Stamp mania

What is it about stamps that we used to be absolutely crazy about collecting them? And why has that craze almost faded from our society?

The first part of the question must be because of those pretty pictures those stamps used to have. Well for me it would have been, but I know that many of us have their own reasons. But why has this stamp collecting craze faded? It hasn’t, it simply moved continents.

Volunteers at the Sputnik charity sorting through donated stamps Sri Lankan’s love collecting stamps

We may not be that crazy about collecting stamps any more, but in Sri Lanka this is one of the most popular activities you can imagine. STAMPS are BIG in Sri Lanka. And stamps are for rich and poor.

What do we at the LEO Project do with stamps?

Here in Europe the LEO Project collects stamps. And thanks to the great efforts of my own parents, the local radio and many people that have donated their entire stamp collections we have been able to sent a massive amount of stamps to Sri Lanka. We estimate that we have sent at least 40 Kg of stamps!!

Once in Sri Lanka these stamps are transported by friends to our partner charity Sputnik Sri Lanka. They then sell the stamps to all those stamp collectors in Sri Lanka.

What is done with the money raised?

Selling the stamps is a fun way of collecting funds. These funds are used to buy books for the local library. This library is in a rural part of the country and helps to get people to start reading and improve their literacy skills greatly.

But that is not all! Before the stamps are sold they need to be taken of the paper and sorted. This is done by volunteers of all Collected stamps being sold with the proceeds being spend on new books for the library ages who tremendously enjoy seeing all these stamps. And whilst they may not actively notice it, this team’s work brings the community closer together.

Why stamps from all over the world?

The people of Sri Lanka mainly get local stamps making foreign stamps very rare. Foreign stamps are not just a very special collector’s item, but also get the local people more interested in ‘what is out there’. It is a great way for them to get a taste of foreign countries without ever being able to go there in person.

These simple stamps really do make a big difference!