Sponsor a Child
Change a Life
Sanuka
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Girl, Age 10
Sanuka lives with her dad, elder sister, elder brother and grandmother. Sanuka’s mother died of a heart attack when she was 6. Her dad is a mason and electrician. Her elder brother works as an Air Condition mechanic and her elder sister just completed Ordinary Level’s at school and is waiting for her results. They all live together in a tiny house.
Reference Number -
0187
Family Information
Sanuka’s grandmother is too old to look after her or help her with her studies. Her father cooks before he goes to work or her sister cooks before she goes to school. There is no one at home to care for Sanuka or help her with her studies, so she is often left alone in the house which makes her vulnerable to abuse due to the area where she lives. Sanuka suffers from a stomach ulcer and is often sick and in need of health care. She has been a student at Paalam School since she was 4 years old. After her mother passed away, her social situation became very difficult and she often came to school without eating. We noticed quite drastic weight loss in Sanuka during this time. Her father was struggling to care for her, so she was placed into Paalam Children’s Hostel where she now resides, and she continues to attend Paalam School.
Support Sanuka
Reference Number -
0187
'If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.'
Mother Theresa
What can I expect from my Sponsorship?
Once you make your selection and fill in your details, you’ll be prompted to set up a Direct Debit or Standing Order with The Dust Project to cover the costs of your chosen child. This will come out of your account on a monthly basis. Quarterly, The Dust Project makes a Sterling transfer of these collective funds to Sri Lanka, which provide our Ambassadors, local employees and sister-charity The Palaam Project (click here to find out more) with the allocated funds to buy groceries, clothing, school items and other needs, as budgeted for your child.
After you've signed up to sponsor a child, we’ll send you further information in the mail about him or her. You can expect to receive a letter from your child each trimester. We encourage you, however, to write and introduce yourself as soon as possible, as they’ll be so excited to have a sponsor! Feel free to send photos of your family, have your own children draw pictures or write letters, and begin to develop a relationship with your sponsored child. You are incredibly special to them, and they'll treasure every word they receive from you.
You can post letters to:
The Dust Project
c/o Tiffany Stokely
Bucklers Hall,
Much Hadham
SG10 6EB
and we will send them on for you. We kindly ask that only flat mail be sent to us, as we don’t have the budget to be posting loads of gifts to Sri Lanka!
If, however, you strongly desire to send a small gift or meaningful item (or simply prefer to mail your letters directly), please send them— clearly labeled with the name of your sponsored child— to one of the following addresses.
If your sponsored child is in Jaffna, please send to:
The Dust Project
'Jenny Cot'
Kopay South,
Kopay,
Jaffna,
Sri Lanka
If your sponsored child is in Wattala, please send to:
The Dust Project
22A 1st Lane,
Palliyawatta,
Hendala,
Wattala,
Sri Lanka
In no way is this a compulsory measure; in fact, we strongly advise that if you must send anything, send simple things they can relate to and enjoy within the context of their families and ‘sisters’ at the hostel. Electronics, expensive clothing, ‘slime’ and things of an impractical nature don’t translate very well. They DO enjoy things like stickers, dolls, school supplies, and small items such as marbles, bouncy balls, drawing pads, etc. And it goes without saying, Sri Lanka is a HOT country and it takes up to 3 months to get things to the children… so chocolates and melting candies don’t bode well.
Thank You
We — as the Trustees, and all who work alongside us — want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU for your selfless generosity of spirit in sponsoring your child. We know there are countless ways to use money every month, and that to give is a sacrifice. However, we also firmly believe that to sow into the life of another human being — who otherwise would have a very difficult time surviving, let alone thriving — is the VERY best investment you could possibly make. Your financial support and connection will inevitably change the course trajectory of their lives, the health of their growing bodies, and encourage the stability of their growing sense of hope and self.