Program Reviews

When looking for a volunteer experience I wanted to find an opportunity that was meaningful, very much linked and integrated in the community and with the chance to get to know local people and culture in a way beyond the usual travel experience. Tea Leaf Trust looked great on paper and from the first moment chatting with the founders and the volunteer coordinator to the three-week experience in Maskeliya, I was not disappointed.

I am a teacher so I was looking forward to sharing some of my skills but I think the school does very well with matching skills to the programme and welcomes a diverse range of people.

At school there was support, inspiration and friends to be found at every turn. The local staff are very welcoming and inspiring people. Sharing moments with them in classes, over lunch and even in social times was a real highlight. Working with the students there, with their drive to make the best of the education they were receiving and develop not only themselves but the community, was also an incredible experience.

We stayed with a local family which really added to the experience as we would spend evenings sitting round the dinner table eating the best food I tasted in Sri Lanka and chatting with the family.

All round the experience was fantastic and I really hope to go back in the future to this amazing country, town and school.

Back in December of 2017, my partner Jenny and I made a decision to change paths. We were determined to embrace change and take intermittent breaks from our chosen careers, an array of furloughs as such. One night as we sat together in our flat in Spain, we fortuitously discovered Tea Leaf Vision.

From the very beginning we were inspired by Yasmene and Tim's story, it seem both righteous and compassionate. After a delightful interview with Carol Workum we were even more convinced that TLV was the volunteer project that we truly wanted to be part of. By the end of the month we got the confirmation that we had been selected to volunteer in February of 2018.

Filled with glee, we vowed to give all we could to the project. Coincidentally it was at this time (January 2018), that Jenny and I were to marry. We decided that instead of people giving us gifts of cash that rather they should sponsor us to volunteer with TLV.

Arriving in Maskeliya was a hugely enriching experience, the lush green rolling hills, the smiles on everyone's faces the tangible sense of hope. At the first Monday morning assembly we got to know all the teachers, interns and students. We could immediately tell that everyone was driven by passion and resilience. This became contagious.

All our interactions with locals, staff and students were life enhancing and fulfilling. Long-lasting friendships were established almost immediately.

In the end, we spent a mere three weeks at TLV in Maskeliya, yet it will stay with us for a lifetime. The positive effects that TLV has on the local and wider community is both admirable and essential.

I would encourage anyone who believes in people's inherent desire to overcome difficult situations and strive to better themselves, to spend at least a few weeks at this unique Sri Lankan/British sanctuary.

Before I left for Sri Lanka I was excited, intrigued and a little daunted. I am not a teacher and following my last experience of teaching over 10 years ago I decided that teaching was not for me. Yet here I was in Sri Lanka, on my own, in front of twenty-five 17-25 year olds with a lesson plan in hand- aagh! However as the weeks went on I looked forward to my own classes and spending time with the students, being able to get to know them more and helping them increase in confidence. Seeing the school in action and being part of their team was incredibly special. The positivity of the students and staff is infectious and you really are filled with hope for these young people. I feel privileged and humbled to have been part of and supported this amazing charity.
During my time with TLT I supported and taught a range of classes. The key role that you have as a volunteer is to provide these young people with a listening, interested ear and a chance for them to practise conversational English.
From there it really depends on your passions and interests. We helped to implement admin systems, ran first aid workshops, proof read speeches and even taught some folk dancing!
If you are willing to learn from and experience a new culture, and in turn share some of your own - then volunteering with TLT could be the opportunity for you!

I completed 6 months with Tea Leaf Trust in 2018 at their centre in Maskeliya. My wife and I are education and health professionals in the UK and we were looking for an opportunity to support a project with our skills, but also live alongside and learn from a vibrant culture. Having visited Sri Lanka before we knew how friendly and welcoming the people were - but the staff, students and citizens of Maskeliya surpassed this! We are still in touch with many students, staff and locals and 2 years on have also visited again.
I would wholeheartedly recommend volunteering with TLT. From our first email everything was personal and relational - the beauty of being a smaller charity whose founders are still extremely active.
Furthermore, the project is bringing real hope, skills and aspiration to a generation of young people who feel isolated and abandoned. As a volunteer you have the chance to help support these young people by listening to them, speaking English with them and teaching them about your own experiences and sharing skills. One day I sat working at the reception desk and numerous students would stop and converse, taking every opportunity to hone their skills and build their confidence.
An added bonus is that the school is based in a remote and beautiful part of the Sri Lankan highlands - largely off the tourist trail. When we weren't in school we tended to be walking around and enjoying the beauty of Maskeliya. It’s akin to the Scottish Highlands or Lake District - and the weather can sometimes be quite similar! The beauty, simplicity and friendliness of the area is staggering with mountains, waterfalls and plenty of views!
TLT wants “every person on the tea estates to realise that they are valuable members of society, who can help transform their communities into places of happiness and hope.” The positivity of the students and staff is infectious and you really are filled with hope for these young people. If you want a volunteering experience where you can really get under the skin of a culture, make new friends and share your own experiences and skills - jump in!