Funding update

Lots has happened in the month since we’ve returned from trekking all the way from Galle to Kandy in Sri Lanka to raise much-needed funds to support women and children in great need there. In my final trek blog post on 14th April I reported that 94% of my £10k target had been achieved and I’m now delighted to report it’s reached 100%!

Even though £10,000 doesn’t go very far here in the UK, it does and will go a long way in Sri Lanka. I thought it’d be good to update you on how the funding, which many of you contributed so generously to, is already being spent. Primarily it is sustaining the needs of women affected by gender based violence who are living in sheltered accommodation for their own protection. It is contributing to nutrition support for 24 women, 12 pregnant mothers, 9 infants/children and 4 house mothers, as well as psychological, legal, medical support including travel and transport to hospitals, courts and schools. It’s been allocated to buy raw materials and equipment for livelihood training programmes for the women at the shelters including educational support for the children in the form of extra classes, stationary and school uniforms. As the women leave the shelter they need to be reintegrated into their own, or other, safe homes. Part of our contribution is being used to assist 5 selected women for this support. It’s expected the funds raised during Trek Stage 1 will be sufficient to support for an 8 month period. That’ll be about the time I’ll be beginning the detailed planning for Stage 2 of my trek – Kandy to Trincomolee – to raise a further £10,000!

Current news

You’ll have heard on the news these past few days the troubled and desperate situation of Sri Lankans living in Sri Lanka. Tensions have been building for a long time and now the situation has reached a climatic point. It was evident when we were there last month from the curfews, fuel shortages, power cuts and what locals were telling us that the country was at breaking point and the key takeaways from our trip, which I detailed in my last blog. were the pre-curser to what is happening there now. Here’s a link from a recent BBC interview highlighting what some Sri Lankans say they want from their protests amidst a situation where the president has ordered security forces to shoot looters and curfew-breakers on sight!

How can I continue to be involved?

• Follow the news on Sri Lanka – not always easy as it’s very under-reported
• Attend fundraising events – next one Jubilee Open Gardens on 4th June, East Molesey – entry programme can be obtained from Ruth on 07729 235244 – with a request of a small donation. My garden is one of the 6 included!
• Attend a fundraising reception on the terrace at the Palace of Westminster, House of Commons – date tbc – tickets can be purchased from joel@theirfuturetoday.com or call 07799655538
• Donate pre-loved clothes to me to sell on Ebay with 100% of the proceeds going to support those in need in Sri Lanka
• If you’re a teacher and can deliver over Zoom or Skype and interested in volunteering your time perhaps for an hour a week to teach the girls/women in the refuge to learn English or another skill please get in touch
• Offer to run a fundraising event with proceeds going to support those in need in Sri Lanka via the small charity Their Future Today

A small note

In order to keep my existing fundraising page with JustGiving, and all my blog links associated with it, I’ve decided to retain the current page and simply increase the target from £10k to £20k to see me through the next fundraising period. This will mean all the blog links will work, the QR code will remain the same and people will be able to see total amounts donated and any updates with fewer clicks!

Further sponsorship – If you’d like to help those who need help in Sri Lanka at this incredibly trouble time, 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). 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 of an organisation that may have an interest in this cause please forward this blog and above link on to them.