Beauty therapist Melissa wants to help poor in Sri Lanka

When she was a little girl, Melissa Day used to collect coins at her Sunday School to help Water Aid.

Now Melissa,30, who has her own specialist beauty therapy business in Ipswich is still helping charitable projects at home in Ipswich and also abroad.

Recently Melissa, who trades as Niroshini, recently received an award from the Trading for Good organistion, for her community involvement.

And among her current projects is raising a massive £12,000 to buy a second-hand school bus for a charity working in rural Sri Lanka - among the tea plantations.

Melissa runs her own business, Niroshini Cosmetic Acupuncture and facials, here.

In recent years she has tracked down her birth family, who are living in relative poverty, on the tea plantations in Sri Lanka.

She has found that there are many people trapped in poverty there.

So she has pledged to help the Tea Life Trust - a charity which is working among poor families in that country.

She said: “The route out of poverty is always better education and in this part of Sri Lanka there are unqualified teachers in school.”

Among the work this charity does is to give young people an intensive course in English, now so much the language of international trade and commerce, and a great asset for them.

She added:“In Sri Lanka this is a real way of making a difference.

“Learning English is a way of giving young people better job opportunities.”

“The Tea Leaf Trust, working as Tea Leaf Vision in Sri Lanka, is run by a British couple, Tim Pare and his partner Yas. They are doing great work.

“My whole family work on the tea plantations and have very modest living conditions. Young people need extra education here in order to progress out of poverty.

“Sadly there are many unqualified teachers working in schools in the tea plantations.”

Melissa, who works from treatment rooms in DanceEast and Image Beauty Salon, provides a natural alternative to surgical face-lifts and is particularly popular with women.

I experienced one of her facial massage and lymphatic drainage treatments, with aromatic oils and calming music.

It was wonderful.

I really felt my face, scalp and neck was glowing afterwards.

And I am sure I was so relaxed I could easily have drifted off to sleep...

But I had to return to work.

Melissa said: “It is very popular with women. It is incredible to see people changing, and feeling better.

“People want something that is natural.

“If someone feels good, it shows on the outside.

“I am really pleased with the way things are going.”

Melissa is going out giving talks to local organistions, including Rotary clubs, to gain support for her Sri Lanka project.

And next month she is inviting people to take part in a special Curry and Quiz evening, hosted by Seckford Golf Club, to support the Sri Lanka project.

The Curry & Quiz event is in Thursday June 18, from 7pm, with quiz teams of four paying £12.50 per person (including food).

To buy tickets go to info@niroshini.com

Or telephone 01473 430026.