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2024-12-31-accounts

'( The T.E.A. Project- Annual Report 2024

Table of Contents

A message from the CEO Annual Report 2024

1. Our Beneficiaries

2. Our Aims and Priorities

3. Overview of Our Work

4. Summary and Outlook

Audit Report 2024

A message from the CEO

Dear all,

Reflecting on the last year, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come – and how far we still have to go. 2024 marked nine years of The T.E.A. Project, and what a journey it has been. From the very beginning, our mission has been to empower children from Sri Lanka’s most marginalised communiTEAs – especially those growing up in the heart of the tea plantations. Every year, this mission grows stronger, more urgent, and more inspiring.

This year, our Tiny T.E.A. Preschool and Youth Empowerment Service (Y.E.S.) ran with full energy. The children who walk through our doors each day – many from families facing deep poverty and hardships – are engaging more than ever. Their curiosity, joy, and resilience fuel everything we do. We’ve expanded our outreach, built stronger ties with partner schools, and received beautiful praise from parents who see the difference in their children. That is incredibly meaningful.

We also welcomed more long-term international and local volunTEArs, and interns than ever before – all bringing their hearts, hands, and ideas to our work. It’s been a joy to watch our TEAm grow, especially with new staff recruited from within the local communiTEA. These roles don’t just strengthen our project – they change lives.

2024 wasn’t without its challenges. Funding remains tough, although we’ve seen some relief compared to 2023, as Sri Lanka begins to emerge from its economic crisis. Still, the reality for the communiTEAs we serve is harsh –

especially for those in the tea estates, where wages remain painfully low and daily life is a struggle. In these conditions, our work is not just important – it’s essential.

Through it all, our small but mighty TEAm has remained deeply committed. The dedication I see every day – from our staff, trusTEAs, volunTEArs and communiTEA partners – is extraordinary. I’m also grateful beyond words for our long-standing supporters. Without your belief in us we simply wouldn’t be here, doing what we love – bringing opportuniTEAs, hope and smiles to so many children.

We are already looking forward to next year when we celebrate ten years of The T.E.A. Project. A whole decade of learning, laughing, crying, growing, and building – together. It’s a huge milestone, and one we’ll mark it with pride, gratitude, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Here's to all we’ve achieved – and all that’s still to come.

With heartfelt gratitude,

J. Arun JP

Chief Executive Officer

1. Our Beneficiaries

In the last years the T.E.A. Project has worked with thousands of vulnerable children and families as well as government schools and non-profit organisations island-wide, delivering its TTT (training the trainers) programmes to teachers and empowerment programmes to schools. Since 2019 T.E.A. has begun to concentrate its work in the tea estate region of Hanthana, centralizing its support by establishing a dedicated Centre to run education and empowerment programmes from there.

The project gives young people a voice – a voice which develops ambition, skills, knowledge and opportunities for underprivileged children, unlocking a child’s hidden potential. We believe passionately that developing skills, aspirations and confidence in young people is key to securing a positive and sustainable future for the next generation.

The T.E.A. Project has a school network which includes eleven schools situated in the rural region of Hanthana and Galaha, Central Province. Our school partners vary greatly in size but they share common challenges such as extreme under-funding, high levels of pupil poverty, absenteeism and lone parenting due to parents working abroad. The population of our eleven partner schools is 500+ teachers and 2,500+ school children aged from 5– 17 years who represent Muslim, Buddhist, Christian and Hindu faiths.

Also we support three local communiTEAs close to The Centre site which enables us to support children not only in school but in their communiTEA and extend services to their parents and adults. More than 90 % of parents residing in our target area work on tea estates as daily paid labourers and tea pickers. Families are exposed to

multiple socio-economic factors that create disadvantage, poor cognitive development of children and entrap children and families in the cycle of poverty.

International volunteers and local volunteers support our school-based outreach programmes and communiTEA events with their commitment and enthusiasm. We run a profile on the platform Workaway that lists NGOs and other providers of volunteer work. And we also established partnerships with AIESEC, a global organisation that promotes our volunTEAring opportunities as well as the travel agencyies Atypique Lanka and Jetwing that offer a package to travelers interested in volunTEAring. In 2024, we were able to recruit ten international volunteers in total who contributed to our vision offering their skills to our partner schools and on-site.

