Sri Lanka

We are pleased to welcome back Tim and Liz Westbrook, members of the Bath Abbey family, who have finished a two-year voluntary assignment in Sri Lanka. Far from signifying the end of their involvement, Tim and Liz continue to maintain strong links with Hambantota where they were living. Your help remains essential to ensure their efforts and the various initiatives they worked on continue to make a difference to the women and families who live there.

One such initiative, now completed, was a development project implemented by the Women’s Development Federation, a local women’s charity, building toilets and kitchens in one of the poorest parts of Hambantota. As a result of our Harvest Appeal, the day-to-day lives of many families like eight-year-old Mary and her siblings have changed remarkably. They originally lived in a leaky shack and were rehoused into basic government housing which had neither of these amenities.  For the first time, they are now experiencing the benefits of having a kitchen and toilet in their home.

Your support also ensured the success of the pilot scheme for the development of livelihood activities for women-headed families, established in 2009. Thanks to the vital training and funding they received, these women are able to use their own skills and initiative to develop small businesses working from home. We are thrilled to report that all nine women in the original scheme are doing well including Ranjanie, who managed to increase her monthly income from 6,000 to 10,000 rupees (£34 to £57) by selling groceries in her small shop as well as clothing which she makes herself. This means she can now afford adequate food for her family as well as pay for necessary schooling and medical costs.

In 2010 funding went to Rebuilding Sri Lanka, a UK charity which works with disadvantaged communities throughout the country. With your support, it is providing humanitarian assistance in Hambantota to 30 women-headed families for basic necessities including food and medicine. These families are also learning how to develop productive home gardens and to start their own businesses using the experience gained in the pilot scheme. So far 12 women are already benefiting. Priyanka and her daughter are a typical example, saving 350 rupees (£2) a week which is almost half of their weekly food bill!

The success of these schemes is largely down to the hard work and dedication of Mr Wanniarachchi (Wanni) who manages these voluntarily, so that virtually all the donations can go directly towards start-up equipment and training. Wanni plans eventually to extend these programmes so that as many local women in similar circumstances as possible can develop sustainable incomes and not have to rely on handouts.

Please help Wanni to continue his work by donating generously and by praying for his work with these extremely needy families.