Projects -  2. Economic, Political and Social Empowerment of Women Affected by the Tsunami Matara/Tangalle

Geographic locations

Polhena and Tangalle Divisional Secretariats in the Matara and Hambanthota Districts

Components of the project

1 Mobilize women in small groups Currently there are 101small groups with a membership of 618 women

• Weekly meetings of small groups are held and each small group operates as a micro credit home bank
• Building solidarity among women
• Skills development
• Conflict resolution
• Awareness-raising activities

2 Kantha Shakthi Development Collectives- the Collectives were set up in October and currently there are 2 Collectives, the total accumulated capital of these two Collectives as at 31st December 2006 is LKR 4,40,475.88 and the total value of loans issued in three loans units by 31st December 2006 is 125000.

2.1. Collectives operate as community banks from which women are able to take bigger loans for self employment activities
• Monthly meetings of the Collectives are held

2.2. Economic Empowerment Activities

1. Women hold sales and exhibitions of their products

2. Educational Workshops

3. The themes of the workshops are as follows


• Women’s rights within the framework of major international conventions and Sri Lanka constitution and women’s charter
• International women’s movement
• Violence against women
• Feminist power and decision making
• Women and the Economy
• Ethnic conflict
• Forum theatre training


4. Discussion kits

Themes for discussion kits are as follows

• Are women inferior to men? Why? How?
• Sex and gender
• Why women can’t do certain jobs?
• Motherhood , power and powerlessness
• Is marriage a way of living for women ?
• What is happiness?
• Are you Miss or Mrs?
• What is violence against women
• Social attitudes to violence against women
• Physical health
• Mental health
• Reproductive health
• Law and daily life
• International women’s day
• Puberty ceremonies and the rights of the girl child
• What is virginity?
• What is character?
• Feminism
• Useful information
• Women’s rights

FOR INFORMATION - MOBILISING WOMEN FOR RECONSTRUCTION POST TSUNAMI

January 2005 – June 2006

Activities in 2005

• Data collection
A needs assessment was done to gather information about the living standards of the people after the Tsunami.

• Facilitated access to relief goods and services
The social mobilizers helped the people to gain access to relief goods and services provided by the government and other relief and aid organizations

• Counseling and Trauma counseling programmes to help the women to cope with grief and loss
The social mobilizers were given training in trauma counseling by recognized psychologists. The social mobilizers in turn spoke to the women and identified those who were in need of counseling and directed them to counsellors.

• Special programmes to help the women to deal with grief and loss
Special religious observances were organized, on their request, to heal the minds of the victims of the Tsunami

• Build solidarity among women
Small group system helped women to group together and take part in common activities

• Build social networks of women
The social relationships that were disturbed because of the Tsunami were rebuilt by various festivals and community activities.

• Excursions
Trips were organized to enable the women to relax, overcome monotony and sorrow. They were taken to the sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy to soothe their grieving minds in a way they sought it and the botanical gardens in Peradeniya .

• Monthly discussion forums
The small group members partook in monthly discussion forums to discuss their problems, to find common solutions, hold awareness-raising activities and to discuss future activities etc.

• Mobilized women in small groups
Women have been mobilized in small groups and the current membership of both areas approximate 618 in 101 groups

• Small groups operate micro credit schemes

• Women started self employment projects.

• Education and Training
Capacity building for social mobilisers
Training in Small Business Management
Trauma Counselling
Training in Batik (tie and dye) art
Food technology
Floriculture
Making Stuffed toys

7. Future Activities

• Continuation of ongoing activities of small groups and Kantha Shakthi development collectives
• Vocational training
• Campaign on International Women’s Day
• Community discussion forums
• Capacity building of social mobilisers
• Field visits
• Exchange programmes
• New expansion