Our Centre for Children’s Empowerment – The Cloud was busy and frequently visited in 2024. The buildings received a fresh look as always during our annual painting project in January 2024. All operations in the reporting period were stable regarding the quality of teaching, activiTEAs and the number of enrolled children. Subjects taught as part of the curriculum were English, Sinhala, Tamil, mathematics, arts, dancing, sports and ICT. Furthermore, we provide a library and an Environment Club where children are made aware of environment topics and learn to sustainably grow vegetables. With our Centre we aim to bring immediate benefit to people working within the TEA industry and enabling deprived families to access free education, daily nutritional meals, career guidance, employment opportunities and communiTEA development support.

2. Our Aims and Priorities

2.1 What does The T.E.A. Project do?

In September 2015 The T.E.A. Project became a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) UK Charity no: 1163485. In 2018 The T.E.A. Project was granted permission by the District Secretariat Kandy to work in the Central Province and in 2019 an application was submitted for INGO (international non-governmental organisation) registration in Sri Lanka which finally was achieved in September 2019. We are governed by the jurisdiction of the Charity Commission, UK, and the NGO Secretariat of Sri Lanka.

T.E.A. is an acronym meaning training, empowerment and awareness:

T is for training

Our bespoke training makes T.E.A. unique! Programmes in English, Sinhala and Tamil promote health, safety, well-being and empowerment of children. We train professionals to develop best practice methods and uphold children’s rights. Children develop leadership qualities, life skills and aspiration. Training provides children and their communities with practical tools to make sustainable change at grassroots level.

E is for empowerment

We believe the empowerment of children is central to poverty alleviation. The project supports child care services at local and national level to improve standards and provision; encouraging service providers to value the contribution made by children. We create learning opportunities that develop ambition, increase resilience and unlock the hidden potential in every child.

A is for awareness

The T.E.A. Project is a children’s rights-led organisation. We believe in provision, prevention, protection and participation rights of children. We promote the voice of every child and actively engage with children to make positive change. We advocate for children and run education programmes to increase practical awareness of the universal rights and principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Vision of The T.E.A. Project

To raise aspirations of disadvantaged children and young people living in poverty, empowering them to realise their rights and achieve their maximum potential in life.

The aims of The T.E.A. Project

  1. Advance personal skills and abilities of vulnerable children by providing training and workshops

  2. Advance practical knowledge of children's rights principles and practices by providing education, advice and advocacy

  3. Alleviate poverty by providing sustainable projects, training and workshop provision designed to raise aspirations and increase opportunities and capabilities of vulnerable children

Core values of The T.E.A. Project

2.2 Centre for Children’s Empowerment

The Centre provides free quality English-medium early childhood education (ECE) for local children aged 3 years to 5 years in our Tiny T.E.A. Preschool so that children will be safe and equipped with the skills to enter formal school, ready to learn. One parent (ParenTEAr) of each child is required to work 5 hours per month on a voluntary basis assisting with kitchen duties, Centre maintenance and cleaning. Due to high demand, the Tiny T.E.A. Preschool in 2023 started to change its setup to cater to 30 children, highlighting the need for its services. At the end of 2024, 30 children were enrolled at our preschool, compared to 29 at the end of 2023.

Our F.O.O.D. (Fueling Opportunities, Outcomes and Diet) Programme is supporting two of our services. It provides a nutritious, healthy, balanced breakfast snack for around 30 children who attend our preschool (Tiny T.E.A.s). And it provides a nutritious lunch for 50 to 60 school children five days per week who arrive from their regular school, eat and then join our after-school programme. The funding of the F.O.O.D. Programme by

Neelam Trust (NTT) was initially set out to run until December 2022 but finally ran until end of 2024. While NTT’s grant for the programme will conclude in January 2025, Simon Peter Fuller has extended his support by committing to a monthly donation for purchasing fresh vegetables, ensuring continuity in providing healthy meals.

