Sponsorship Graduate

Congratulations Kilmiya!!

Naomi Booth :: Saturday 26th August 2023 :: This Story

Picture: /files/latest-news/549/w288/grad.jpgSponsorship programmes are one of the key ways in which Ocean Stars Trust empowers children through education in Sri Lanka. Kilmiya started her sponsorship with Ocean Stars in 2005, aged 5. We watched her grow and blossom into a young lady and pass her GCSE and A Level exams.

Kilmiya lives in a village which was devastated by the Boxing Day tsunami. Her father is a fisherman, and her mother is a housewife. When we first started sponsoring Kilmiya, fishing was banned because of the war and the strong naval presence in the waters around Trincomalee. So, times were very tough for her family.

We are very proud that Kilmiya was the first woman in her village to get a place at the University of Jaffna to study for a BSC in Biological Sciences. We are thrilled to say that Kilmiya graduated from the University of Jaffna with a 2.1 degree. Kilmiya is now hoping to do a Diploma in Pharmacy and to be selected to become a graduate teacher.
 
Well done and Congratulations Kilmiya!!
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Easy Fundraising

Choose OceanStars today

Naomi Booth :: Monday 21st August 2023 :: This Story

Picture: /files/latest-news/545/w288/368039066-715920857236873-8170698784731035317-n.jpgChoose Ocean Stars Trust as your charity on easyfundraising, and help us to raise money when you shop! All you have to do is:
 
1. Sign up to easyfundraising https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/
2. Choose Ocean Stars Trust as your charity
3. Find the online shop you want to visit, and get shopping!
 
Easyfundraising will then donate a portion of what you spend to Ocean Stars Trust, without it costing you anything! The cost is covered by the brand.
Try it today!

English reading books...

Donated by UK school

Naomi Booth :: Friday 18th August 2023 :: This Story

Ocean Stars met up with students from our Shining Stars preschool, who have recently moved up to school.

We donated English reading books for primary school children that had been donated to us by a UK primary school.

The students were delighted to be given their own English reading book and immediately wanted to read their books.

The remaining books were donated to the Grade 1 teacher.

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Ocean Stars was set up in 2005

Around 15,000 children in the Batticaloa district have had access to a quality early years preschool education.

Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 16th August 2023 :: This Story

Since Ocean Stars was set up in 2005, around 15,000 children in the Batticaloa district have had access to a quality early years preschool education. In 2023, we have 900 children registered in our preschools. Feedback from feeder primary schools is that children who have attended Ocean Stars Preschools shine like stars next to their peers, who have been to other preschools.

Our students have good social skills, they are more confident, can sing English songs, participate actively in lessons, have good attendance, and their emotional and physical skills are well-developed.

OST recently met up with students from Shining Stars Preschool who are now in the school system. We met up with students from Grade 1-13. It was an amazing afternoon talking to these students about their memories of attending our Ocean Stars Shining Stars preschool and how even now they drop by to say hallo to their preschool teacher.

We met a Grade 1 teacher from the Primary school, who has 30 students in her class and 16 of them are Ocean Stars students. She said that it was like having two classes in her class as the OST students shone through in everything they did.?

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Women’s empowerment projects

Ocean Stars runs 3 projects... find out more..

Naomi Booth :: Friday 11th August 2023 :: This Story

Ocean Stars Trust runs three women's empowerment projects called Hope House 1, 2 and 3, offering hope to women in rural villages and a way out of poverty through learning a new skill.

Our three Hope Houses offer sewing classes to local women, and we often have waiting lists of ladies wanting to join our courses. Hope House 1 was founded by Jessica Butcher MBE in 2017, and we thank her for her vision and generosity in her continued support for Hope House 1.

Women who have completed our courses go on to gain employment at local garment factories or set up their own businesses. Through these projects, around 350 women have been empowered to be independent and earn their income. Our courses are now accredited by the Sri Lankan government and our students gain an NVQ Level 4 Qualification at the end of their course.

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Toothbrushes and Teddies

For Ammankulam preschool

Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 9th August 2023 :: This Story

Picture: /files/latest-news/541/w288/ted.jpgA local primary school recently donated toothbrushes to be given to our preschool children. Toothbrushes and toothpaste are unaffordable for many of our remote preschool families living on incomes of daily wage earners.
 
At the end of the opening ceremony at Ammankulam preschool, the Ocean Stars team gave out toothbrushes to all of the preschool children.
 
Toys are a luxury that none of our preschool children are able to enjoy. OST is very grateful to everyone who donates knitted teddies for us to take to Sri Lanka. For the children at Ammankulam preschool to be given a teddy to take home at the end of a long morning was a welcome gift that brought them happiness and joy.
 
