your family update

“My child was in hospital and my husband didn’t have work. It was very difficult for us.”

Thanushiya lives in Karpanai in Sri Lanka’s East with her husband, her mother, and her six-year-old child. She stays at home and looks after the house and the child. Her husband is the only one earning, and his work is not steady. Some days he gets work, some days he doesn’t. Right now, he has gone to another district for work and will come back only when the work there is done.

When he is working, he sends around 35 thousand rupees a month. But that is barely enough for their necessities. Sometimes they need more. And it’s hard to manage, especially when there is no work.

During those times, she borrows money and gets food from the shop on credit. When money comes in, they try to pay it back. Sometimes she also borrows from her mother to manage their daily needs.

She shared about a time when her child was in the hospital for twelve days. At that time, her husband also didn’t have work. There was no income, but they had to spend on travel and food. Her mother helped by sending food and helping with some costs, and her husband went to the hospital every day.

Even now, most of what they earn goes for food and daily expenses. She said it’s hard to even buy clothes sometimes. Their house needs some fixing. The kitchen is not in good condition, and she wants to repair it. But they aren’t able to.

But Thanushiya works hard. She makes sure her child goes to school. She keeps managing the loans and the house as best as she can. Her husband keeps going for work wherever he can find it so that the family has enough to eat.

Their house needs some fixing. The kitchen is not in good condition. She makes sure her child goes to school. She keeps managing the loans and the house as best as she can. Her husband keeps going for work wherever he can find it.

When she talks about the future, Thanushiya says “I want to fix this house, especially the kitchen, and I want my child to study and become a teacher.”