Jodhaa’s 1st Birthday

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

To my dearest friends and family,

Thank you deeply for joining me and my family in celebrating my first birthday. In case you couldn’t tell already, I love Moana! She is an island girl just like me! Aside from loving Moana for being so darn cute, I admire her for choosing to uphold the greater good above self-interest. She, luckily, was raised without culturally imposed gender constraints and was encouraged and empowered to be a leader on her island. On her journey to save her island, she displays bravery, compassion, and resilience — traits that are key to being an effective leader.

Sri Lanka, by heritage, is my island.  The people from my ancestral land are in the midst of rebuilding their lives after years of civil war, and I would love nothing more than to assist with this with all of your help. In place of a birthday gift, I’m kindly asking you to make a donation to the ‘Creating Leaders‘ project being implemented in Kandansamy Nagar by Palmera. ‘Creating Leaders’ is all about providing children and youth with critical life and employment-based skills to facilitate their transition from school into employment. I believe this project can empower the children and youth of Sri Lanka and help create some fabulous leaders who may one day help in the rebuilding process of their own village and possibly even become official village leaders just like Moana!

Please help me help them by donating to my page! In addition to your love, I would consider this the greatest birthday gift of all!

Thank you, in advance!

With all my love,

Jodhaa Parvathi Nirmalananda

Zia’s 1st Birthday

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

Hello Everyone,

Our little ZiZi baby is turning one and we wanted to celebrate her birthday by supporting a cause through Palmera. Zia is privileged to have received lots of clothes, books and toys over the last year and most importantly lots of love from all of you. We would really like to take this opportunity to help make a positive impact in someone else’s life who needs it more by supporting the Graduating the Poor project.

About Palmera:

Palmera is a not-for-profit organisation that focuses mainly on helping people in Sri Lanka who have been displaced due to the civil war. They help provide resources to those less fortunate which in turn enable them to be self-sufficient and financially independent.

About Graduating the Poor

There are women and men who live in absolute poverty in Northern Sri Lanka. The project is designed to address their immediate needs while also investing in their longer-term training, development and planning. It helps families secure the basic things like food and access to healthcare, but it also aims to build their financial resilience through savings. It also makes sure that these families are integrated in their community. At the moment, they are often very isolated, which just makes their situation even more dire.

With our help, families can find a better way to make a reliable income, therefore positively impacting current and future generations.

We hope that you can support those who are less fortunate through this campaign. We look forward to celebrating Zia’s 1st birthday with all of you.

Lots of Love,

Zia, Asha & Gowreeson xo

Yaalini Turns One

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

Our mahal (daughter) Yaalini யாழினி is turning one. She is blessed with two annahs (big brothers), family, and friends who love her and will support her grow into a strong Thamil woman. She wants for nothing. As we celebrate her first birthday we’d like to share her with women of North-East Sri Lanka who are raising strong Thamil women in difficult circumstances.

Palmera does fantastic work. Their projects reach some of the most disadvantaged communities and ignite real and sustainable change. We’ve been supporters of their work for a long time and can vouch for their integrity. We have chosen to support the Connecting to Markets project.

This project will help build thriving business farms in the village of Kanthansamy Nagar. In this village building a thriving farm costs as little as $349 per farmer; which is only $78 a year over the 5-year programme. Each of the 105 farmer will learn how to compete and be successful within the farming marketplace and the skills they learn will help them break down barriers that keep them excluded. We think that’s money well spent!

We’ve set the target at the amount both her brothers raised so please help her beat them!

Lots of love

Tammy, LP, JT, Khyilan and Yaalini

Silly Walk 2019

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

That’s me on the left (Abhi) and my mate Chiranth on the right.

This walk has been 4 years in the making! On October 5th my good mate Chiranth and I (Abhi) will be walking 100Kms in 24hours from Narrabeen Lakes in the north to Bronte Beach in the south. Why? Because we’re both pretty silly! You’d have to be to put your body through something like this.

We could have done something else that weekend… gone to the beach, watched a movie or binge watched the new season of Stranger Things but instead we’re gonna be slogging it out in the day (and night) trying to reach Bronte Beach by 1pm the next day.

Oh and if the walk wasn’t challenging enough, along the way, we’re gonna be doing even sillier challenges like sit ups at 50km, sculling a beer at 70km and whatever else you guys get us to do! See I told you we were bonkers!

We started training for this Silly Walk (#sillywalk2019) a few months back and with under 2 months to go, would love for you to join us on the business end of things as we head towards the big day on 5th October!

Ok now for the serious bit – This walk has been 4 years in the making because 4 years ago my late brother Dhananjay (DJ) conquered this same 100km walk in 24hours. He did it for many reasons but one of them was to get his mental and physical health back in order. You can see videos of him on this pursuit on our insta page (sillywalksydney). He smashed the 100kms alright and conquered many of his demons along the way too! Oh and he also raised a ton of money for this wonderful charity Palmera.

