Sanuya took part in the India Open International Karate Championships 2023

From Mahadeva Children’s home

Naomi Booth :: Monday 26th June 2023 :: This Story

Picture: /files/latest-news/520/w288/1-3.jpgOcean Stars Trust has been supporting the daily needs of the children being cared for at Mahadeva Children's home since 2012. Several volunteers have visited the home and spent time with the girls and boys playing sports, singing songs, dancing and doing craft activities.

Ocean Stars would like to extend warm Congratulations and a well done to one of the students, Sanuya, who recently took part in the India Open International Karate Championships 2023 held in New Delhi, India and won a Bronze medal. We are so proud of you Sanuya! Congratulations also to her coach Mr Vijayaraj. 

We continue to be proud to support Mahadeva Children's Home and the amazing work they do in providing a warm, loving and nurturing home for over 200 children.

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Fundraising Coffee Morning Success

Means we can help OST

Naomi Booth :: Friday 23rd June 2023 :: This Story

Picture: /files/latest-news/521/w288/garden.jpgFundraising plays a big part as a source of income for the work of Ocean Stars Trust. It enables us to do a lot of the work we do in Sri Lanka empowering children through education. Students travelling to Sri Lanka with Ocean Stars in October 2023 have spent the last year fundraising by organising sponsored events, cake sales, danceathons, sponsored bike rides and pancake mornings.
 
Ocean Stars Trust organises an annual Quiz in January which is very popular. Past events have included Curry Evenings and a Variety Show.
Recently OST organised a Coffee Morning at Fleet Methodist Church, which was attended by over 50 people. Beacon Hill United Reformed Church organised an afternoon cream tea to raise funds for their link preschools Feeding Programmes. If you would like to organise a fundraising event for Ocean Stars Trust then please contact us.
 
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High School Links

In Sri Lanka

Naomi Booth :: Sunday 18th June 2023 :: This Story

Ocean Stars Trust works with several high schools in Eastern Sri Lanka that are linked with secondary schools in the UK. OST often supports the Sri Lankan schools with funding requests they submit. Muravodai link school in Valachenai recently requested a white board for a classroom which OST donated during one of their volunteer visits to Sri Lanka. The teacher was very happy to have a brand new white board to teach her students.
 
If you are a secondary school teacher and would like to form a link with a school in Sri Lanka then please do contact us via email: oceanstarstrust@gmail.com
 
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Poson Poya

Celebrated in Sri Lanka.

Naomi Booth :: Friday 16th June 2023 :: This Story

Picture: /files/latest-news/522/w288/pp.jpgOn Saturday 3rd June, Poson Poya day was celebrated in Sri Lanka.
 
Poson is a festival celebrated in Sri Lankaon the full moon day in June. Poson Poya is important to Sri Lankan Buddhists as the day on which Emperor Asoka's son, Arahant Mahinda, introduced Buddhism to the island in the 3rd century B.C.
 
The focal point of the religious festival is the Buddhist monastic complex on the mountain of Mihintale, where Arahath Mahinda Thero preached Buddhism to one of the kings, king Devanampiyatissa, of Sri Lanka.
 
Houses are decorated with lanterns and lights to commemorate the day in a festive manner. The celebrations go on from 5 days to a week, starting from the full moon Poya day.
 
Buddhism is the main religion of Sri Lanka and is followed by 70.2% of the population. Of the remaining Sri Lankan population, 12.6% identify as Hindu, 9.7% identify as Muslim and 6.1% identify as Christian.

