Sri Lanka update

Another 14 school groups - including 180 students - will be visiting Sri Lanka this summer to work in schools as part of ASCL's Project Sri Lanka. ASCL has been hugely impressed with the effort and enthusiasm these students have put in to raise funds for their trip. As last summer, ASCL is donating £1,000 to each group to spend on its project.

Last year's six groups worked with schools near the coast affected by the tsunami. This year, five of the projects are at schools inland which are in desperate need of help. St Wilfrid's School in South Shields identified a project in a school in Nuwara Eliya when a group visited last year.

The Beaulieu School in Jersey has also sourced its own project - the students are spending time working with Adopt Sri Lanka conservation projects as part their geography work. The other projects are located in the coastal region between Galle and Tangalle.

ASCL members raised a total of £87,600 for Project Sri Lanka, including £10,800 from the sale of the Guide to Completing SEFs by Tony Thornley. Most of this has already been spent on refurbishment and building works. After clearing a good deal of red tape, it appears the public swimming pool, paid for by a group of Surrey schools, will be completed this summer.

Any surplus money at the end of this academic year will be spent on helping young people in the Tamil region of Sri Lanka who have suffered from the civil conflict. The young people taking part in this summer's projects have also been asked to identify any further worthwhile projects.