Tackling poverty locally
The team in Sri Lanka
Gayani Ganege
I am a proud teacher and the senior project leader at Asha Foundation. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences from the Open university of Sri Lanka. I love to teach children and always ready to mentor my team.
I have a true passion for working with the community. I strive to create a community of learners, that nurtures their growth in a positive, fun environment.
I believe by treating the children in a holistic way will set up a strong foundation for a child to succeed in life.
Margot Pinto
Margot joined Asha in 2013, bringing over 30 years experience of teaching in schools including 7 years teaching in the United States.
Margot leads on the English teaching at the centre and supports the team in creating innovative and engaging sessions with the children and young people.
Karen Joachim
Is a social entrepreneur and founder of Cane Craft - a social enterprise established to support the marketing of artisan products in cane and bamboo, driven by the mission to innovate products that can replace plastic. Karen's role with Asha is to create strong partnerships with other civil society organisations, to forge government links to enhance support for the community at Badowita and to seek funding through the partnerships she builds. She also volunteers at some of Asha's partner organizations as a way to give back to communities that support Asha Foundation. Karen also jointly manages a family run orphanage.
Lakshika Athukorala
My name is Lakshika and I teach maths. I've been working with Asha for 4 years. I enjoy working with students, and other staff members in a collaborative way. Teaching is my passion. Spending time with our children at Asha is something which makes me happy.
Personally, I enjoy reading, music, and spending time with friends and family.
am really honoured to be a part of Asha Foundation.
Hajara Amjad
I've been working with Asha since 2018. I lead on The English Language classes for all grades, assist with organizing fun activities for students, and assisting with the administration. I aim to make the Centre a welcoming place for all who attend.
P . Ulaganathan
Hi, I’m Nathan. I have being working with Asha Foundation since 2013. My educational philosophy is to support all students in being academically successful. I have 35 + years of teaching experience, which I bring to encourage and motivate all students and to achieve academic success. Asha Community Centre is like my 2nd home. I always try to support the community and the children whenever they need my guidance.
The Board
Steve Bynon
Steve Is a founding trustee of Asha Trust since 2004. He has worked within a number of charities and community organisations in the UK and overseas.
Steve presently works at BDCA in East London supporting people in difficult circumstances
Radhika Bynon
works as Portfolio Manager at Impact on Urban Health, a foundation working to reduce health inequalities in London. She is Chair of the Global Fund for Women UK, a women’s fund partnering with human rights activists around the world. She is a trustee at the Magpie Project, a small charity supporting mothers and children living in temporary accommodation/hostels in East London and also Kineara, a social enterprise working with families in challenging circumstances.
Julie Thomson
Julie's family went on the inaugural trip to Sri Lanka when Asha was founded and she returned three times. Having worked as a teacher in the UK, she is particularly interested in Asha helping with education in Athidya. She volunteered in the local school there for a few weeks in 2007, which was a challenge!
Now retired, she helps keep in touch with donors in the UK and enjoys being part of forward planning for the charity.
Stephen Carrick-Davies
is a social entrepreneur with experience of leading non-profit and social entereprises over the last 30 years (including at CEO level). He has been a Trustee of the Asha trust for over 8 years and has had the privilege of visiting and learning from the team in Sri Lanka on two separate occasions. He currently is developing the Facework project in India and in the UK.
Gary Ewer
I have lived and worked in East London for most of my life. I have worked as a Youth Worker, these days I am a Community Worker. I have been a trustee from the beginning and have worked on many of the fund raising events. I have visited Sri Lanka 3 times in the past 13 years. On the last occasion we all worked with children at the school in Athidiya during a summer project and spent the afternoons with a youth group painting classrooms. In my spare time you can usually find me on my allotment
Glenda Abbott
I am a retired textile tutor. I have travelled to Sri Lanka three times and I have been able to help the women’s groups by sharing sewing skills. Building relationships with this community and especially those that lead the projects has deepened my commitment to the work. Watching Asha Trust grow and encourage the work of local people to make realchanges in a challenging community is a huge privilege
Katherine De Krester
Katherine lived in Sri Lanka for 10 years and coordinated Asha projects on the ground as well as being the main link between the team in Sri Lanka and the board of trustees in the UK. Recently returned to the UK, she is delighted that she can continue to contribute to the work of Asha by being a trustee. Katherine has experience in many aspects of running a small charity including governance, finance, fundraising and project management. She now works for a charity in London that supports the voluntary and community sector through training, capacity building and advocacy.
