your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
Vinoba
Donor
“My son died by suicide last year, and I had a mental breakdown because of it.”
Rasaladsumi and her daughter live in Manikkapuram in Sri Lanka’s East. They have been having a very hard time since her son died last year. Rasaladsumi got very sick from the stress and the sadness of losing him. She has high blood pressure now and needs to see a doctor and take medicine regularly, but many times they just don’t have the money to pay for the hospital or the bills.
Since Rasaladsumi is too unwell to work, her daughter is the one looking after the house and family. She goes to someone else’s home every day to cook their food and wash their dishes. She cleans houses and uses the money she makes to buy the food they need to eat at home.
They have a well in their yard, but the water is not good enough to drink. So, her daughter has to go over to the neighbors’ houses to carry back clean water for them to use for drinking and the toilet.
They are doing their best to get through this. Rasaladsumi is hoping she will be healthy soon. Her daughter is working very hard to make sure they are able to get her mother the care they need and have enough food to eat.
Their big goal is to start raising cows so they can have a better way to make money. They hope that having some livestock will help them earn a steady income and feel more settled again.
Rasaladsumi says she wants to live happily with her daughter again.
We’ve captured their voice so you can hear their story.
(Before) For five years, I was with my husband and we lived a good life. My husband kept me in a way where I lived without knowing anything about our income. Then six years passed and my husband died. After that, my son also passed away, and it has been a year now since he left us.
Now it is only me and my daughter in the house. While I was going through such a hard time, the Palmera team came to visit and they cared for me. They would ask me if I had eaten and what I had for my meals. Just listening to them ask about my hardships made me feel a little bit of happiness, because otherwise, I was feeling very alone and low.
I have joined the Palmera village savings group where I save a little bit of money. I save 50 or 100 LRK (Approx $0.45AUD) at a time and now I have about 25,000LRK (Approx $110AUD) in my savings. Before this, I never had any savings or a bank account at all. Now that I have this 25,000LRK (Approx $110AUD) LRK saved, I can use it for an emergency loan if I need it. Going to the savings group also lets us all gather and talk without any worries, and having this money makes me very happy.
(Palmera established the village bank in her 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 women come together each week to talk, to share what is going on and support each other. This is the foundation for change because change happens in community and that is exactly what these structures support).
The Palmera team visits us often and teaches us many things. They tell us what is happening in the country and even teach us how to vote correctly in the elections, because before I did not know anything about upcoming elections.
With the support of Palmera, I am growing fruits and vegetables again. When my husband was alive, I used to do this cultivation, but I stopped after he died. Now, because the Palmera team advised and supported me, I have started my cultivation again to help with my food needs.
I have planted brinjal, chili, tomato, radish, and long beans. Before, I only ate rice and sambal, but now I can add vegetables to my meals and sell what is left over to get some income. Since I have all these vegetables like brinjal, beans, and radish in my garden, I am eating very well. I sell the extra vegetables and use that money to buy fish, meat, or eggs. Now I can eat three meals a day with vegetables and meat.
(For food security Palmera supports women to establish their own home garden, this is getting more challenging with wild monkeys, limited access to seeds and increasing pests with changing climate, because of all these challenges many do not engage in home gardens. Through your support we change that).
I also want to raise goats, so I built a goat shed with Palmera’s support and I am waiting to get an income from it.
(Palmera introduced goat rearing as an additional livelihood. It creates a sustainable source of income, bringing her hope and happiness.)
Because of this help, my daughter and I are very happy. I pray to God that the family who helped us lives well and that God blesses them. I wish you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you very much.
Our work continues with Rasaladsumi. 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.
