proceeds go to our projects in Sri Lanka empowering children through education.
Sponsorship in focus
Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 29th November 2023 :: This Story
Sponsorship is a key focus area of the work of Ocean Stars Trust empowering children through education in Sri Lanka. For the cost of £15 a month / £180 per annum sponsorship changes and transforms the life of a family in Sri Lanka and also enriches the life of the Sponsor. We currently have 142 children who are benefitting from our sponsorship programmes. Sometimes our Ocean Stars Trip volunteers also happen to be our sponsors. Julie who has been on 4 volunteer trips reflects on meeting Rimsa her sponsor child:
It's been a blessing to be able to meet Rimsha and her family on different trips to Sri Lanka. This time, after a 4 year break, it was noticeable that Rimsha and her siblings had grown up so much, her sister was just a baby last time I saw them. Rimsha shared with us that school is going well and when she grows up she would like to be a doctor. Her Mum told us they appreciate the support with school resources and tuition. A relatively small amount each month makes such a difference, it's such a straightforward way to help.
If you would like to sign up to our Sponsorship Programme then please visit our page using the following link :
https://oceanstars.org.uk/sponsor-a-child-sri-lanka
Kilmiya’s story
Could you be our next Sponsor and shine a light on a child in Sri Lanka?
Naomi Booth :: Monday 27th November 2023 :: This Story
Sponsorship is a key focus area of the work of Ocean Stars Trust empowering children through education in Sri Lanka. For the cost of £15 a month / £180 per annum sponsorship changes and transforms the life of a family in Sri Lanka and also enriches the life of the Sponsor. We currently have 142 children who are benefitting from our sponsorship programmes. We have waiting lists of children who have been referred to us by the local government and social services waiting to be sponsored. Could you be our next Sponsor and shine a light on a child in Sri Lanka?
Here is Kilmiya's story:
I am Kilmiya and I was sponsored by Ocean Stars since I was 5 years old. When I was growing up I was able to go to extra classes and buy books and school equipment thanks to my sponsorship money. My UK sponsor also came to visit me and that made me feel very happy. My father is a fisherman, so our family income is very low. I was the first woman from my village to go to University. I attended the University of Jaffna and did a Degree in Bio Sciences and I graduated with a 2.1 degree this year. During lockdown when I was at home I found it very difficult to access online learning. Ocean Stars helped me by providing me with a laptop which transformed my University life. I was able to access online science practical classes and keep up with my studies. I hope to now go onto qualify as a science teacher and also study for a Pharmacy Diploma. Thank you Ocean Stars for supporting me in my education journey.
If you would like to sign up to our Sponsorship Programme then please either visit our website using the following link :
https://oceanstars.org.uk/sponsor-a-child-sri-lanka or get in touch.
Thank you for trip resources
Thousands of children have benefited
Naomi Booth :: Friday 24th November 2023 :: This Story
We would like to say another BIG Thank you to everyone who donated resources for our recent trip to Sri Lanka.
Thousands of children benefited from the pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, craft resources, bubbles, stickers, bean bags, teddies and paper that was donated.
The final bags of resources were distributed to our preschools last weekend at a teacher's training event at our office. All the teachers have asked us to pass on their thanks to everyone for their generous donations. These resources help us offer our preschool students a high-quality early years education with access to quality teaching materials.
If you would like to give a Christmas Gift to a child in preschool in Sri Lanka please have a look at our Gift Catalogue.
Charity Excellence Awards
Charity Governance Award Runners-up
Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 22nd November 2023 :: This Story
Did you know Ocean Stars Trust were runners-up for a Charity Governance Award this year?
Our board worked hard to enter the category Improving Impact: charities with 0-3 paid staff. Our entry focused on the recent launch of OST's Child Development Programme (CDP), a monitoring and evaluation tool that has not only helped the charity improve its impact across Sri Lanka but has also been a catalyst for growth and evolution across the organisation. In 2019, the OST board narrowed its focus from facilitating access to Early Years Education to supporting the delivery of high-quality Early Years Education within the preschools it sponsors.
Read more about our #charity governance story and our amazing #trustees) here: https://shorturl.at/kUXZ1
Celidh
Thanks to all
Naomi Booth :: Monday 13th November 2023 :: This Story
A huge thank you to everyone who attended our Ocean Stars Celidh on Saturday 12 November.
Over 80 people attended and danced the evening away to the music provided by the Hogs Back Band. There was a raffle as well as an Ocean Stars stall selling craft items from Sri Lanka. A special thanks to Denise and Kim the organisers.
Our next fundraising event is our annual quiz which will take place on Saturday 13 January 2024. For more information please email us: oceanstarstrust@gmail.com
Happy Dawali
Naomi Booth :: Saturday 11th November 2023 :: This Story
We would like to wish all our Ocean Stars Communities in the UK, Sri Lanka and around the world a Happy Diwali.
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights with its variations which are celebrated by Hinuds all over the world. It symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". It marks the return of Lord Rama after defeating the demon king Ravana, signifying the victory of righteousness.
Our 7 Trustees
Find out what they do with Ocean Stars
Naomi Booth :: Thursday 9th November 2023 :: This Story
Our 7 Trustees along with our co-opted Trustees, Head of Operations and Minutes Secretary attend formal meetings in person 6 times per year, but with two of the above abroad, and one or two living some distance away in the UK, Zoom also plays a role in getting us together.
Our Trustees fulfil their roles as set out by the UK Charities Commission, acting within the guidelines of our Mission: "...to identify and overcome the barriers to equal opportunity for children in Sri Lanka through education and social enrichment, supporting their families and communities, sharing friendship, hope and joy."
Once again a huge thank you to our Trustee Board for all their hard work, support and dedication to the work of Ocean Stars Trust.