Life’s Essentials is supporting EMACE, a long-established Non-Government Organisation (NGO) geared to social and economic development in Sri Lanka, especially of the disadvantaged sections of society. Visit their web site at www.emacesrilanka.com

Copyright © 2010 Life’s Essentials, a Charity Registered in England, no. 1118866. All Rights Reserved.

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In December 2004, a tsunami hit South and South East Asia, devastating coastal areas of many countries in the Indian Ocean. Mike Mirams, co-founder of Life’s Essentials, having business associates and friends in Sri Lanka, was made aware of the severe shortage of potable drinking water in areas of that country hit by the tsunami.

Within a few weeks, with the help of friends and associates, and particularly the staff and students of Oakham School where Mike’s sister Mary Hoyle was a teacher, nearly £1000 was raised. This was sent to a business associate Mr Abeyratne, director of the Sri Lankan Registered Charity EMACE, which works with disadvantaged people in that country. EMACE used every penny of this donation to provide a piped fresh water supply to a school severely hit by the tsunami.

People in the UK (and in particular the students of Oakham School) were asking what they could do, and it was decided to establish Life’s Essentials to facilitate the collection of donations and the transfer to organisations where the basic requisites of life are lacking.

Life’s Essentials registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales in March 2007 (reg. No. 1118866), and continues to organise fund-raising activity. The trustees are Mike Mirams, Mary Hoyle and Peter Mirams.

A Sri Lankan school classroom, after the tsunami

Life’s Essentials’ Mike Mirams (centre) with EMACE director E Abeyratne (left) and business associate A A Amaradasa (right) during a visit to the EMACE headquarters in Colombo, 2006