News

Link School Impact

Naomi Booth :: Monday 11th May 2020 :: This Story

Sri Lankan students have opportunities to share in exciting learning opportunities, developing skills and talents they did not know they had
Sri Lankan students are able to share their unique culture and heritage with our students
Sri Lankan students are able to take on meaningful roles, helping to facilitate activities in their own schools, and acting as translators
By leaving behind musical instruments we have brought, Sri Lanka students are able to taking on directing and organisational roles for their schools, continuing a school samba band, long after we have left

Sri Lanka students are able to share their unending skills in the fields of cricket, drama and dance and amaze our students with their talents
Sri Lanka students are able to partipcate in activities which they would not normally be able to engage in, in their own local community
Sri Lanka students have the opportunity to experience cultural activities outside of Sri Lankan and Asian culture, those broadening their understanding of the world in which they live

Sri Lankan students see others volunteering and are inspired to give something back to their own community and to their own country
Sri Lanka students have the opportunity to experience cultural activities outside of Sri Lankan and Asian culture, those broadening their understanding of the world in which they live
Sri Lankan students see others volunteering and are inspired to give something back to their own community and to their own country

Sri Lankan students are directly motivated because of their experiences with Ocean Stars and many schools see significant improvements in students engagement, motivation and success
Sri Lankan students build friendships with British students which they are able to maintain and develop through social media

Being involved with Ocean Stars and the visit to Sri Lanka is so impactful for our students at Calthorpe Park School.
Many become outstanding ambassadors for the school as they work in their local communities to raise funds for the charity.
For our students there is always a revelatory moment when they see for themselves the results of their fundraising in the community projects they visit in Sri Lanka.
Recent Calthorpe Park student groups have been able to visit a newly built preschool and an amazing playground for which they raised funds

Students going to Sri Lanka

Calthorpe Park students learn for themselves that people live quite differently from themselves in Sri Lanka, but have fun and build strong relationships throughout the trip
Our students are able to use their skills and talents in new and exciting ways and even discover things that they never knew they were so good at

Through fundraising and travelling together, our students bond with one another and share lifelong friendships
Many of our students are so impacted by the Ocean Stars experience that they want to continue to give back to Sri Lanka, working in NGOs and other community projects
Out students have opportunities to learn about all aspects of Ocean stars through visits to community projects during the trip

Students are able to see the contribution made by volunteering adults in Team 2, and gain an understanding of the contribution made by adults on the trip
Students develop an understanding of the history, culture and geography of Sri Lanka and are able to share this with their friends and family on returning home
Students build friendships with Sri Lankan students which they are able to maintain and develop through social media

UK staff have an amazing opportunity to engage their students in projects which are radically different from what usually takes place in school
Staff are able to extend their own learning, developing new activities which engage Sri Lankan students without the need for significant oral instruction
Staff return from each trip highly motivated to engage their own students in fundraising and in planning activities for the next trip

Staff are able to extend and develop their own continuing professional development through their involvement with the trip
Staff have opportunities simultaneously to promote our school and Ocean Stars in locally organised community events
Staff have opportunities to develop their ability to work with students with particular needs, such as the hearing impaired community

Staff are able to learn how education systems work in another county, they are able to bring back and share the things they have learnt from their time in Sri Lankan classrooms
Staff are able to use their own talents and skills in different ways and work with Sri Lankan students who are always so keen to grasp every opportunity which is afforded to them

Staff are able to develop meaningful and continuing friendships with their counterparts in Sri Lankan schools
Staff are able to encourage their students in developing communication and relationship building skills in more meaningful ways