Shipments... & some exciting news!

My usual late start and relaxed Saturday did not happen today, instead I have spent the day with The Dust Project team and their charity partners The Paalam Project in organising a shipment to Sri Lanka.

The Dust Project are proud to be a supplier to the aptly named: 'DP Store' in Jaffna, offering affordable clothing to families and those who otherwise would not be able to buy good quality and what would be considered in the Western World as nice.

Alongside this, the DP store stock shoes and other trinkets, including toys, of the plastic type and cuddly, games, bags and anything else that may have a home in Sri Lanka.

I have been on a mission since my return from January's trip to collect as many donations as possible from family, friends and strangers to ensure this shipment we were sending just before Easter was a big one! I plugged the opportunity for family and friends to donate on social media, emailed and even dropped of the traditional paper leaflet to homes in my village. I then hit the JACKPOT. I have been part of a 'buying and selling' group on Facebook, and I considered this could be a perfect opportunity to utilise this avenue. I created a graphic image for this page, requesting books, clothing, shoes and cuddly toys and the response from the Hertford community was overwhelming! My sister's bedroom, in the space of 4 weeks became a storage unit - impossible to move in and out of!

These donations really have surprised me, and the willingness of people to reach out and accept our request has restored my belief that my local community care about the injustice in the world.

Our shipment today was made up of 13 T-Chests, and we couldn't even fit all the donations into them! The remainder donations are being stored at a local church, ready to be boxed up in the next shipment in June.

Alongside this exciting morning of sorting out shipment details, a very EXCITING meeting was had between myself and Karen, one of the overseers of The Paalam Project. After my three week stint in Sri Lanka, I have realised there is something I cannot shake from me about my LOVE and PASSION for this wonderful country!

It's full steam ahead, I have movement and we are working on getting my RESIDENCY VISA! Fingers crossed, prayers and hopes I'll be living in Sri Lanka this time next year, working with The Dust Project and The Paalam School(s).