Sri Lanka Trek update – 1 March 2022

March is here! It’s THIS month I begin Part 1 of my 10 week trek across Sri Lanka.  I’m raising funds to support vulnerable women and children in Sri Lanka. My friend Gill is now coming with me, our flights are paid for, our important Covid insurance cover got, most of our accommodation booked, and our itinerary finalised! We are now just needing our final Rabies jab and instructions on how to use our special first aid kit should we need it! Last weekend Sri Lanka relaxed its requirements for a Covid PCR test as a condition of entry, so once we get our VISA and our Covid vaccine history printed off then our documentation is all in place – woohoo!

Funding update – 66% of my £10,000 target has now been raised! Thank you to all of you who’ve donated and supported in so many ways i.e. donating good quality pre-loved clothes for me to sell on EBay, your hosting of fundraising events, buying items at these events, or just giving through donations and personal support. Gill took a whopping £1500 last weekend at the pre-loved jewellery sale she put on as her fundraising activity. 100% of all funds raised here and elsewhere have been, and will be, going directly to those who need it in Sri Lanka e.g.,

• vocational and entrepreneurial skills delivery for women and girls living in refuges in Sri Lanka so they can become self-sufficient when they leave
• leadership skills delivery for women, especially those living in remote areas of Sri Lanka, to help build capacity in their communities
• basic nutrition and other necessities including education for children living in orphanages and remote villages

Volunteering update – four more women have come forward and offered to teach English or vocational skills over Zoom to the girls in the women’s refuges. This is currently in the process of being coordinated by TFT and WDC. These volunteers will build on what the two current volunteers are delivering over Zoom to the girls in the refuge in Galle and the women’s shelter in Kandy.

Further sponsorship – If you’d like to sponsor us on this trek whilst being assured that every penny will go to those who need it, then please donate by clicking on this link Marcia Summers is fundraising for Their Future Today (justgiving.com) – and don’t forget that if you’re a tax payer to declare ‘gift aid’ when doing so which will increase your donation by 25% at no cost to you . Alternatively, if you know anyone or an organisation which may have any interest in these causes please forward onto them.

Blogging – I’ll write blogs, hopefully daily, as we are trekking – 26^th March – 12^th April so you can see our route, how we’re getting along and the people we meet, how your donations are being well allocated, and hopefully not too many hiccups along the way! Please check in and keep in touch with your comments as we go to help keep us in high spirits and connected to home. Xx