Sadly, 3 months after completing his walk, he passed away and shuffled off this mortal coil. He left behind wonderful memories for family and friends that will last us a lifetime.

One of our last few conversations before he left us, was his wish to get our family & friends out walking regularly, as he had found it therapeutic in working through his issues and he wished for others to do likewise.

I thought I’d put his advice into practice and give this walking thing a go! It’s not bad at all I tell ya!

So in this grand plan to make this 100Km walk a thing, my good mate Chiranth jumped at the chance to shoot the breeze with me for hours on end! I’m sure he’s gonna regret saying “yes” by the end of this thing. So here we are. Chiranth & I are doing a 100Km walk in 24 hours, in memory of my inspiring brother DJ, trying to get ourselves fit, and trying to raise as much money as we can for the great work that Palmera does with women in Sri Lanka, so that they have the choice, freedom and dignity in how they live their lives! This run will support the Connecting to Markets project.

This project will help build thriving business farms for 105 farmers, the farms will cost as little as $349 per farmer; which is only $78 a year over the 5-year programme. Each of the 105 farmer will learn how to compete and be successful within the farming marketplace and the skills they learn will help them break down barriers that keep them excluded from markets.

How can you get behind this grand plan

1. Start walking regularly and make it a daily habit

2. Donate however much you can and support the work that Palmera does!

3. Why not join Chiranth and I on the walk on the big day!

You can walk much you want to!? Just drop us an email or hit us up on insta.

100Km (very silly)

50Km (slightly silly)

30Km (somewhat childish)

15Km (a little bit foolish)

10Km (moderately whimsical)

5Km (rather earnest)

1Km (very serious)

Like, share and comment on the below :

email : [email protected]

facebook event – Silly Walk Sydney 2019

insta : sillywalksydney

Shayan’s 1st Birthday

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

Dear family & friends,

Our little prince is turning ONE on the 3rd of May 2018. As proud parents of Shayan we would love to help him take the 1st step to become a generous and kind-hearted person in his bright future.

The people from our ancestral land Sri Lanka are in the midst of rebuilding their lives after years of civil war and we would love nothing more than to assist them with your help. In place of a birthday gift, we are kindly requesting you to make a donation through Shayan’s 1st Birthday campaign. Donations will go to the Livelihood Kickstarter project.

In addition to your love, we would consider this the greatest birthday gift of all.

Read more about the project here.

Thank you all in advance!

Megan’s 30th Birthday

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

My 30th birthday is coming up and I’m very excited for it but not just because I get to catch up with all my awesome friends but also because its an opportunity to introduce the incredible work of Palmera. There is nothing critical missing from my life so I am asking everyone to donate the funds they would have spent on a present to a charity that is very close to my heart – Palmera.

I sit on the board of Palmera and know how hard they work. It’s one of the best run organisations I have come across, as one of a handful of smaller NFP’s accredited under DFAT for government support. The team’s diligence with governance, impact measurement, building efficient and effective operations is outstanding.

Palmera tackles very complex and systemic issues in Sri Lanka and works with the community’s most vulnerable people connecting them to economic opportunities.

I believe their sophisticated approach is what is needed for lasting results, but it does require Palmera to seek the type of donor who is intelligent and brave enough to understand that it takes time, it takes a mix of tailored solutions and approaches, and it can’t be summed up into a catch phrase like “buy a goat for a village for $50”. That goat is a band-aid when there are no vets, no fences, no market for ongoing goat farming.

They are treating the cause rather than the symptoms. This is why I am a big believer in their work and why I’m passionate about spreading the word about Palmera’s work.

Specifically the gifts you provide will support the thriving farms project. You can read a little more about that here.

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday 15th July and hope that you can support Palmera create a world where no one is left out.

Janani’s Village Experience

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

Hey friends!

My name is Janani and I am very excited to be part of a team who will be pioneering Palmera projects new initiative, the Livelihood Kickstarter project.

This will involve us travelling to Northern Villages in Sri Lanka, to work on, and learn hands-on, the foundations in building sustainable livelihood projects in war-affected areas.

The aim of this specific project is to support the training of farmers to new techniques identified in improving farming effectiveness. We will provide intensive mentoring so that in time, farmers understand and have fully adopted these improved practices. With these farmers being upskilled, they will be able to self-sustain themselves, and as a result, empower their broader community. This project will directly impact 36 small-scale farmers and indirectly benefit over 120 people.

Why are we focussing on this self-sustainable project? The purpose of these sustainable projects is to create ongoing support for individuals in war-affected areas so that they are able to create a livelihood on their own once we have left. It allows these individuals to get back on their feet, but will also help to re-empower them to rebuild their lives on their own. This will provide purpose and a level of self-worth and satisfaction, which may have been previously lost.

Although I will be covering my costs for this journey, I invite you to make a donation to this cause itself, if you feel as passionately about making self-sustainable changes that will empower people who need it most, as much I do! The Livelihood Kickstarter project.

