your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
Renata
Donor
“We went through days of eating just one meal and hungry for food.”
Saranya lives in Poonagery, in Sri Lanka’s Kilinochchi district, with her husband and their two children, ages 11 and 5. She depends on her husband’s income to get by, looking after the children at home and taking care of them. He struggles with drinking and doesn’t go to work regularly, so the money coming into the house is never steady.
And violence is a part of daily life at home.
Saranya rarely goes to public places or speak to anyone. Her focus is her children. “I only live for my children,” she says.
Their house is still not finished. It has no windows or doors, and the well has not been fully built. Getting through each day means finding enough food and care for two children with money that could run out at any time.
On the days her husband doesn’t earn, there isn’t enough food to go around. Saranya and her family goes through days of being half-fed and days of being hungry. There are no savings to fall back on for tomorrow’s needs.
When she borrows from neighbors or nearby shops to get by, they would not lend her more if she hadn’t yet repaid what she already owed. So she makes an effort to pay back what they owe somehow. That leaves her with no way forward when the money runs out and four hungry mouths to feed
Despite all this, Saranya works hard every day to care for her children. Making sure they eat at least once a day. She wants a finished home, with windows, doors, and a proper well, and she wants to know that her children will always have enough to eat and be able to complete their education. That is her dream. That is what she is working toward.
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 Renata,
My name is S. Saranya. We pray to God every day that you too are well and healthy. I live with my two children in a place called in the Kilinochchi district, in a place called Markkandu Road. We are all well here.
My eldest daughter is in Grade 07 and my second son is in Grade 01. I am writing to you about the changes that have occurred due to the help I received from you with the aim of improving my family’s income, and also as a way of expressing my gratitude and to let you know about my progress.
Before I joined the village savings group, I depended solely on my husband’s income. He doesn’t get work every day of the week. With the income he earned from his labor, I managed household food expenses and the children’s education expenses. The food was not enough for us on all days. We went through days of being half-fed and days of being hungry. We had no savings for tomorrow’s needs. Because of this, my husband’s income was never enough. Sometimes, when I borrowed from neighbors’ houses and nearby shops, if I hadn’t paid back a previous loan, they wouldn’t give me another one. This was the state of my family.
(At the time we met Saranya, her family was struggling with the deep poverty. 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.)
In the year 2021, following the advice of a Palmera staff member in our area. After discussions with 15 women, a village savings group was formed and organized under the name ‘Amman village savings Group’. In the beginning, I saved a small amount (50-100) from my husband’s income. Some weeks, I was unable to save. After I started my own business, I was able to save continuously and also had the means to repay the loan I had taken.
(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.)
Also, before, I didn’t go out to public places. I used to be afraid to even speak with government officials or the school principal. Now, our village savings group meets every week. We all sit in a circle so we can see each other, and each week a different person leads the meeting. This happens on a rotational basis. Because of this, when it’s my turn to lead, I do it very well and with great enthusiasm. This has made me able to speak without fear with anyone about my own opinions and group-related matters. In the village savings group, there are now savings of up to 50,000/=. I have taken a loan of 88,000/= and purchased a sewing machine.
Also, the situation I was in at the beginning regarding food is no longer the case. I am cultivating a small home garden. And I am also continuously cultivating groundnuts.
(Palmera focuses on peanuts because it is a profitable sector that many in the region were not able to profitably engage in. What was needed was to address many last mile agricultural barriers including new practices, technologies, access to quality seeds and collective purchasing of inputs and selling, all activities that we are supporting Saranya with.)
With the loan I took from the village savings group, I also purchased a cow and am raising it. Therefore, in addition to giving my children the cow’s milk to drink, through producing organic vegetables and milk, we are consuming nutritious food. Through joining the village savings group, training classes on home gardening and savings were provided. Through this, I was able to set up a home garden in a small yard and get vegetables.
After giving the milk from the cow to my children, I sell the remaining 2 litres of milk a day. Along with that, I also prepare and sell pickles and sun-dried chilies in buttermilk. Because of this, I don’t have to buy vegetables, eggs, or milk from outside. My children eat nutritious and healthy food three times a day. Now, there is no need to ask for credit at the shop.
(For food security, Palmera helps women start home gardens and dairy farming with milk cows. This is becoming harder because of wild monkeys, trouble finding good seeds, and more pests caused by the changing climate. Because of these struggles, many families find it difficult to keep a garden or raise animals. Through your support, we are changing that, helping families grow their own healthy food and earn a steady income from selling their vegetables and milk.)
Furthermore, although I knew how to sew before, I didn’t do it. I also didn’t have a sewing machine. After joining the village savings group, a sewing training class was provided with financial assistance from the Palmera project. I participated in it and received the sewing training, and afterwards, I got a loan from the village savings group, purchased a sewing machine, and now I stitch clothes for women and children to order.
Because of this, I am able to repay the group loan properly, and I can also independently cover my children’s education expenses and the cost of buying new clothes. I have also stitched my own clothes and my children’s clothes
(Saranya 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.)
Also, by joining the group, I have served as the book-keeper and am also responsible for the savings. I am also involved and active in several other groups in the village. I, who used to be afraid and wouldn’t come out into the community, who lived only for ‘my family,’ am now able to do things that are needed for the community. Now I am able to meet government officials without fear.
And in the future, I will purchase quality fabric at a low price, stitch clothes, and sell them to the saree shop in the village and to the people in the village. I have also decided to buy cotton fabric for stitching children’s clothes in bulk, stitch the clothes, and sell them.
I do not know you. And you do not know me. Yet, you came forward to help me. Because of this, there has been a socio-economic change in my family and in myself. You are helping many other women like me to progress, and for that, I express my heartfelt thanks to you.
Sincerely,
Saranya
Our work continues with Saranya. 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.