Our after-school programme (Y.E.S., Youth Empowerment Service) is delivered in three languages. After-school activiTEAs include empowerment programmes such as healthy relationship training, suicide prevention, language programmes and ArTEA sessions. At the end of 2024, 276 children were registered in our Y.E.S. Programme (out of which 62 children attended regularly), as compared to 215 children end of 2023. In the reporting year, a diverse range of educational and recreational programmes has engaged a significant number of children. Children participated in the English language programme to refine their language skills, dedicated themselves to improving their Sinhala language skills, and are developing their Tamil language proficiency. Mathematics classes are being offered in grades 6–11, and they are given opportunities to access improved mental health through ArTEA and sound therapy. In an effort to provide access to new technology, we also conducted ICT classes. Furthermore, as part of Y.E.S. we introduced new programmes, including dancing sessions and sports activiTEAs. With regards to sports, 9 April marked a significant date in the reporting year as a spirited volleyball tournament unfolded, heralding the grand opening of our new sporTEA area — a poignant memorial crafted in honor of Oliver Chamark, a revered patron of The T.E.A. Project.

As part of our mental health programmes, a Drug Prevention Campaign was conducted for 41 participants, aiming at Y.E.S children and Youth Board members. It addressed the harmful effects of drug abuse on life, health, and family. The session included discussions on societal impacts, relationships at home and school, and the consequences of drug use. Facilitators from Semugam Performing Group (Jaffna) and Y.E.S. helped open the

participants’ eyes to the dangers of drugs. The programme empowered the youth with knowledge on making better life decisions, understanding peer pressure, and how drugs can negatively alter life trajectories.

In the reporting year, TEA hosted a four-day English camp from 27 to 30 August that was led by volunteers from SCI, a partner organization, for 33 participants. The camp not only focused on language skills but also aimed to build confidence and communication abilities through interactive sessions and activities, ensuring a memorable and educational experience for the children.

Additionally, a specific English Camp with the focus on the importance of English in every-day life was held that was attended by 20 participants. The event was organized in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Young Lawyers Leadership Programme (SLYLP) and supported by USAID’s Efficient and Effective Justice Activity.

Additionally, we are successfully running an outreach programme at our partner schools to support children who live far from The Centre and struggle to travel the distance. In the reporting period we were working with the following eleven partner schools: Srivani School, Sivashakthi School, Upper Galaha School, Dunali School, Sri Ramakrishna School, Thiruwalluwar School, Badrawathi School, Kalaivani School, Karagaskada School, Galaha Model School, and Malaimahal School. In 2024 within our outreach programme we focused mainly on English and Sinhala. However, in the reporting year we organized an initiative at Upper Galaha School for students preparing for their scholarship exams, which was a great success. A total of 35 students from three schools – Upper Galaha, Dunali and Ambalamana – participated in a comprehensive revision seminar aimed at boosting their readiness for the upcoming exams. The seminar included interactive sessions and problem-solving activities to reinforce key concepts. Additionally, revision papers were distributed to help students practice and improve their understanding of scholarship topics.

These various activiTEAs reflect the dedication of The T.E.A. Project to providing a holistic and enriching educational experience for the children in its care.

Objectives of The Centre

  1. To equip 30 disadvantaged preschool children and their families with information, guidance and practical support to increase education outcomes, health and social development of children through the provision of an excellent early-years education.

  2. To provide a diverse after-school programme of education, vocation and empowerment opportunities to educate enskill and increase the capacity of youth to actively participate in society.

  3. To provide a holistic service to adult communiTEA members to access training, vocation and advice/ information from key health- and social care services.

3. Overview of Our Work

3.1 Priority One: Education and skill development of children/teachers/communiTEA/parents in the estate region. To reach potential, increase outcomes and develop teaching and parenting skills.

An English development programme for communiTEA volunTEArs and local school children is successfully running. It is set out for three levels. In 2024, we conducted level one, two and three. Children are keen to learn languages and develop their basic knowledge further. Also we witnessed that children overcome their fear of speaking and use English more confidently.

Arts programmes and Environment Club

Art-based work assists children to explore the world without boundaries, working with junk material, drawing cracks in the wall, mosaic painting and making art installations are some activities children enjoy. Therapeutic art workshops encourage students to express their feelings using art and creativity. Developing communication skills and using different tools in this way helps students to relax, have fun, share their emotions and unleash their hidden talents and creative abilities. All students have personal folders and they are encouraged to develop individual portfolios of their work. This programme is hugely successful with children of all ages. In 2024, it was conducted with children of grades 6 to 11.

Our ArTEA programme contains Life Echo which is a personal sound map created from memories. Instead of navigating a physical place it helps those with limited capacity for memory navigate the different events they have experienced. For many people, enjoying memories is a simple action that requires little effort. For some, it is a complex task that leads to frustration, fear, and a feeling of helplessness. This is a dual project with a UK

school. It helps our children reduce their anxiety. We continuously have positive Life Echo experiences and we experience that the exercises constantly enhance children’s well-being and reduce their anxiety.

