By Beatrice Quinney | Marketing & Communications Officer
Atlas Asia was set up to continue the work of The Nicholson Memorial Fund. The Nicholson Memorial Fund was set up by Ben Nicholson in memory of his wife Anita and their two children Alex and Annabel who tragically lost their lives in the Sri Lanka bombings on Easter Sunday 2019. Anita was a hugely popular member of The Atlas Foundation family. She set up and ran our first ever fundraising dinner with a Halloween themed event at the Singapore Cricket Club on 31st October 2018 with Jason Leonard there to promote Atlas’s work in the Far East, raising over £20,000. We remain eternally grateful to her and are all devastated to have lost her.
Take a moment to read through the latest project updates:
Khelo Rugby:
Across five locations, the Khelo Rugby Winter Camp brought together 2,783 children and 252 youth coaches and leaders, transforming fields into a space for confidence, leadership and community.
Young people didn’t just participate, they led. From planning logistics and coordinating thousands of meals to organising teams, resolving challenges and mentoring younger players, the camp placed real responsibility in young hands.
Read the full story
In Saraswatipur, a village set within an elephant corridor in North East India, childhood is shaped by daily survival; limited water, unreliable electricity, and the threat of wildlife destroying homes and infrastructure. Our local partner, Khelo, listened to what the children wanted most: a safe place to learn. From that, the Sunrise Centre was born. Today, the centre provides clean water, secure study areas, English lessons through Studycat, healthy meals, and even a protective wall to keep curious elephants at a safe distance.
The Sunrise Centre demonstrates how intentionally created safe spaces can provide children with both security and purpose.
Read the full story
Lanna Rugby Club
Lanna has had an incredible November. They participated in the National Thai 7s, where they took three teams for the very first time, and all three reached the last eight!
Beyond sporting success, this milestone represents something much deeper. Many of Lanna’s young players are stateless children of migrant workers from Myanmar, living with limited rights and movement. Yet, through rugby, they’re gaining access to opportunities once thought impossible, from traveling outside their province to seeing the ocean for the first time.
Lanna is working with disadvantaged children and youth in marginalised groups facing socio-economic difficulties, providing them with care, education, and community support. Through rugby, they are nurturing confidence and leadership in the next generation.
At the end of 2025 Lanna teamed up with Pocari Sweat. As part of the partnership, Pocari Sweat led important sessions on staying hydrated in Thailand’s intense heat. Many young players don’t always think about water safety while playing, so this guidance helped ensure they could enjoy the sport safely.
Lanna’s Director of Rugby, Matthew Hirst, shared: “Thank you to Pocari Sweat for explaining heat exhaustion and the dangers of dehydration. Playing rugby under harsh conditions can be dangerous. We’re glad that our Lanna children now know how to protect themselves in the future.”
A great reminder of how rugby creates opportunities for education, wellbeing, and safe environments for young people.
Thank you...
As always, we thank all our donors and supporters without who this work would not be possible.
By Beatrice Quinney | Marketing & Communications Officer
By Caitlin Clark | Marketing & Communications Officer
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