ABDF

We’ve had a great last couple of weeks here at ABDF. We have progress to report on three fronts, all of which bode well for the future.

First, I’d like to announce that ADF has its first volunteer teacher! As you know, the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development requested our assistance in bringing native English speaking teachers into Estate Tamil schools in the Hatton area. You can read about the project here.

Will these be Anna's students next year>

We are thrilled that Anna Britton has decided to teach at the school in Kotagala. Anna has years of experience as a social welfare worker in the UK, working primarily with children, and recently taught English in a school deep in rural Nepal. Anna is currently in Sri Lanka traveling and has already been to Kotagala to talk with administrators, teachers, and the principal, as well as with our partners at the Ministry. She is very excited about her assignment, and will return to London next week to begin getting her UK life in order, financially as well as logistically. She will return to Sri Lanka in time to start off the new school year in January and will stay for a minimum two terms (about 6 months) and, if she can manage it financially, for the full school year.

Obviously, it’s a huge commitment for someone to take six months or more off from work, and pay their own way. It speaks volumes about Anna’s love of Sri Lanka and how much she enjoys teaching kids, not to mention her commitment to improving the lives of the Estate Tamil community, that she is eager to do this work. ABDF applauds Anna, wishes her the best while in the UK, and looks forward to her return at the end of the year. Thank you, Anna! Yer a gawdess!