Program Reviews

Volunteering with Tea Leaf Trust in Sri Lanka was one of the most meaningful and transformative experiences of my life. The opportunity allowed me to immerse myself in a completely different culture while contributing to an organisation dedicated to improving educational opportunities for young people living in tea plantation communities. Through this experience, I developed a deeper understanding of social inequality, resilience, and the power of education to create long-term change. I would highly recommend this organisation for anyone just willing to help and throw themselves into a new environment!

We had an amazing time at Tea Leaf in Maskeliya! The only reason I gave a 4 is that we could only go for 1 week, and I think we would have been able to get involved in more longer-term projects and had more of a meaningful impact if we could have been there for longer!

The planning/organisation side before you get to Sri Lanka is really smooth and professional, ask any questions at all!

Maskeliya is a small town in Central Sri Lanka, there are small shops and restaurants, so you’ll have the basics of what you need for your time there. I’d recommend dressing more modestly than perhaps you might on a hot holiday just out of respect. Walking around town we felt really comfortable and safe, everyone is super friendly.

The young people at Tea Leafe are so fun and keen to learn, we went just as they had finished the initial English programme, so some were still feeling a bit shy but over the days they definitely got used to seeing us and us being in the classrooms.

The teaching staff are EXCELLENT teachers to shadow, they really command a room while showing empathy and kindness towards the students, and they all have great sense of humour.

Our favourite thing was watching the rehearsals for the upcoming talent show, the young people are so confident and have amazing dancing and singing skills!

Spending time in Maskeliya and the surrounding area was a real highlight of our time in Sri Lanka. You are really off the beaten track of where most tourists go, and it is SO beautiful. On the weekend we went with Sushanthan, a TLT alumi, to Gartmoor Falls, which was unbelievably beautiful, so picturesque and serene. He was able to tell us all about the surrounding Tea Estates, and would stop to show us the panoramic views. I would recommend this to anyone, you can book with him through Get Your Guide.

We also did part of the Pekoe Trail with Abiya, a member of the TLT social media team who is a highly experienced and knowledgeable Pekoe Guide. She was able to tell us so much about the culture and nature in the area.

We weren’t able to have a tour of one of the nearby tea estates just due to not having time, but would definitely do that if we could! Maskeliya is also a good place to stay if you want to climb Adam’s Peak as it’s very nearby, if that’s your thing!

All in all, if you’re looking for a meaningful and sustainable volunteering experience where you get to be a small part of the amazing work being done by the team at Tea Leaf Trust, as well as experience a beautiful side of Sri Lanka, I would highly recommend Tea Leaf Trust. It was the most special part of our time in Sri Lanka, and we will be back!! 🍃❤️

My time working with Tea Leaf Trust was excellent! I was blown away by the enthusiasm of both the staff and children. I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with everyone involved there and would recommend to anyone to work there. Whilst volunteering at Tea Leaf Trust, I was inspired by the students' and teachers' optimism and general happiness. Every day, the students had a thirst for knowledge: when I joined in early March, they could already hold detailed conversations with me, which impressed me very much.

During my time at TLT, I got to experience how an English School should be run. Both the teachers and the students were incredibly welcoming and made me feel apart of the team from day 1. The daily structure for me was that of a school. Attending daily lessons, helping with after school programs, and sitting in on after school meetings. I would recommend this volunteer program to anyone interested in working in schools or who wants to experience how an end to end well run volunteer program is led.

When I was planning this volunteering, I knew it was gonna be awesome, like, hey, volunteering in a school in Sri Lanka, what could go wrong? Little did I know that this experience would redefine the whole concept of awesomeness. It was really something that touched my heart and opened new paths I want to go in life. I will never forget.

I spent unforgettable three weeks at the TLT centre Bogawantalawa where, in addition to my volunteer work, I also had the opportunity to discover the breathtaking landscape, gain a deeper insight into the everyday lives of the people and make some genuine friendships with teachers and students.

