Sri Lanka family seeks help from Malvern friends to pay for children's schooling

Malvern people in the UK are being urged to spare the price of a cup of coffee every month and help a family in Sri Lanks send its children to school.
The Perera family, which lived in Malvern some years ago, needs to find £400 per term to pay for the education of Hiruni, aged 15, and Joyel, 11.
The family has appealed for help to the congregation at St Mary’s Sherrards Green, where they worshipped when they lived here.
And now an appeal has been launched urging people to contribute just £2.50 a month and help pay for the children’s education.
Angie Green at Christ Church, Avenue Road, which has close connections with St Mary’s, came up with the idea of the subscription scheme, which will be able to guarantee £1,200 a year if 40 people sign up.
She said: “We are asking that you give up £2.50, the price of a very nice coffee in one of our local cafes, and donate that to the children.”
Jenny Green of St Mary’s said: “The Pereras came to Malvern about seven years ago and they were here about three years.
“They thought they had come totally legitimately, and they had paid a lot of money to someone, but they were conned. It turned out they were here illegally and the authorities found out and they were deported.
“They were a lovely family, they were working, they were popular in the church and the children went to the Grove, where they dis really well and were so grateful they had this opportunity.”
However, in Sri Lanka, the family has to pay to send the children to school.
“We’ve sent through the £400 for the current term, but we wanted a way to make sure that the money is guaranteed. We’re very grateful to Angie for coming up with the idea,” she said.
A bank account has been set up which transfers the money to the school in Sri Lanka, and now the search is on to find 40 people to sign up and enable the Pereras children to continue their education.

Anyone interested should contact Jenny Green on 01684 569488.

-malverngazette.co.uk