Over the past few months we have had tremendous support from Highgate Pre-Preparatory School in London, UK. They have given so much to help better the school facilities for the disadvantaged students of Malawenna School. Both the children of the Highgate school and its Parents' Association have raised and donated money, and the school has offered endless support to the pupils at Malawenna who were badly affected by the tsunami. We are thrilled that the links between the two schools are now growing even stronger.

Back in June we mentioned the opening of Malawenna School's new library which was funded by the money raised and donated by the young students of Highgate School. The kids had organised a spelling test to raise money for the Foundation and they managed to donate almost 5,000 British Pounds. This tremendous contribution not only helped with the building of the library but it also funded a new Computer Room for Malawenna. The computer room was opened 2 weeks ago and the students and teachers are thrilled with the new facilities. What an incredible difference this contribution has made to the school, the students are now able to develop much further through learning with and about new technologies.

The links with Highgate have continued and their generosity knows no bounds - recently the Parents' Association donated a generous amount of money which will go towards new resources for Malawenna School. We must also say a huge and heartfelt thank you to the Principal of the Highgate school, Julia Challender, whose commitment to our cause has been tremendous. Her hard work and humanity have built a strong relationship between two schools thousands of miles apart and offered so much hope to the kids here. She wishes that the relationship will be continuous, with Highgate helping on a regular basis to provide school materials for Malawenna. There is also a possibility of starting up a pen pal scheme between the students of the two schools.

When Kushil traveled to the UK earlier this year he visited Highgate Pre-Preparatory School bringing them messages of thanks from Malawenna School. He was asked some very mature and intelligent questions by the young pre-school kids about the tsunami and how Sri Lanka is recovering. It was clear that they care deeply about the school they are now strongly linked with, and their support of Malawenna has uplifted the spirits of the students here as well as greatly enhancing their educational facilities.