your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
Rujanthen mahalingam
Donor
When we met Sunthari, it was evident that life had become extremely challenging for her and her husband. Their two children are married and no longer provide support, leaving the couple to manage everything on their own. Her husband suffers from a serious kidney problem and must visit Kilinochi Hospital three times a month, but they cannot afford the transportation or medical expenses. To survive, Sunthari sells appam, but the income is very limited and barely enough to meet their daily food needs. Their living conditions are fragile, and each day brings new worries about health, food, and basic necessities.
Despite these difficulties, Sunthari’s spirit remains strong. She expressed that with help in agriculture or a small livelihood project, they could generate a steady income, manage medical costs, and live with more stability and hope. She dreams of a life where she can support her husband, maintain their home, and cover essential expenses without constant worry. Meeting Sunthari highlighted her resilience, courage, and determination to survive despite immense hardship, and the difference that timely support can make in restoring dignity and hope in her life.
Before, I had been permanently residing in the village of Manikapuram for more than 35 years.
I have now joined the Village Savings Group introduced by Palmera and have been able to save a small amount of money through it.
I was really struggling, I received various trainings from the savings group. Among them, fruit and vegetable cultivation training was particularly important for me. I now cultivate fruits and vegetables and this helps with my family’s food needs.
Palmera Savings group is a place for women to come together to learn financial literacy, save and use their collective savings to revolve loans for urgent needs and to improve their businesses. A key part of these groups is for women to share their personal challenges and their shared collective challenges as women and in these safe spaces, women have seen so much value. In addition to this, we focus on food security working through these groups to ensure each family understand how to produce diverse foods and have the technical capacities and the motivation to cultivate. In most of the homes when we arrive, they are not cultivating a home garden.
Following the death of my husband, I was in a very difficult financial situation and was unable to generate income. To significantly increase my income, I received assistance from Palmera to plant 100 betel saplings. I now sell 150 betel leaves daily at 5 LKR per leaf, earning an income of 750 LKR per day (approx. $4 AUD). I am now happily able to meet my basic needs.
Once women are engaged in groups and households are food secure, we introduce their first livelihood, supporting a pathway to earn a living income that is suited to their skills and local market demand. This includes technical training and an initial grant, but most importantly, sustained accompaniment and encouragement.
Many women discontinue their businesses not because of a lack of ability, but because the mindset shift required is profound, something that can be difficult to fully appreciate in Western contexts. Through the women’s bank, ongoing capital needs are met via group revolving funds, alongside continued encouragement to build confidence and persistence over time.
I express my heartfelt gratitude to Rujanthen Mahalingam, who willingly provided this assistance, and I pray to God that he may live a long life filled with peace and happiness.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Sunthari
Our work continues with Sunthari. While she may appear able to stand on her own two feet, lasting change takes time. We will walk alongside her for one more year before letting go of her hand and it is this continued accompaniment that makes all the difference. This is possible because of you. Thank you.
