Change a Life
Sponsor a Child
We Believe
We believe that having a secure home and an education are fundamental human needs and vital to achieving economic growth and stability, and sustaining a healthy society. Providing a child with food, clothing, healthcare and an education enables them to live in hope rather than fear, and reach their full potential— together, lifting their communities out of poverty.
Ways to Support a Child
Sponsor My Education
For £30 a month you can ensure that your sponsored child is able to go to school. Your sponsorship covers Tuition fees, academic materials, school uniform, extracurricular activities and basic health care, including glasses if necessary.
Sponsor My Care
For £50 a month your sponsored child will have a place at Paalam Children’s Hostel — providing for her physical needs of shelter, food, clothing and basic healthcare, as well as her emotional need for security, living in a positive and nurturing environment.
Sponsor Both
£80 per month will provide for all of the physical needs of your sponsored child — as well as the undeniable affirmation that she is WORTH being sponsored and provided for. This assurance is priceless, and the love and care they feel from having their needs met is foundational to their sense of security, maturity and identity as precious human beings.
Sponsor Food Parcels
For £30, your sponsored child and his/her family will receive a monthly 'Food Run' containing parcels of essential dry goods — such as rice, dhal, chickpeas, noodles, flour, tea, etc. Depending on their needs, these parcels also often contain hygienic necessities like toothpaste, soap, sanitary products, etc.
'How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.'
Anne Frank
Meet our incredible kids...
You send £30. I receive £30.
For £30 a month you can ensure that your sponsored child is able go to school, or for £50 that she has a loving home and daily provision at Palaam Children’s Hostel. You can rest assured that 100% of your monthly donation goes to the support of your sponsored child. All necessary administration and operating costs are covered from other funds.
For more information about how The Dust Project appropriates money given to us, click here >>
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 and small gifts to your sponsored child at one of the following addresses, depending on his/her location.
Please send them clearly labeled with the name of your sponsored child to either:
If your sponsored child lives in Jaffna -
Name of your child
c/o The Dust Project
'Jenny Cot'
Kopay South,
Kopay,
Jaffna,
Sri Lanka
If your sponsored child lives in Wattala -
Name of your child
c/o 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.
Acceptable items to send - MUST be a flat letter up to A4, or fit in medium-sized JIFFY BAG (boxes/parcels require a fee to be 'released' and must be picked up at an inconvenient location) -
-
Stickers
-
Small packs of sweets (non-melting!)
-
Letters with life updates and messages
-
Postcards with nice phrases and images - or a postcard from a place the sponsor has recently visited
-
Photos of sponsor and their families / pets
-
Drawings for the sponsor child from your own family
-
Stationary items
-
T-shirt / lightweight clothing / modest apparel
-
Colouring sheets
-
Hair accessories / small & cheap jewellery items (friendship bracelets etc)
-
Small toys: Paper gliders / fidget spinner / GoPop (pop-it) / bouncy ball / yo-yo
-
Pack of balloons (consider age of child)
-
Bookmark
-
Pencil case
-
Toothbrush / comb
-
Key chain
UNACCEPTABLE items - please DO NOT send! -
-
chocolates, melting or home-made foods
-
cash of any currency
-
boxes of any size / anything larger than medium-sized Jiffy bag (padded envelope)
Thank you!!!!
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.