your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
Abiramie Sathiamoorthy
Donor
When we first met Priya, we saw a mother carrying a silent weight that words could not express. With two little children depending on her, and a husband whose daily wage work was uncertain, Priya’s life was a constant battle against hunger and fear. Some days, there was not even a single meal to place before her children. The struggle to provide for her family meant every day was a question of survival rather than living. She longed for stability, but instead faced the heartbreak of seeing her children go to school hungry, while she silently endured her own hunger to give them what little food there was.
Behind her weary smile, there was a deep pain of dreams left unfulfilled and an endless cycle of hardship. The absence of steady income forced the family into a life where hope seemed like a luxury they could not afford. Priya worried not only about the present but also the future of her children — would they too inherit this same struggle? Her story was not just about poverty; it was about the quiet resilience of a mother who refused to give up, even when life offered her nothing but uncertainty.
We’ve captured their voice so you can hear their story.
How is your family situation now?
After Palmera provided me with a cow as a means of livelihood, the number of cows grew from one to two. I now sell milk, and the income I earn allows me to cover all my household expenses. Additionally, I reinvested some of the milk earnings into my fruit and vegetable cultivation, which has brought great benefits.
A Few months ago Palmera also supplied me with peanut seeds, which I planted on a small scale. This effort resulted in an impressive income of 150,000.00 LKR (approx. $772 AUD) from selling the peanut seeds. I have set aside seeds for the next sowing season and continue to sell them within my village.
(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 the village savings group, or are you planning to join one in the future?
I have already joined the village savings group, and it has been incredibly beneficial for me. In the past, whenever I needed money, it was a struggle to borrow from others. Now, being part of a Palmera village savings group, I no longer rely on external loans. Whenever I have an urgent need, I can access a loan from the group and repay it with ease. This savings group is a great support to me. With a loan from the group, I hired someone to cultivate banana plantations, followed by urad dal, which has significantly benefited my livelihood.
You’ve joined the village savings group and have been earning well. Can you tell us how this has changed life for your family?
My future goal is to become self-reliant and stand on my own feet without depending on anyone. This is my wish.
A family named Abhirami Sathyamoorthy from Australia has helped your family to live happily.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Abhirami Sathyamoorthy family for believing in me and supporting me to move forward. Words cannot fully convey how thankful I am. If I ever get the chance to meet them in person, I will express my gratitude even more deeply. For now, I offer my sincerest thanks to the Abhirami Sathyamoorthy family. Thank you so much!