As part of our education on environmental topics, Y.E.S. children recently engaged in an enlightening programme organised by the Good Life X organisation, with 28 eager participants. The session provided invaluable insights into the detrimental effects of polythene usage and the broader environmental issues that can arise from unsustainable practices. Through interactive sessions and informative discussions, the children were educated on the importance of conserving the environment for the well-being of future generations. By instilling awareness and understanding of environmental challenges, the programme empowered the children to become proactive stewards of their surroundings, fostering a sense of responsibility towards preserving and safeguarding our natural resources for generations to come.

World of Work (W.O.W.) is a work experience programme we developed specifically for children aged between 12–18 years. It was rolled out in 2021 and helps children to gain work experience in the NGO sector in our office, preschool, kitchen and handling outdoor projects. The goal of this project is to increase practical knowledge, work ethics and skills in a safe and nurturing work environment. Children are required to volunteer 100 hours over a three-month period (Level 1), 200 hours in six months (Level 2), 300 hours in nine months (Level 3) and 400 hours in one year (Level 4). A work experience certificate is offered to each child who completes any of the levels. Weekly mentoring and supervision meetings are provided. In 2024, 2 children successfully participated in the programme.

On 4 October, we hosted a special programme in collaboration with Hirdaramani, focusing on internship and career opportunities within their organization. A total of 29 Y.E.S. programme children and their parents attended the session, gaining valuable insights into potential career pathways after completing their A/Ls.

Saturday Service addresses parents, communiTEA members and unemployed youth. Over 30 members (for example, school principals, one assistant superintendent and one field officer, local business owners, community and youth leaders such as representatives of CBOs, development officers, as well as T.E.A. officer and manager) from the estate sector are part of the steering group that gives input on possible contents for the service. In 2024, we held an Attitude Development Programme that provided participants with tools and strategies to enhance their personal growth and self-improvement as well as two soap-making workshops. Another highlight was the successfully held Job Opportunity Programme, aimed at connecting community members with new career paths. Our esteemed partners at Hirdaramani have extended job opportunities specifically for the estate community, offering positions in their garment manufacturing sector. To help raise awareness and ensure that community members were informed, we held a Saturday Service event on 18 July. The programme was designed to highlight the roles available, explain the benefits, and outline the career development prospects within Hirdaramani and match qualified candidates from our communiTEA with the available vacancies. It will facilitate their entry into the workforce and support their economic development.

What next?

  1. We introduce more subjects within our outreach programme that benefit children and parents as well as workshops for TEAchers.

  2. We strengthen networking efforts and partnerships with local educational institutions, NGOs, and community organisations to identify potential trainers. We collaborate with these partners to provide training opportunities and resources to reach more children island-wide and raise revenue for the T.E.A. Project.

  3. We will run more Employment Skills Programmes through our Saturday Service Programme.

  4. We will establish science and music tutoring classes.

  5. We will review the content of some our English and mathematics programmes and orientate towards the public school syllabus.

  6. We will develop a livelihood programme for communiTEA members to become self-sustainable and economically stable.

  7. We will develop a comprehensive recruitment strategy to attract resource persons and trainers for the Saturday Service. This may involve offering incentives or stipends to encourage participation.

  8. We will introduce Food Preparation and Agriculture Programmes in collaboration with the Divisional Secretariat Office. By partnering with local authoriTEAs, the initiative aims to enhance food security within the communiTEA while simultaneously equipping individuals with culinary skills that can be leveraged for economic gain.

3.2 Priority Two: Promoting health and well-being among vulnerable children and adults in the estate area, addressing to risks and hazards in the changing environment. Learning to address the mental, physical wellbeing and safety of the children and youth.

Evaluating the capacity to achieve can take decades and may depend on one key decision made during childhood. This section will outline some projects and programmes that we believe have the potential to transform lives, create peace and promote positive outcomes especially for vulnerable children.

We are running a listening service to “listen’’ to Youth Empowerment Service Users with empathy and provide a safe space to unfold their thoughts, emotions and any conflicts. Most of the children seek a comfortable and non-judgmental place to open up. It’s also a chance for them to understand themselves better. However, we have been noticing that the service was not well used, which might be due to cultural reasons. In the future, we are working on promoting this service to make more children and aware of it and get support through it.

