My Ocean Stars Odyssey
The journey of the last twenty years with Ocean Stars is one I felt compelled to document. It has been a deeply personal odyssey - one that began with a desire to reconnect with my roots in Sri Lanka, the country I left in 1976. For as long as I can remember, I carried a dream: to one day give back and help those in Sri Lanka who were less fortunate than me.
That dream took a defining turn on Boxing Day, 2004. The devastating tsunami that struck the region also became a personal turning point - my own tsunami - and in its aftermath, Ocean Stars was born in March 2005.
Over the years, many have asked when I would write a book. Now, as we mark twenty years of Ocean Stars Trust, I feel the time is right. The stories - the triumphs, challenges, and the incredible people I have met along the way - are too powerful not to be shared. Their stories are waiting to be heard.
My Ocean Stars Odyssey : Dilanee Bunter
RRP: £19.99
Buy Online
If you wish to pay via BACS please email: jayddlimited@gmail.com with the name and delivery address, then BACS your payment to:
Account Name: JAYDD Limited Sort Code: 30-80-42 Bank Account: 39454668
The trading arm of Ocean Stars Trust, Jaydd Limited, processes all payments for the Ocean Stars book.
EXTRACTS FROM THE FOREWORD
by Judy Kendall
This book is the story of Ocean Stars but just as importantly it is the story of Dilanee, its founder member. The two are closely connected. Read the stories in this book and you will know what I mean. Perhaps, like me, some of the pieces and illustrations will move you to tears.
Grassroots organisations at their very best are set up by ordinary people in the areas in which they are needed. In many ways Ocean Stars fits this brief. Dilanee has strong roots in Sri Lanka. She grew up there and has family there still. So it is fitting that Ocean Stars supports Sri Lankan children's education and well-being. But Ocean Stars is more than this. It is, like Dilanee, a quietly phenomenal bridge-builder. Ocean Stars works in areas of Sri Lanka affected by the 2004 tsunami but also in Tamil areas affected by civil war between the Tamils and the Sinhalese. Dilanee is Sinhalese. This is a precious example of bridge building.
EXTRACTS FROM THE ILLUSTRATOR Akshaya Suseendran
● 
Working on this book has been one of the most emotional and transformative experiences of my artistic journey so far. It's been raw, powerful, and personal at some points. I hope that it builds a deep, human connection between people here and the people of Sri Lanka.
● Working on the cover was one of the most impactful parts of the project for me. The children's faces at the top, their smiling faces, watching over the dark ocean waves below, with a quiet space in between. It felt like a moment of stillness and protection. I think in that space, hope became Ocean Stars, a guiding light rising from the darkness.
● Throughout the process, I have become much more confident in my digital illustration skills, but more than that, I've grown in my ability to convey emotion and truth through my art. I'm proud of this work and grateful to have been part of something so meaningful.