your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
Shangavi
Donor
“I had to turn to sex work, just so we could live.”
Indunil lives in Colombo District with her son and daughter, in a rented home. Her husband left them and provides no support at all. Everything she does, she does on her own.
Her son, 10, is disabled. It affects one of his arms and one of his legs. And he needs clinic visits twice a month for ongoing care. Indunil needs money to pay for all of it.
With rent to pay, her children to feed and send to school, and her son’s medical costs to cover, Indunil had no way to manage on her own. She also needs to be home when the children are back from school. Without many options or paths forward, she turned to sex work just so her family could survive.
Despite everything, Indunil kept fighting to hold her family together and get her son the care he needs. Today she speaks hopefully about a way to provide for her children that doesn’t depend on the work she does now. She dreams of leaving that life behind to live a safe and stable life for her family. That is what she was is now working towards.
Please note for many women sharing in written form is not easy. We sit with women to support them to share their story and have added context so you can weave together what you have made possible.
Dear Shangavi,
My name is Indunil Lakmali. I live in Colombo District. I now have two children; one 10 year old son and one 6 days old daughter. My son is disabled – it affects one of his arms and one of his legs. Because my husband left us and doesn’t provide us with anything, we manage all our expenses with the catering business that I do. Right now we live in a rented home.
Because I had to pay the house rent, look after my children, send them to school, feed them and pay for their medical expenses, I had to turn to sex work, just so we could live.
(At the time we met Indunil, her family was struggling with the deep poverty and loneliness that followed her husband leaving them. With Palmera’s support, she found the strength to save her own money and start a business, helping her family recover and rebuild their lives.)
Then a friend of mine put me in touch with Palmera. I was good at cooking. So once I joined the programme, they helped me set up a catering and shorteats making business by buying me all the equipment and necessities I needed.
I then started providing one shops with shorteats and a small eatery with small breakfast and dinner options. My business grew when I started stocking food in two more shops. I also started providing school lunch packs to the kids in my own children’s school.
Now, from my small business, I earn income daily and manage all our expenses. Now I am also making more of an effort when it comes to their schooling. I am also sending my daughter for extra classes, and taking my son to the clinic regularly and buying his medicine.
(Indunil previously was not engaged in earning a living income but today through continued mentorship and training she is able to engage economically and this has allowed her income to increase and to meet her basic needs.)
All this I do with my own money now, and pay my rent regularly. I also cover all our daily food expenses with the income I make. I earn about 70,000 LKR monthly and I continue save an amount monthly from my earnings.
(Palmera established the village bank in his village to develop financial literacy, a place to save and revolve their savings as loans to reduce their debt from predatory lenders. Through the village bank, people come together each week to talk, to share what is going on and support each other. This is a foundation for change. Because change happens in community and that is exactly what these structures support.)
In the future, I hope to have a little shop of my own to grown my business. And I believe that this is something I can achieve. Every day I try to better my livelihood so that I can increase my income for my family. I have left the sex working trade completely now and I am living happily with my children. This brings me so much relief.
Today, because of Palmera I have turned a new leaf. I am deeply grateful to Palmera. There are still times when I face difficulties, but the courage and mental strength Palmera has given me helps me face them.
All of this is what the Palmera project and you have given to me. I pray that for other women who are still living through dark and difficult circumstances, you will help them find the right path, lift them out of that darkness, and give them strength for a better life. And so, to Shangavi, who has contributed toward all of this, I am deeply grateful.
Thank you.
Indunil
Our work continues with Indunil. She has begun the journey to stand on her own, but lasting change takes time. We will walk alongside her for one more year before letting go of her hand. It is this continued accompaniment that makes all the difference. And this is possible because of you. Thank you.
