Brewing hope
Young people growing up in the poverty-stricken tea plantations of Sri Lanka face limited prospects for a brighter future. The Tea Leaf Trust, led by EHF Fellow, Tim Pare, is helping these young people imagine new possibilities.
A bitter, aromatic brew that has for centuries delighted our taste buds and tantalized our senses, Sri Lankan tea is regarded as the hallmark of quality, even amongst the pickiest of tea drinkers.
Yet few know the dark history of how this beverage came to be so synonymous with Sri Lanka and the millions of people who are toiling under unbearable conditions to bring us our humble morning brew.
Lies and debt slavery: How Sri Lanka became the tea capital of the world
Sri Lanka is one of the largest tea-producing countries in the world, rivaled only by India and China. Today, the export and production of tea accounts for more than 2% of the country’s GDP, but it was only introduced to the island nation in 1824.
By the mid-1800s, tea production was growing rapidly and the British colonial powers were in desperate need of a larger workforce; one that wouldn’t object to the poor conditions of working on the tea estates.
They turned to the South Indian Tamils, a disadvantaged, low-caste people group, marginalized by the rest of Indian society.
Preying on their limited opportunities, the British promised good jobs, housing, and a lifeline out of poverty. But those lucky enough to survive the journey to the tea estates - around ⅓ died en route - found themselves living in rural slums, without access to basic necessities like clean water and sanitation.
Having paid exorbitant fees to their British recruiters for this “opportunity,” many became saddled with debt that would take generations to pay back. They were trapped - facing endless days of grueling work.
A storm in a teacup: The conditions on the tea estates today
Today, not much has changed. The conditions in the estates are just dreadful as they were 160 years ago. Labourers perform backbreaking work beneath searing heat or ceaseless downpours for 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. Their pay is about $6 a day.
People begin working in the fields at a young age and rarely get the opportunity to complete the schooling they need to seek out other jobs or opportunities, which leaves them trapped in a cycle of poverty.
The rare few who are lucky enough to complete secondary schooling and escape life in the plantations find themselves at a significant disadvantage in the job market.
“The subjects crucial for employment in a nation developing as rapidly as Sri Lanka – English and IT – are taught by teachers without the relevant expertise or qualifications, leaving youth on the estates entirely unprepared for the professional labour market.”
Alcohol, drugs, and domestic violence are endemic within the estates, and suicide rates among young people are extremely high.
“Conversations with the young people of these tea communities revealed a feeling of apathy and sadness – most felt they had nothing of value to offer society and this has had a huge effect on their self-esteem and confidence,” says Tim Pare -- an EHF Fellow and founder of the Tea Leaf Trust.
Deciding to do something about the injustice
Tim Pare and his wife, Yasmene, were honeymooning and spent one night in the tea estates in the Central Province of Sri Lanka when they first witnessed the generations-long impact of colonialism and learned the sinister truth about how their favourite beverage gets made.
“It was really confronting seeing first-hand the extent to which my ancestors were complicit in creating the conditions that trap people in servitude and poverty,” Tim says.
Tim was so enraged by the injustice, that he and Yas decided to found a charity and move to Sri Lanka and open up a school that could change the foundation of the community.
Creating opportunities for young people on tea estates
Since launching in 2010, the Tea Leaf Trust has benefited more than 257,000 people.
Their main programme is called Tea Leaf Vision and it invites students between the ages of 18-24 to improve their English and learn valuable skills like leadership and computer science that will better their chances of employment outside of the plantations.
The free, full-time, one-year programme also offers holistic training in emotional health and teaches positive coping strategies for dealing with trauma from living on the estates.
In exchange, the students teach younger children at nearby schools and volunteer on local service projects like cleaning up towns and delivering meals to elderly residents.
“Volunteering in the community helps young people realize that they are a valuable member of that community, which improves their self-esteem and enhances their sense of self-worth,” says Tim.
After only 10 years in the region, more than 15,000 young people have taken part in the programme.
An average of over 80% of the programme’s graduates gain full-time employment or pursue further education within a year of graduating. And all three of the schools that the Tea Leaf Trust operates are entirely run and staffed by former students.
With Sri Lanka having the 4th highest suicide rate in the world, it is of particular note that rates amongst the 1,500 alumni of the main diploma have decreased to less than 5% of the national average. For the first time in many years, young people are expressing hope for their future.
The ultimate vision – true parity for tea estate workers in Sri Lanka
Tim is the first to acknowledge that despite the successes of the programme, there is still much work to be done to achieve true parity for tea estate workers in Sri Lanka.
The ultimate vision, he says is to roll out the Tea Leaf programme nationwide, so more disadvantaged young people can reach their full potential.
Get involved
You can support the Tea Leaf Trust by donating directly to their work. The Tea Leaf Trust also welcomes volunteers who are willing to teach English for at least a month. You can find out more info or donate here: www.tealeaftrust.com
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