your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
Nanthini
Donor
“To meet urgent needs, I would have to beg others for money.”
Thilakavathi lives with her husband in the Vaarkulam area of Poonagery village, in Sri Lanka’s Kilinochchi district. Their three children are grown and married, living on their own, so it’s just the two of them at home now. They are older in age and are in an age where they need to be looked after. But that’s not their story.
Her husband is bedridden, and their house is unsafe and only half built. Thilakavathi cares for him full time, which limits how much she can work. She takes on odd jobs when she can, but with no one else to help and no steady income, meeting even daily needs is a struggle.
To get by when urgent needs came up, she would ask neighbours for money. They did not always have it to give, and those were times of real bitterness and grief for her.
Despite everything, Thilakavathi keeps caring for her husband and holding the household together on her own. She wants a safe, finished home, and enough steady income that she no longer has to depend on the goodwill of neighbours to get by.
She wants the last years of their life to not be such a big struggle.
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 Nanthini,
I am well. Are you well? My name is Ramar Thilakavathi. I live in the Vaarkulam area in the Pooneryn village in the Kilinochchi district. I have three children. All three are married. Only my husband and I are currently living together. As my husband is a patient, I take care of him and also manage my work.
(At the time we met Thilakavathi, 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.)
I joined the village savings group Palmera set up. Through that, I am noticing many changes in myself. The first thing is that the group has helped me to save a sum of money in my name. Before I joined, to meet urgent needs, I would ask neighbours for money. They don’t always have it. At such times, there would be bitterness and grief. But now, it has enriched us to the extent that we don’t have to go to anyone else to fulfil our immediate needs or to carry out our livelihood.
(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.)
Not only that, but I am also able to see various good things like leadership qualities, unity, and confidence in me. I started by making soap after I learnt that skill through Palmera. Then I was also able to get two milk cows to increase my income. Now the milk cow has a calf.
(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.)
Also, many self-employment opportunities were given to many people through Palmera. LKR 5,000/= each was given for things like home gardening, chicken rearing, and soap making. Along with that, training for it was also provided. Following that, I started rearing chickens. Because of that, I now has 10 chickens. Through them I am also able to get the eggs and meat needed for my family. In addition, I sell the excess eggs, about 15 per week to make an additional income.
Also, this year I have started a home garden. Through that, since I grow the vegetables for the family myself, I am able to consume vegetables that are healthier than those from the market.
(For food security, Palmera supports women to establish home gardens and small poultry farming. 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.)
Following that, I got a loan from this group and did farming work, that is, I cultivated cotton and undertook agriculture. This has helped me to benefit through this as well. Like this, I can keep listing many more benefits received through Palmera.
(Thilakavathi 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, not just for my livelihood, but as a mentally happy matter, they celebrated my birthday by cutting a cake and giving a gift. That event remains unforgettable. By us coming together like this, as a group, a sense of unity has formed among us. Not only that, but the courage to go anywhere and speak, and leadership qualities have developed. I have developed to the level where I can take the lead in public matters. I, who used to stay inside the house, now have many opportunities to meet and talk with many women and to support them.
I thank you for the love you gave us last year. I pray to God for you to live well.
Therefore, I express my heartfelt thanks to this village savings group project, which was the reason for such changes and happiness in me, and to you who supported it, and I pray to God for you to live in good health as I conclude my letter.
Thank you,
Thilakavathi
Our work continues with Thilakavathi. 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.