In the first half of the reporting year we have been continuing to support scholarships for two estate sector children who graduated from Tiny T.E.A. to attend an international/semi-government school and a school for special-needs. However, the performance of the child studying at the international school in Kandy has raised concerns. After conducting a thorough assessment, we have prepared a donor report that detailed the challenges the child is facing and offered recommendations for supporting its educational progress. Despite ongoing communication with the child’s mother, she has been unresponsive to these concerns and has refused to consider transferring her child to a government school. As a result, we have decided to suspend the scholarship funds starting in July 2024 until the family responds to us. We continue to provide support for the child studying at the special needs school by paying for all of its educational expenditures, including

transportation fees, guaranteeing its access to learning materials in order to sustain the child’s academic advancement. Objectives for this scholarship programme were to improve the education level of estate sector children and to give an opportunity to estate sector children to benefit from high-quality education from an international/semi-government school. Furthermore, to enable suitable education to children with special needs.

Celebrating youth events

The T.E.A. Project invests a lot of resources into enabling children to organize small events. This is not because we are crazy about planning (which we are). Providing children with small budgets and guidance to develop child-led ideas into events and activities is not only great fun but it provides a vital learning experience. These events enable children to celebrate how special they are and for adults to realise the incredible potential of children when they are given the power to make their own decisions. We frequently hear how surprised teachers are by their students’ abilities – this not only raises children’s aspirations but it increases teacher’s expectations of children.

In 2024, as every year, TEA celebrated Thai Pongal, International Women’s Day, New Year Festival, World Friendship Day, World Youth Day and Children’s Day among others.

As a special, on World Happiness Day TinyTEA children eagerly participated in a free drawing session, unleashing their imaginations onto paper with boundless enthusiasm, and crafted vibrant face masks using paper plates.

Furthermore, we celebrated Vesak Poya Day with a lantern competition and Poson Poya Day with bhakthi geetha songs.

On the 28 July, the Tiny T.E.A. Preschool hosted its “ Singithi Pola ”, a vibrant market event that offered a valuable learning experience for the children. They engaged in selling and bargaining, gaining first-hand knowledge of basic trade skills while having fun. The children proudly sold fruits and vegetables, items they had helped prepare with the guidance of their parents and TEAchers. The funds generated from their sales were partly deposited into the children's individual bank accounts, teaching them the importance of saving, while the remaining amount was given to their parents.

On the 21 August, the Tiny T.E.A. Preschool held a vibrant art exhibition showcasing the creativity and talent of its young artists. The event featured a stunning array of artworks created by the children, including paintings, drawings, and crafts that reflected their imaginative expressions.

On 7 December, we celebrated World Soil Day with 19 participants from the Y.E.S. Programme. The event was supported by the ESOFT Metro. Campus team, who actively collaborated with the students to raise awareness about soil conservation. The children participated in hands-on activities, learning the importance of healthy soil for a sustainable environment.

The Wish Tree initiative, a heartfelt project by Theva Residence and our patron, Ms. Deeshana Amarasinghe, brought joy and excitement to the Tiny T.E.A. Preschool children this festive season. Each child created a beautiful drawing to hang on the Christmas tree at Theva, with a special wish written on the back of their card. Guests and Ms. Deeshana collaborated to make these wishes come true, turning dreams into reality. A cakecutting ceremony added to the celebrations, making it a truly memorable moment.

Furthermore, TEA again organized a Reverse Advent Calendar for Christmas with the help of Deeshana from Theva. Dheeshana generously provided 52 hamper boxes filled with essential dry rations and festive goodies. These hampers were carefully distributed to the families of children who most deserved them, offering support during the holiday season.

What next?

  1. The Centre will develop its calendar of cultural and important events to provide lots of memorable opportunities for children to showcase their talents. Events will be planned and facilitated by service users including creative art exhibitions, writing and dance competitions.

  2. We will create more programmes that help to address the mental and physical well-being as well as the safety of the children and youth.

  3. We continue to develop seminars and webinars to engage children from across the Island in fun and engaging learning.

  4. We will continue to run our SAFE-TEA trainings. SAFE-TEA will be further developed with the support of the organisation Tehila in the future to develop safety mechanisms to safeguard children and young people at school, home, and in communiTEAs.

