your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
Winitha
Donor
“We live in a small, temporary hut made out of tin sheets with our 10-month-old baby.”
Sutharshini lives in a village called Elankopuram in the East of Sri Lanka with her husband and their two sons. They do not have a real house yet, so they are staying in a small hut made out of tin sheets. It’s a very simple place for a family, especially with a ten-month-old baby and an older boy who is already in school. Sutharsini has a lot of pain in her joints that does not go away, which makes it hard for her to do everything for the kids and the house.
Her husband goes out to find work as a laborer, but he doesn’t get work every day. Since the work only happens once in a while, they never really know if they will have enough money for the week or not.
They have a hard time buying what the baby needs and paying for school expenses for their older son. Things like notebooks and pens cost a lot, and sometimes they have to struggle just to make sure there is enough food for everyone to eat.
Even though living in a tin hut is difficult and the work is not steady, they are doing everything they can to keep their oldest son in his classes. They really want him to stay in school and get an education.
Sutharshini and her husband are working hard with what they have to look after their boys and find a way to get a more stable home for their family, so that the children can grown up safe and have enough to eat.
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.
I am Sutharshini Piridharan from Ilangapuram village. My family has four members, including my husband and two sons who are still in school. My husband suffers from joint pain and cannot work much, so our family was living in deep poverty. We struggled so much just to pay for medicine, buy food, and meet our basic daily needs.
Then Palmera came to our village and started a village savings group. I joined a group and started saving a little bit of money every month.
(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.)
Initially through this group I received rice for my food need.
Then Palmera supported us to start a fruit and vegetable cultivation and raise chickens. Because of the fruit and vegetable cultivation and the chickens, my children are now getting healthy food to eat.
(For food security, Palmera supports women to establish home gardens and small poultry farms. This is becoming more challenging with wild monkeys, limited access to seeds, and increasing pests due to changing climate. Because of these challenges, many do not engage in home gardening and poultry. Through your support, we are changing that, helping families grow their own food and earn an income from what they produce.)
Palmera supported us in many other ways too. My children and my family were suffering because we did not have a proper toilet, but after seeing our situation, they helped us fix it. Now my family can use the toilet without any of the old difficulties.
I have saved 32,000LKR (Approx $145 Aud) in my savings group, named the Thulasi savings group, and I also took a small loan of 20,000 LKR (Approx $90 Aud) from the group to continue and grow our farming. I can manage my household needs through this income. We have received many benefits from our village savings group. I feel very happy when I go to my village savings group meetings.
Recently, Palmera looked at our situation again and supported us to raise additional income. They supported us to buy five goats and built a goat shed for me. They even gave me training on how to take care of the goats. I am determined to breed these goats well to increase my family’s income further and become a good example in my village.
(Palmera introduced goat rearing as a second livelihood. It creates a sustainable source of income, bringing her hope and happiness.)
When we had no income and were in a very hard situation, the family of Winitha Bonney helped us with such a big heart and kindness. My family and I will always be thankful to them and to everyone who helped us. I pray to God that they all live a long and very blessed life.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Sutharshini
Our work continues with Sutharshini. 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.
