Sponsor a Business
The Gift of Work
Generally speaking, work of some description is easy to come by in the Western world. It may
require humbling oneself, putting in the footwork, or making huge sacrifice… but typically, it can be had. In Sri Lanka, this just isn’t so. Work of any description is sparse, bordering on non-existent. There simply isn’t the ready capital, commerce or clientele.
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That’s why we, as The Dust Project, want to help our communities in Sri Lanka to not only think
outside the box, but also give them every possible, practical means of support, start-up, and strategy.
'The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.'
Benjamin Disraeli
How can you make a Difference?
Sponsor
Vocational Training
Help someone get off the ground or receive vital funding for continued education. A growing part of our work in Sri Lanka is to help families and young adults upskill and gain vocational training, allowing them to provide for themselves and their families. If you would be interested in partnering with us to help fund/mentor viable future businessmen and women, please don't hesitate to get in touch!
Support our Business Grant Scheme
The Dust Project has recently embarked on a Small Business Grant Scheme— wherein locals within our community projects in Sri Lanka may submit a detailed application for a business idea. This is filtered through a rigorous selection process, vetted by a committee of our Trustees. Once funded, the recipients are accountable to our Ambassadors in Sri Lanka, and will be required to give Quarterly updates.
Small Business Grant Scheme
Below is a sampling of our chosen applicants. Should you feel inspired to donate to a specific idea, or to the Grant Trust Fund in general, you’ll be helping entrepreneurs, young and old, to aspire to something they wouldn’t be able to start without your help.
Niome's Shop Expansion
Niome's business is up and running beautifully!! Thank you so much to those who helped sponsor her success!
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Niome is 47 years old and is crippled due to polio and so needs a wheelchair to get from place to place. She lives with her older sister Niranjana who suffers with severe arthritis restricting her ability to work and their widowed mother who has chronic illnesses. Despite Niome’s physical circumstances, she is the breadwinner for her family. She runs a daycare and also runs a small convenience shop from her home. Her shop is the only convenience shop in her neighbourhood; there are almost 50 houses in her area. Being in a wheelchair makes it hard for her to move around the small shop space 2 X 4 feet, that is attached to her home. Despite the inconvenience she has managed to run a successful business. The money she earns is just enough to make ends meet for her family. She wants to expand the current shop into a bigger space and also invest in a cooler as well as a refrigerator. This will help her to better serve her customers and give her a bigger space in which to maneuver her wheelchair.
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Niome has already been running a small shop and has gained a lot of customers. Expansion will bring in more customers and the village needs would be met. They will not have to travel far to buy food items.
Vinoth's Trishaw
Vinoth is flying with his new trishaw! He's really establishing himself. Thanks so much to those who helped him get his business off the ground.
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Vinoth Sivaperumal, has been a member of New Living Flame Church since the age of 4. He was also a student at Paalam International School and was sponsored all his school years. His father left his mother when she was pregnant with him. His mother is an epileptic who has sustained many injuries due to her epileptic seizures. She is on high doses of medication for her illness. Despite her sickness Vinoth’s mother still works eight hours a day, six days a week. As a single mother she has struggled to care for Vinoth and to put meals on the table. The church and the project have helped them with food and shelter. Vinoth’s mother has been a housemaid and she still works for a family in the same neighbourhood.
Vinoth wants to be a trishaw driver and eventually develop his own small business. He works in small odd jobs, including working with the Paalam Project and the church (drives to all the government/official places). He has a strong goal to retire his mother from working due to her high risk of injuries from falls during epileptic seizures.