About the Tea Leaf Trust

The Tea Leaf Trust was founded in 2007, shortly after Tim & Yasmeen visited Sri Lanka on their honeymoon, to empower impoverished young people from the tea estates through education, employment and ethnic cohesion.

By observing the many crosscutting issues affecting the development of the estates and the people who live on them, it became apparent to the Tea Leaf Trust board members that the focus of their work had to be on more than just formal education. Although their projects would work to enhance the future prospects of youth through a focus on employability skills and English, goals were also developed to focus on the bottom-up transformation of these exploited communities through engaging their young people, who represent a key generation following the end of the 25-year civil war, as well as the future of Sri Lanka. Tea Leaf Trust had to develop methods of empowerment and a desire for growth amongst these young people to become positive and engaged ‘change agents’ within their communities.

Ongoing Projects with the Tea Leaf Trust

Introduction to Hospitality Course 

In collaboration with the Tea Leaf Trust, Teardrop has launched a free two-month introductory course in hospitality, specifically designed to educate underprivileged youth in the region on the prospects of a career in hospitality. The course covers the functions of all departments of a hotel and is conducted by Teardrop’s senior management. Each Department Head at teardrop holds a two-hour discussion on their department’s role in the daily function of the hotel, along with an overview of industry prospects. On completion of the course, a paid internship will be offered to select students.

This initiative not only provides a path to meaningful employment but also fosters a sense of pride and hope among the local youth, allowing them an opportunity to become ambassadors of Sri Lankan hospitality.