  5. We will continue to run healthy relationship training through our EVERY-Body training.

  6. We continue to deliver our Suicide Prevention training on need basis.

3.3 Priority Three: Promotion of child rights, empowerment and awareness

Children are key actors within community development. Participation in learning should be active and promote meaningful engagement in society. We train children to understand their rights as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Sri Lanka signed up to the Convention in 1991, however knowledge of children’s rights continues to be limited among teachers, parents and children. Cultural norms can often deny children and girls to make informed choices, fully exercise their rights and actively participate in society. Furthermore, over one million Sri Lankans are employed in the tea industry, a large proportion of this workforce are young women. Millions of women are engaged in low-skill, low-income economic activities in the large informal sector and are also concentrated as unpaid family labour in agricultural communities. Their assets are limited by discriminatory laws and by social practices. The T.E.A. Project aims to empower children and support them in making use of their rights through their consciously tailored leadership programmes and activitTEAs that support girls and women to become economically independent. In 2024, TEA facilitated a SoapMaking Programme, drawing the interest of ten women within the communiTEA. This hands-on workshop not only imparted practical skills but also opened up potential income opportunities for participants. By learning the art of soap making, these women gained a valuable asset that could serve as a source of supplementary income, contributing to their economic empowerment.

The T.E.A. Project’s LIFE (Leadership, Independence, Futures & Empowerment) training is a 12-hour leadership programme. Since launching the programme 4-years ago we have trained over 1,000 children throughout the Island. The training is facilitated in three languages; Sinhala, Tamil and English by a team of local trainers. LIFE Training promotes the voice of the child and encourages active participation. Children learn leadership skills, how to keep safe, about children’s rights and how to develop a personal SMART goal. They also develop a range

of soft skills including listening, communication and presentation skills. In the reporting period we didn’t run any LIFE training programmes.

The T.E.A. Project also gives a voice to the youth, integrating their opinions into strategical decision-making. Our Youth Board are a group of local children representing a diverse mix of cultural and religious backgrounds. In 2024, the Youth Board has been bustling with activiTEAs, holding several meetings to discuss and plan various initiatives.

What next?

  1. We will continue to train and educate adults on children’s rights issues.

  2. We will run further LIFE training programmes with new and existing school partners.

  3. The frequent analysis of all training feedback will guide and influence development of training programmes.

  4. Our Youth Board will be further involved in strategic decision-making and recruitment. 5. We will establish projects to empower girls, share experiences and develop capacity of girls to make informed life choices.

3.4 Priority Four: VolunTEAr Mobilization

VolunTEAr mobilization is one of our focus areas. VolunTEArs are a very important asset in the day-to-day activities of The T.E.A. Project and ultimately essential to realize our vision. We encourage international and local volunTEAring.

One great example of local volunTEAr mobilization are our ParenTEArs who donate five hours per month to give something back for the free education of their children in our Tiny T.E.A. preschool. The work of ParenTEArs significantly contributes to the day-to-day operation of the project, it helps to establish a sense of ownership that increases the strength of and commitment for the project. A parenTEAr appreciation programme was held in Q2 to appreciate their support at The Cloud.

Furthermore, under our VolunTEAr Achievement Award, a reward system for our other local volunteers, The T.E.A. Project handed out 2 awards in 2024 to 2 international volunTEAr to recognize their extraordinary performance. Every volunTEAr is monitored and assessed according to the following four criteria: shows initiative, hard-working, high impact, best support.

Finally, in 2024 the number of interested international volunTEArs increased. We were able to recruit ten international volunTEArs. In the future, T.E.A. is continuing its international outreach. This includes developing commercial opportunities and collaborations with travel agencies, platforms and NGOs that help place volunteers. All of our volunteering activities put child protection at their core, we have rigorous policies in place to safeguard children and communities that we serve.The T.E.A. Project is also offering internships and in the past has worked successfully with different Sri Lankan universities. In 2024, 05 interns joined the TEAm.

What next?

  1. We develop and en-skill our volunteer network of young people.

  2. We develop an intercultural training for staff and volunteers.

  3. We attract more volunTEArs and expand our network, especially in the field of marketing. 4. We build partnerships with universities, schools and other organisations to attract student interns and volunTEArs.

3.5 Priority Five: Organisational Development

Also in 2024, we continued to focus on organisational development as a key priority. This includes resource mobilization, partnership and outreach, service delivery, accountability and reputation as well as improving monitoring and evaluation.