From the first day, I felt wholeheartedly welcomed by the teaching staff. The attitude toward life of the teachers and students was impressive, considering the difficult conditions in which they live. What inspired me most was the generous support they give each other, regardless of how much they themselves have.

If you're looking for an unique experience you should definitely volunteer at TLT!

I have been volunteering with Tea Leaf Trust since I first went out to volunteer with them in September 2019. My volunteering experience with them had a hugely positive impact on my life, to the extent that I have spent more than 1 year of my life in Sri Lanka over the past 6 years, and I have even been the Volunteer Coordinator for Tea Leaf Trust for the past 2 years. So why did it have such an impact on me, and why do I keep coming back time after time? There are many facets to that answer, but the bottom line is that Tea Leaf Trust has a phenomenal impact on the lives of young people in one of the poorest areas of Sri Lanka - the tea estates in the central Hill Country. Our volunteers comment on how wonderful the staff and students are, how great the programme that is being delivered to the students is, what a huge impact it has on the lives of both staff and students, and how strong Tea Leaf's reputation is in each of the communities that the Tea Leaf Centres serve. This is true for young volunteers travelling round the world who take time to volunteer with Tea Leaf, as well as older, retired people, like me, who have a bit more time in retirement to get involved with such an exciting project. So, young or old, if you want to do something that is exciting and impactful, do get in touch with Tea Leaf, as you will not only be helping to change young lives in one of the poorest areas of Sri Lanka, but you may well find your own life changed by the experience too.

My two weeks at Tea Leaf Trust have been among the most impactful and eye-opening experiences so far. From getting to know the amazing students, supporting them with the talent show, and learning more about them as individuals, to working alongside the staff and building unforgettable connections – it has all been incredibly rewarding. I’ve been so lucky to witness the fantastic work and opportunities that Tea Leaf Trust provides in and around the Tea Estate community. I will always feel grateful for the heartfelt conversations and the lessons I was able to be a part of.

Thank you TLT! ❤️

I had such a fantastic experience volunteering at Tea Leaf Trust. Everyone I came across was very friendly and cared deeply about the project. Hearing the teachers and students personal stories and the impact that Tea Leaf has had on their lives was very heart warming. Tea Leaf Trust is always thinking about new ways they can try to support the community and students are an active part of this process. All the staff made a huge effort to make me feel welcome by inviting me to their homes and showing me around. I was lucky enough to attend the students graduation and my homestay host and the teachers lent me traditional clothes, jewellery and dressed me on the day. All memories I certainly will never forget!

My name is Tharaka and I'm the founder of Project Roots - I came to Tea Leaf Trust (TLT) with Sammy (another volunteer) with the intention to establish a partnership with TLT while supporting the improvement of the emotional health curriculum (scope of work agreed for Sammy). Now being of Sri Lankan origin but growing up in New Zealand, I never got much of a chance to explore the uphill country region, so this was a perfect chance to really immerse myself! TLT brings such a warm and genuine atmosphere at the schools, we had the opportunity to work with the Maskeliya team. We felt very welcomed and were invited to participate in many events such as the students annual graduation. Two weeks was never going to be enough time but we managed to identity gaps based on the current emotional health curriculum and provide recommendations, To ensure sustainability of the engagement, we will be arranging a virtual workshop to train the teachers on the new improvements before the curriculum is taught. The staff culture and planning was phenomenal and it was evident from the achievement of the students at graduation, seeing how far they have come in just one year was incredible! We had the chance to experience the Tea Pick, which enabled us to understand how difficult it was to pluck 18kg of tea leaves per day - great way to raise awareness and fundraise for a needed cause. I will need to visit again to gain a full appreciation for the holistic course TLT provide but I have no doubt I will be connecting future volunteers here. Hoping to see our partnership flourish, thank you Tea Leaf Trust and for all the generational impact you make for the tea estate communities!