Number of direct people benefiting – 100 people / 28 families
Costs – $5000 AUD per home (28 homes – $140,000)
In the private tea estate of Borella, Kunaregalla, a historic legal decision granted 28 tea estate workers the right to own 10 purchas of land each. For the past hundred years, these workers have lived on the estate without any legal title, residing in estate-provided homes and making small improvements without ownership rights.
Their homes—an essential source of security—were always under the control of the estate owners.
This landmark ruling changes everything. For the first time, these workers have land to call their own, the freedom and right to build homes they can truly own.
But as day laborers, the cost of building is beyond their means. They finally have an opportunity to move forward, yet without financial support, they remain stuck. Some have pawned everything they own and taken on high-interest loans just to lay the foundation, willing to face a lifetime of debt to seize this moment.
This is where you and we come in.
With the estate sale approaching in January 2025, they need to show progress on their homes. This court decision sets a powerful precedent—requiring land rights for estate workers when estates are sold. But, like all landmark decisions, its impact depends on the practicalities. If they cannot build, the significance of this ruling, and its potential ripple effect for all tea estate workers, will be lost.
Join us. How will you use your rare and beautiful life