As part of our ongoing efforts to recognize and reward excellence, in the first half of 2024 all staff members have received salary increases in acknowledgment of their hard work and dedication. Furthermore, to ensure continued professional growth and accountability, a performance appraisal process has been initiated. These promotions and salary enhancements underscore our commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement within our organization. Our staff team received their second salary increment in the second half of 2024. This adjustment acknowledges the exceptional commitment and contributions of each TEAm member, recognizing their role in advancing The T.E.A. Project’s mission. This increment is a testament to our gratitude and belief in the importance of investing in our staff, ensuring they feel valued and motivated as we continue to work together towards our shared goals.

Furthermore, in 2024 TEAm members actively engaged in some training programmes to enhance their skills and broaden their perspectives. NTT invited two of our Finance Officers to participate in a finance staff capacitybuilding programme in Colombo on 6 and 7 August. This training proved invaluable, particularly in guiding us through the development of a completely new chart of accounts. With this restructuring, our financial entries are now much clearer, and our accounts are more organized, enhancing the overall efficiency of our financial processes. Additionally, the programme provided extensive training on QuickBooks software, equipping our TEAm with the skills to maintain and navigate it effectively.

In addition, the entire TEAm recently engaged in a two-day online workshop focused on safeguarding children, hosted by experts from Zambia. This training session provided crucial insights and techniques to ensure the safety and well-being of children under our care.

In the reporting year, there were some changes in staffing. Our Senior Project Officer has been promoted to the position of Assistant TEAm Manager. Similarly, our Y.E.S. Programme Coordinator has been promoted to the role of Manager of the Y.E.S. Programme. However, in the course of the year, our Assistant TEAm Manager resigned. Starting 1 July our current Finance Officer was promoted to Finance and Administration Manager. In this new role, he assumed several strategic tasks previously handled by the Assistant TEAm Manager, including report management, volunteer inductions and overseeing all finance activities. Additionally, a valuable volunteer became a staff member with a 6-month probation period. She took over responsibilities in the petty cash section, administration tasks, library management, and the Saturday Service programme. Kavitha, our F.O.O.D. Coordinator, returned to work after her maternal leave, however again stepped down from her role at the end of October. To ensure a smooth transition, we hired an interim F.O.O.D. Coordinator for November and December. Based on her performance, we are optimistic about making her a permanent member of our TEAm from 2025.

What next?

  1. We will continue to train staff and create opportunities for personal and organisational development. 2. New partnerships with organisations in the same field will be established to secure funding as well as knowledge transfer and existing partnerships will be strengthened.

  2. We will continually revise our standards and our strategy to maintain highest quality in our services.

  3. An overall monitoring and evaluation system will be introduced.

  4. We will review and improve financial planning and monitoring.

  5. We will extend our fundraising capacities to secure varied funding sources.

  6. We will create a role dedicated to fundraising.

3.6 Other major achievements/events

The continued strength of The T.E.A. Project and the continuance of its services can be regarded as a major achievement itself. Operations were possible in 2024 without interruptions, which demonstrates our project’s resilience and the efforts of staff and supporters.

A noteworthy event was the visit in August of an SCI team that provided support in maintenance works. One of their key contributions was creating beds for our flower garden. Additionally, the team established a water line from the well to the stock tank, which can be used during water shortages from the water stream.

Another highlight in the reporting year was the Tiny T.E.A. Preschool Graduation and Concert. This heartwarming event celebrated the achievements of 15 young graduates who proudly received their certificates in front of an audience of nearly 100 guests, including parents, donors, and well-wishers. The concert was a vibrant display of talent, with beautifully choreographed dance performances and engaging elocution presentations by past graduates who are now part of the elocution class. The success of the event highlighted the dedication of our preschool TEAchers who worked tirelessly to ensure that the children were well prepared. Additionally, in preparation for the next academic year, 15 new children were carefully selected for enrolment, prioritizing the most vulnerable. To ease their transition, our preschool TEAchers conducted home visits, fostering trust with families and ensuring a smooth adaptation to the preschool environment.

