This summer I will be joining the Aram Initiative and their passionate team of students and professionals on a trip to Sri Lanka.

During our visit we'll reach children's homes, special needs centres, trusts and skill development centres in the rural areas of the Hill Country, North and East Sri Lanka. Through micro-economic development projects such as co-operative farming, community service, education and recreational projects, we aim to inspire hope and sustainably improve their quality of life. We also aim to donate the necessary equipment to continue supporting their development (educational materials, sanitary toolkits, extra-curricular classes and micro-infrastructure such as water tanks)

I'm raising money for the Aram initiative because I strongly buy into the vision of the next generation supporting development in Sri Lanka. As the initial diaspora ages, it is critical that we stay invested in our roots while finding ways to improve how we deliver aid to the community. Current support is concentrated among groups with the closest connections to the diaspora, while cash pay-outs have created a relationship of dependency.

I believe in this project because it takes the skills of the next generation, builds connections between the diaspora and Sri Lanka, and focuses on helping the most marginalised people in our community develop in a sustainable way. It is my hope that we can build on the fantastic impact of last year's trip and create a multiplier effect to deliver lasting change.

Our team will be covering all personal travel, food and accommodation expenses, ensuring every penny of your donation directly supports these initiatives.

Check out https://aram.org.uk/ if you want to learn more, and please do share with your friends/family. Thank you so much for all of your support!