Disha visits Preschools

Naomi Booth :: Friday 16th June 2023 :: This Story

Picture: /files/latest-news/524/w288/u2.jpgOcean Stars Lanka Preschool Manager Disha travels to all our preschools every three months. Our remote preschools sometimes involve driving for an hour off the main road on unmade roads. Sometimes Tuctuc is the only way to travel on these roads. Sometimes the tuctuc has to parked under a tree whilst the teachers organise for a motorbike to come and pick up our staff. For the students in our remote preschools the day they receive their new uniforms is happy day for them. Parents are very grateful to Ocean Stars UK and Lanka for the support we give them with their children's Early Years Education. For more information about our work or if you would like to donate a uniform please visit our website https://oceanstars.org.uk/shop/clothing

Sponsor a child

With Ocean Stars Trust

Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 14th June 2023 :: This Story

Ocean Stars Trust Sponsors over 150 children in Sri Lanka. Sponsorship transforms lives and has given hope to many families. Every year our sponsor children do a drawing for their sponsors. Last year they focused on the theme life in Sri Lanka. Several of the student's artwork reflected life in rural Sri Lanka where most of our projects are based. Rice cultivation and keeping chickens are some of the topics these students reflected in their drawings. For more information about our Sponsorship schemes please have a look at our sponsorship page.

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Charity Governance Award, Runners up!

Naomi Booth :: Monday 12th June 2023 :: This Story

Ocean Stars Trust are delighted to announce that they were Runners-Up at this year's Charity Governance Awards in the Category  Improving Impact in Small Charities (0-3 Paid Staff) .
Dan Corry, CEO of NPC explained, "This category explores the role that boards play in improving outcomes, and learning. The category focuses on smaller organisations. Small charities are at the heart of communities, tackling inequalities and supporting change. Change is a constant for these organisations, and we want to celebrate the way their boards help them to learn and adapt and so improve their impact."

Deepak Nambisan, Chair of the awards steering committee, said, "Many congratulations to our inspirational winners and everyone who made it onto the shortlist. It's heartening to see that ingenuity, commitment and passion are thriving in the sector, often within challenging circumstances. This year, we've been struck by the impressive showing from the country's smallest charities – more than half of all nominees are charities with fewer than 30 employees. This is a shining example of how trustees with foresight, imagination and an authentic connection to their beneficiaries can overcome barriers and achieve great things."

The Award Ceremony was held at Drapers Hall in London and was attended by OST Chair John Bunter, Trustee Cameron Williams and Head of Operations Dilanee Bunter. The Team enjoyed meeting representatives from other award winners and nominees from other Charities and networking. 


As Runners up OST also gained a Prize of £1000 as well as a paid one-year membership of the Association of Chairs for their board, and a complimentary place on a Cause4 Trustee Leadership Programme for a new member of their board. We are delighted that the work of the Trustee Board has been validated and recognised in this way.

A very special day for all of us at Ocean Stars Trust.

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The Awards were organised by the Clothworkers Company and sponsored by the following organisations.

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30 students attend our preschool in Vellaimanal, Trincomalee.

Naomi Booth :: Friday 9th June 2023 :: This Story

This preschool is one of our all-island preschools and is situated about 3 hours drive from Batticaloa, where most of our preschools are based. Recently, one of the local banks organised a colouring competition and all our students took part.

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We are very happy to announce that the first prize went to one of our students!

A very proud day for everyone.

Bean Bags

For preschools in Sri Lanka

Naomi Booth :: Tuesday 6th June 2023 :: This Story

Annette, an Ocean Stars supporter in the UK, has spent the last 15 years making bean bags for us to take to Sri Lanka and distribute to our preschools.

The students love playing with the bean bags. It gives them the opportunity to practice their throwing, catching and balancing skills, as well their social skills of working together and taking turns.

It costs Ocean Stars Trust £100 to provide resources for a preschool for one year.

We are so grateful to Annette for donating these beautiful handmade bean bags that have brought so much joy and laughter to our students over the years!

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Volunteers in Sri Lanka

Charlotte's visit in 2022

Naomi Booth :: Monday 5th June 2023 :: This Story

Ocean Stars Trust offers UK Volunteers the chance to see first-hand the work of the Trust in Sri Lanka, and spend time with the students who attend our preschools and link schools. Charlotte, a teacher from Calthorpe Park School, visited Calthorpe's link schools in October 2022. She spent time making watermelon fans with students who had great fun being creative and speaking English.

The Sri Lankan students love welcoming visitors and sharing friendship and joy.

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