We will keep you updated on the changes we are all making together.

Much love, Janani

Malaysian Flavours

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

The ladies at TEWO are accustomed to raising funds through theme dinners.

We love to cook. And over the years, we have raised funds through organising special theme dinners.

This 4th of July we will be hosting Selera Malaysia – A Taste of Malaysia. Malaysian Food is an elegant combination of Malay, Chinese and Indian influences. Its popularity is on the account of the subtle blending of spices that delight and surprise the palate!

Come and taste our generous spread of Malaysian food – including Nasi Kunyit, Mee Siam, Rendang, Serunding , Achar, Sambal Tumis, Roasted Chicken Wings and many, many more!

Location:

St Leonard’s Church Hall, 349 Springvale, Glen Waverley 3150

Date/Time:

Friday 4th July, 7:30 – 11pm

All proceeds will be supporting the wonderful work of Palmera!

City2Surf 2016

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

We’re back! Now in its third year, #TeamPalmeraProjects is ready to run for a cause in the 2016 City2Surf.

In our first two years, our volunteer runners have raised over $2,500 dollars to fund transformative sustainable development projects in Sri Lanka.

Palmera leaves were seen at every leg of the 14km fun run from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach as we unveiled our new running t-shirts.

JOIN US IN 2016!

This is the perfect opportunity to achieve that new year’s resolution to get fit and also make a difference by raising money for our charity.

Don’t want to run? Don’t worry, we get it…but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get involved! You can make a difference by supporting our fundraising goals. So hit that DONATE button and give what you can – every dollar counts!

We have 19 runners this year – the biggest team yet! Including:

Jeeven, Asanga, Gajaanie, Srisha, Cecile, Prashanna, Kirthica, Sankare, Mathan, Maathulan, Pranavan, Suda, Nithiya, Mavineet, Dinesh, Meera, Sambavi, Sai Priya and Sophie

Race to Raise 2019

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

On February 10th 2019, we achieved our goal: we managed to raise over $35,000 and cover the cost of Palmera working with the village of Colony for a whole year.

Let me rewind a little.

In 2019, we ran Race to Raise for the third year running. We raced through Sydney’s Central Business District to the finish line, and got sponsored to do this. We came up with this annual fundraising event to support a village in North-Eastern Sri Lanka called Colony. From the beginning, we were committed to supporting Colony for its full seven years with Palmera. Each year over the last three years, we have grown and grown. And this year, we managed to raise enough to support Colony for all of 2019.

But we didn’t do this on our own. Far from it. We were running on behalf of our 701 supporters as well as all of the villagers living in Colony.

We are overawed. We are grateful. We are beyond inspired by your generosity. Over seven hundred people believed in us; believed in Palmera; and believed in the ability of Colony’s villagers to make the most of our hand up. The villagers are made up of farmers who are dedicated to improving the quality of their cattle, women who have escaped physical and sexual violence to lead their community, and children who offer the hope of moving from a grim past to a bright future.

We did this together: Race to Raise

Emma and Ananth’s wedding

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

As our wedding approached and we began to reflect on our journey together, it re-affirmed our conviction on just how fortunate we have been to be blessed in life and love. We are extremely thankful to be able to say that we truly did not need anything besides the continued support of our family and friends and so when it came to planning on how to best use our wedding gifts, we decided that helping to share our good luck would be the ideal way to mark this joyous occasion.

We chose to use our gifts so that Palmera could complete a project that would help bring new technologies and practising so that farmers could better their practices and use better technologies to transform their farms enabling them to increase their income and help their families stand on their own two feet.

Read more about the project here 

This project had a particular interest to us, as from Emma’s upbringing on a farm she was able to appreciate some of the difficulties in developing a simple trade to making it a profitable occupation and I have witnessed the hardship of the villagers in the North-Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka trying to rebuild their lives after a devastating period. We hope this small gesture will assist these farmers to recover their livelihood and have a sustained period of good fortune.

Kyla Jay’s 1st Birthday

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

On July 6th, 2018 our lives were forever changed through the arrival of our daughter Kyla-Jay. Less than 18 months younger than her brother Elijah, she turned our already-blessed family into a complete one. Her outgoing, impulsive fearlessness captivated our hearts the moment we laid eyes on her, while her tenacity, compassion and curiosity are traits she shares with her brother.

As we reflect on how blessed we are to have Kyla-Jay in our lives, safe, healthy and happy, we are continually reminded of those who do not have what she has. And this is why we have chosen to dedicate Kyla-Jay’s 1st birthday to supporting the Graduating the Poor project.

This project identifies the 100 of the poorest in the selected area and works with them over 2 years to graduate them out of absolute poverty. The project is designed to address their immediate needs while also investing in their longer-term training, development and planning. It helps families secure the basic things like food and access to healthcare, but it also aims to build their financial resilience through savings.

This is our way of channeling some of the blessings Kyla-Jay has received, and been to us, to those who need it most.