your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
Angela Suriyakumaran
Donor
When we first met Perinpanayaki, her life was marked by hardship and constant struggle. She is a devoted mother of four sons—three who attend school and a little baby who still needs her full care. Her greatest wish is to provide her children with stability, education, and the chance for a brighter future. But her husband’s struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction have left the family in a very difficult position. The little income he earns is rarely used to support the household, leaving Perinpanayaki to carry the burden of providing for her family on her own.
Each day, she works tirelessly just to meet their daily needs, but the weight of responsibility is overwhelming. Covering school fees, food, and other essentials often feels impossible, and the worry of how to sustain her children’s education never leaves her mind. Yet despite these challenges, Perinpanayaki’s resilience shines through. Her strength, courage, and determination to keep her children safe and learning are a powerful reminder of a mother’s love. What she longs for most is a way forward—a chance to give her children the opportunities they deserve and to break free from the cycle of hardship that holds them back.
We’ve captured their voice so you can hear their story.
How is your family situation now?
Earlier we did not have water facilities. We used to go far to fetch water. We used to go to far places for daily wage work. We were very poor. But now we have water facilities through a well. So the children can take a good bath. We do fruits and vegetable cultivation. It is very beneficial. We are very happy now.
Do you feel that there have been any changes in your family situation now? If so, what changes have occurred in your family situation?
When we say change, if we had a well, it was difficult for us to bathe the children on time and send them to school, but now we have three times a day for the children to cool down and clean themselves well and go to school and classes. We do small industries. We grow brinjal, cassava, chilies, etc. vegetables in our home gardens. We sell vegetables for 500 to 1000 LKR (approx. $5 AUD) a day. We sell spinach, and I get profit from that. My vegetables also help in home cooking. I can buy soap, etc. I am very happy.
Earlier I had to go to work every day to feed my children. But now that is not the case. Even if we do not go to work, we can sell vegetables, get money to buy things, and cook. We have got a good opportunity from that. We are very happy. Earlier, when we went to work and came back, it would be night. We would not get time to spend time with our children. But now, because we are doing home gardening, we have the opportunity to spend good time with our children as if we were at home. I am very happy.
(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).
Have you joined village savings groups?
Yes. We have joined. It is very happy when all the women join this small group and talk about income through this garden and home garden. It is very beneficial. Even though we go to the group with mental difficulties, when everyone talks there, it is very satisfying.
What is your future goal?
My wish is to live happily without going out, in my own land, with my own fruit and vegetable cultivation, taking care of my children, taking care of my husband, and being grateful.
The family that helped your family live happily is Angela Suriyakumaran. Do you have anything you would like to say to them?
We are deeply grateful for the support given to women like me. I pray that God blesses you with a long and healthy life.