We would like to say a big thank you to those who donated the toothbrushes and teddies!
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Ammankulam preschool

Naomi Booth :: Friday 4th August 2023 :: This Story

Picture: /files/latest-news/540/w288/365694004-704155341746758-4143971484575924606-n.jpgOriginally in a very remote village location in an area roamed by elephants, which used to destroy the building frequently. A local gentleman, Mr Daniel, donated land to build a new preschool for the children of his village. Funding had been provided for a new preschool for Ammankulam, but this covered just the foundation and an appeal was made to Ocean Stars for help in completing the building so that the children of the preschool could access their Early Years education in a safe and secure building.

The students of Calthorpe Park School have been busy fundraising for Ocean Stars ahead of their trip to Sri Lanka in October 2023.  Some of their funds went towards completing the preschool building and Dilanee attended the opening ceremony during her recent visit. The village community, local government staff, parents and the preschool staff were all very grateful to Ocean Stars and Calthorpe Park School for making their dream of a new preschool possible. It was a very happy and special day for everyone!

When moving into a new house, or new building as was the case with Ammankulam Preschool, Hindu tradition involves boiling milk on a new stove in an open pot until it boils over the sides. This symbolizes the abundance of prosperity and food which will bless the new premises. The milk is then served to everyone present as a reminder of that prosperity.

The parents arrived early and started the fire, and everyone waited patiently until the milk boiled over. The guests were then offered traditional Hindu snacks of Vadai, and this was followed by welcome speeches.

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The messages being conveyed were an overwhelming sense of gratitude and thanks for the kindness of Ocean Stars and Calthorpe Park school for giving the young children of Ammankulam the opportunity to access a high-quality Early Years Education.?

The students of Ammankulam preschool were very excited to move into their new preschool building. On the day their preschool was opened, the students arrived early and waited patiently until all the dignitaries arrived. They had to sit through the opening ceremony and were very happy when finally, it was their turn to enter the new preschool building. The Ocean Stars team had taken Milo and biscuits for the students. Having had their drink and snacks, the team read a story, sang songs and ended up with our customary Hokey Cokey.

It was a special day for us at Ocean Stars as we were able to witness the impact our work has on the community and to see that the children of Ammankulam were indeed going to be empowered by receiving a quality Early Years education.

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Help us by recycling!

Thanks for Ester and Terracycle

Naomi Booth :: Tuesday 1st August 2023 :: This Story

Help Esther and her daughter raise money for Ocean Stars by dropping off any of the below items to 22 Shetland Way, Fleet, GU51 2UD - please leave in the green bin as pictured. They will be recycling the items through TerraCycle. What a fantastic and unique way of fundraising!! ?

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  • Broken or damaged toys
  • Flexible Cheese pouches
  • Sliced cheese protective film
  • Plastic nets for mini cheeses
  • Fabric conditioner bottles and tops
  • Flexible laundry capsule and pod packaging
  • Flexible wipe packaging with integrated rigid plastic
  • Lenor tumble dry sheets
  • Plastic air freshener containers
  • Plastic chocolate and sweet pouches and bags and multi pack wrappers
  • Individual chocolate bar wrappers and block wrapper
  • Non-savoury biscuit wrappers
  • Cracker wrappers
  • Cake wrappers

If you would like to fundraise for Ocean Stars, email us at info@oceanstars.org.uk for more info!

 

 

New laptop delivered

Donated by Calthorpe School

Naomi Booth :: Tuesday 1st August 2023 :: This Story

Picture: /files/latest-news/539/w288/laptop.jpgThe students of Calthorpe Park School donated a laptop to Navalady School, one of their link schools in Batticaloa.
 
The laptop was handed over by Dilanee during her recent visit to Sri Lanka. Access to laptops and technology is difficult for schools in Sri Lanka and following a request for a laptop the Headteacher and Head of English were delighted to receive this laptop. Cultural exchanges transform lives of students in Sri Lanka and the UK and help create global citizens for the future.
 
If your school would like a link with a school in Sri Lanka, please contact us.

 

Teacher Training Today

Supported by Fonthill Foundation UK

Chris Booth :: Saturday 22nd July 2023 :: This Story

Our annual residential Teacher Training sponsored by Fonthill Foundation UK is currently taking part in Miyani Hall Batticaloa SL .

55 teachers including our teachers from Yatiyanthota, Colombo , Killinochchi and Trincomalee are all attending. The teachers are enjoying being together and a variety of workshops have left them inspired with innovative ideas to use when they return to their preschools .The English workshops run by Headway English College have given our teachers confidence about use spoken English in the classroom .

The evening wishes with a campfire and teachers performing songs they have created themselves. Sitting by a campfire, in an open field , looking up at a star lit Sri Lankan sky is a perfect ending to another Ocean Stars Day.