Uplifting Tea Communities Through Education and Support

We all turn to a cup of tea for warmth and comfort, whether in moments of joy or sorrow. But behind every cup, there are thousands of tea pickers in Sri Lanka, most of whom live in extreme poverty. Tea Leaf Trust works to bring that same feeling of warmth and comfort to the people who pick our tea, by supporting their children’s education, developing their communities, and enhancing the emotional wellbeing of families living on tea estates.

Founded in 2009 by Tim Pare and Yasmene Shah after their honeymoon in Sri Lanka, Tea Leaf Trust was inspired by the struggles of the tea estate communities, where families often earn less than $3 a day. Determined to break the cycle of generational poverty, they created an organisation focused on education and community development. Today, Tea Leaf Trust operates five educational centres, reaching over 500 young people annually. In addition, we support more than 5,000 children and 100,000 community members every year through outreach and community programmes. The organisation is now led by graduates of the programme, all under the age of 40 and all from tea estate areas.

Our free programmes include English language instruction, IT training, business skills, and personal development, helping young people transform their lives. Over 80% of our graduates secure employment or pursue further studies within a year, often doubling their family’s income. Our students also give back by volunteering in local schools, teaching English to younger children, and leading community service projects.

In addition to education, Tea Leaf Trust runs a number of initiatives designed to improve life on the tea estates. We organise Women’s Self-Help Groups, addressing key issues such as period poverty and menstrual health, and work on training programmes to enhance the capacity of government teachers in estate areas. These projects ensure our impact reaches far beyond the classroom, creating stronger, more resilient communities.

By supporting Tea Leaf Trust, you are helping to create brighter futures for tea pickers and their families and building healthier communities that thrive beyond the tea fields.

For more information, visit www.tealeaftrust.com or contact info@tealeaftrust.com.