Charlotte Boulton
Charlotte Boulton grew up at and was brought to faith in her teenage years at Christ Church, Ware. At 18, she left for the University of Lincoln where she was exposed to injustices through community outreach programmes and talks at her Church. Knowing God had called her to work with disadvantaged people, after finishing university, Charlotte began looking for work within the charity sector. It was never on her radar to be an overseas missionary, but with a heart willing to serve God, doors were opened, and her heart was broken for the nation of Sri Lanka.
Throughout 2016 and 2017, Charlotte visited Sri Lanka three times doing community outreach with the charity The Dust Project, where her eyes were opened to the inequalities, poverty, and helplessness many were facing. Having helped to build and paint homes, dig wells, teach in the partner schools, and fundraise, Charlotte knew this still had not satisfied God’s calling. In October 2017, Charlotte headed to Sri Lanka for three years where she was placed with The Dust Project’s charity partner Paalam Project. Based in Jaffna, in the Northern Province, Charlotte was exposed to some of the poorest people in the nation who were still struggling with the aftereffects of the 25 years of civil war which ripped Sri Lanka apart. She worked alongside both charities, specifically overseeing the Child Sponsorship programme, the community outreach in providing food aid, visiting families, overseeing volunteer team trips, and teaching in the Paalam School, eventually taking on the role as Acting Principal. Paalam School is an English Medium, Christian school which follows the American schooling system called A.C.E. (Accelerated Christian Education). Whilst offering a range of subjects including the Core curriculum such as English, Math, Science, Literature, Word Building (new vocabulary) and Social Studies, the system ensures students are exposed to the goodness of God, through memory verses, moral stories, Bible stories, and additional subjects including New and Old Testament, Basic Life of Christ, and Successful Living. Students are encouraged in their own personal prayer life as well as upheld in prayer by the teachers. The A.C.E. system works perfectly for students who have English as a second (or even third!) language. The hope is that Paalam School will bring students to Christ, as well as opening the doors for the students who otherwise would receive a poor education, rarely learning English. In studying English, these students will have opportunities to access the highest-ranking jobs and go on to use their education to bring themselves, and their families out of poverty. Charlotte is now based primarily in Wattala, Sri Lanka, working in the larger Paalam School of over 200 students, most of whom come from extremely poor families, either because of parents working as day labourers, have alcohol or drug issues, or deaths of family members. Charlotte continues to be involved in the Jaffna school, overseeing Child Sponsorship, and working with volunteer teams, writing the quarterly newsletter, guest speaking at clubs or events (virtually), as well as being the on-the-ground representative of The Dust Project. Charlotte’s primary focus is on improving standards in the schools: training staff; ensuring the A.C.E. system is followed; and helping the senior students consider their future careers. Charlotte has seen and continues to witness the chains of poverty, lack of education, and gender inequality being broken in the work undertaken by The Dust Project and Paalam Project. Charlotte's husband Manoj also works at Paalam School, Wattala, and is studying part-time at Bible College. They married in August 2022 and continue to serve God in the school, church, and community, bringing the hope of Jesus Christ to the nation of Sri Lanka wherever they are able. |
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