your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
Senthuran Velnayagam
Donor
When we met Kanakampal, her home reflected the quiet struggle of a woman carrying immense responsibilities. She lives with her two sons and her elderly mother, who is unwell and requires regular monthly hospital visits. Her life changed drastically when her husband left her just two years after their marriage, leaving her to manage everything alone.
Kanakampal works as a wage laborer, but work is inconsistent and often unavailable. Meeting daily expenses—including food, transportation for her mother’s hospital visits, and her children’s school needs—is a constant challenge. Many days, she sacrifices her own needs to ensure her family can manage. Despite these hardships, she remains resilient and determined, caring for her mother and children with great love and dedication.
Her hope is to find a stable way to earn a livelihood, which would allow her to cover medical costs, support her children’s education, and create a secure future for her family. Kanakampal’s story is one of perseverance, courage, and unwavering hope in the face of overwhelming difficulties.
We’ve captured their voice so you can hear their story.
I have two children, and I was abandoned by my husband during the wartime. I also lost my second child while he was still in the womb. During that time of immense mental anguish and distress, I worked as a wage laborer and raised my children mostly on my own.
One day, the Palmera team came to my house and encouraged me to attend a small village savings group meeting. I agreed and went to see it. I became a member of the group, Our savings group is called Kirubai (grace) group. and they shared many useful ideas and opinions. Meeting ten or twenty people there and talking for an hour brought me great joy. I attended all the training organized by the group. They taught us how to generate income, plan projects, and manage resources. I started fruit and vegetable cultivation at home, which now provides nutritious vegetables for my family.
Being part of the village savings group brought me courage and peace of mind. I also gained the confidence to step out like others. Palmera’s support helped me raise my children, pay for their education, and sell vegetables to support our needs. After Palmera came to this village, my stress reduced, and I now have hope. They also provided money to build a chicken coop and raise chickens. What started as just one or two chickens has grown to over fifteen. I now sell eggs for household expenses and use some for nutritious food at home. Through the Palmera village savings groups, I have received many benefits through Palmera. I have learnt how to manage my family as a woman-headed household. Otherwise, I would have remained isolated at home.
(Palmera established a village bank in our community to develop financial literacy—a place where we could save and access loans to reduce our debt from predatory lenders).
Senthuran Velnayagam and his family helped you live happily. What would you like to say to them?
I would like to thank him and his family. I express my heartfelt gratitude for their generosity. I wish them a long life and peace. Their help has brought me hope, courage, and contentment.
