your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
Shangavi
Donor
“To even have a little water to drink, we have to pay.”
Sathiyavathani lives in Kilinochchi district with her husband and their three children. They live without a permanent home, and there is no toilet or water facility. She has to pay just to fetch water for the family.
Both Sathiyavathani and her husband work as wage labourers, but their combined income is barely enough to cover her children’s education and the family’s food needs. It is a constant struggle to make ends meet.
Before she was married, Sathiyavathani used to make and sell her own dairy products, but she had to give that up once she married, losing a source of income and independence she once had. She also keeps mostly to herself, focusing only on her own family, with no one else to really turn to. She finds it difficult to interact with others or speak to them.
But Sathiyavathani keeps working, doing what she needs to do, to provide for her children and hold the household together. When we ask her about her future, she says that she wants to build something of her own again, and to give her children a steady education without the constant struggle to afford it.
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 Shangavi,
Are you well? I pray to God for you to live well. My name is Krishnakumar Sathiyavathani. I live in the Kilinochchi District.
I have 3 children. My husband is a labourer. The income from my husband’s work was barely enough to cover the educational needs of my 3 children and the food needs of my family, and it was a great struggle.
(At the time we met Sathiyavathani, her family was struggling with the deep poverty. With yours and 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 this situation, I joined the Manimekalai village savings group in the Paramankirai division with a saving of 100 rupees. After joining the group, when I needed money for my children’s education and for food when my husband was out of work, I went to my group and got loans to fulfil my needs. This help gave me great peace of mind, and the support of the group members gave me courage.
(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 on and support each other. This is the foundation for change because change happens in community and that is exactly what these structures support.)
For this, I express my thanks to my group.
Before joining the village savings group, I didn’t talk to anyone. My life was just about me and my family. After joining the group, in the initial period, I would just make my savings payment at the group and come back home. I did not have any leadership qualities to take on and carry out a responsibility. After a few months went by like this, I started taking on some responsibilities in the group. To be specific, I was doing things like maintaining the individual passbooks, calculating the group’s subscription fees and interest payments, and announcing them to the members. After some time, I am now taking on responsibilities like updating the main ledger and being in charge of the cash-in-hand. I have made it my goal to carry out the responsibilities I have undertaken properly. I am very happy that I have developed my leadership skills from this.
I am very happy.
In the period before my marriage, I used to produce and sell dairy products. But after marriage, I was pushed into a situation where I could not continue my business.
But now, I have planned to start a business of buying milk from the members in the group, making dairy products, and selling them. I am determined that I will start my business very soon and, with the income I get from it, I will raise my economic status. I am happy to express my gratitude to my group, which taught me all these resources, skills, good experiences, and great humanity.
(For food security, Palmera helps women start dairy farming with milk cows. This is becoming more challenging with increasing diseases due to the changing climate. Because of these challenges, many do not engage in raising animals. Through your support, we are changing that and helping families earn a steady income from selling milk.)
Thank you, Shangavi. The support you provided has been a great help to me and for the growth and change in my family. I am happy to thank you for selecting my family. I pray to God that you and your family may live with health, happiness, and long life.
Thank you.
Sathyavathani
Our work continues with Sathiyavathani. 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.