4. Summary and Outlook

4.1 Summary

We would like to thank all of our corporate and individual donors who have supported The T.E.A. Project in 2024. We are extremely thankful to the generosity of local and international volunTEArs who donated their time and skills to empower children. The continued success and growth of the project is due to our valued donors and individuals who give regular donations, organise local fundraising events and support various funding campaigns. We are furthermore thankful to our dedicated Board of Trustees, corporate sponsors Hirdaramani and ASICS as well as NTT for their incredible commitment and support. Last but not least, we would like to thank our ambassador, Deeshana Ameresekere.

2024 has been a period of growth, celebration, and meaningful impact for The T.E.A. Project. Through the collective efforts of our TEAm, volunTEArs, and partners, we have successfully concluded the academic year, expanded our outreach programmes, celebrated cultural and festive occasions, and continued our commitment to empowering children and the broader communiTEA. Despite some challenges, such as a lack of personnel for specific workshops and maintenance problems due to the blocked water line, this year showcased our resilience, dedication, and the ongoing positive transformation we are driving.

Our Tiny T.E.A. Preschool and Y.E.S. programmes have reached maximum capacity, which means a significant increase in attendance among Y.E.S. participants, reflecting a positive trajectory. Meanwhile, our F.O.O.D. Programme remained a vital initiative, providing nutritious, well-balanced meals daily to 50–60 after-school children and 30 preschoolers. Thank you to all of our supporters for your countless effort and commitment.

4.2 Outlook

As in the previous years, we are hoping to grow our network of supporters even further to be able to expand our services to more children and communiTEAs in other areas. With our work we want to help to develop aspirations in young people, providing them with the practical skills and knowledge to positively improve their futures and implement sustainable change. They will get the opportunity to build skills needed to make good choices for a healthy participation in society. Y.E.S. is set to introduce innovative programmes, encompassing aesthetic sessions, sports activiTEAs, and a reading circle at the library. Consequently, we strive to increase attendance and also aim to introduce new courses through our outreach programme as well as to expand our support to more partner schools in order to uplift the physical and mental health of more children and parents, as well as TEAchers. Similarly, the Saturday Service initiative is gearing up to broaden its impact through collaborations with the Divisional Secretariat Office and Divisional Agricultural Office.

Finally, we will develop a comprehensive recruitment strategy to attract resource persons and trainers for our YES and Saturday Service and to reach educational institutions, professional networks, and communiTEA organizations to welcome volunteers who can help address the lack of trainers issue.

Furthermore, we will create a fundraising role, extending our knowledge in this field to generate more varied funding sources and support our future needs, as well as recruit more volunteers to support our fundraising and social media activiTEAs. We also develop marketing and promotion strategies to effectively implement a plan to utilize The Centre for events, photo shoots, and similar activiTEAs. This proactive approach will help establish valuable partnerships and expand the reach and impact of the charity.

In response to the various areas in The Cloud that require repairs due to wear and tear, including washrooms, common areas, and kitchen, as well as the water line, we plan for the repairs and fixture in 2025. We are especially committed to solve the blocked water line issue through frequent cleaning and maintaining it accordingly.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to expanding our outreach, strengthening staff capacity, maintaining and improving our facilities, and continuing to provide empowering programmes for children and the communiTEA.

Audit Report

Annual Financial Report 2024

Breakdown of Financial Expenditure

Programme Expenditure(LKR) Expenditure(GBP)
Y.E.S After School Programme 1,023,857.00 2,790.26
Centre For Children's
Empowerment		 691,806.18 1,885.34
Financial 37,797.40 103.01
F.O.O.D. Programme 2,396,357.60 6,530.65
Administration 4,784,213.29 13,038.14
Preschool 1,400,298.75 3,816.15
SaturdayService - -
VolunTEAr Programme 28,635.00 78.04
Other 998,751.21 2,721.84

Breakdown of Financial Income

Source of Income Income(LKR) Income(GBP)
Local Donors 7,954,572.50 21,678.13
Fundraisers 261,103.00 711.57
Local Donations 394,224.73 1,074.36
Investment Income 73,482.58 200.26
Foreign Donors 2,469,299.85 6,729.44

Notes

Expenditure Income Y.E.S After School Programme Centre For Children's Empowerment Financial F.O.O.D. Programme Administration Preschool Saturday Service VolunTEAr Programme Other Local Donors Fundraisers Local Donations Investment Income Foreign Donors

The T.E.A. Project No. 09, The Cloud, Kithulmulla, Galaha, Kandy 20000, Central Province Sri Lanka