Women’s Development Centre (WDC)
Women’s development censtaff were waiting for us when we arrived first thing in the morning to discuss the programmes they are working on and which we are supporting. Suzana and Gill were given a tour of the centre by Chandrathilika. I had a great opportunity to catch up with the women working there. We even visited the room that Joe, my son, and I stayed in when we volunteered back in 2013 when he was only 10. This was lovely to see and the view from the balcony is still amazing of course.
Sthree social enterprise
From here we went to Sthree, a social enterprise initiated by WDC to economically empower women and individuals with disabilities in Sri Lanka. All the goods are made by local women in the surrounding areas and by women and girls affected by GBV living in a shelter. Each of us of course bought lots of the handmade goods to bring home for friends and family which include scarves, wooden crafts, a painting, earrings and other small items. If you are in Sri Lanka you must visit Sthree.
Krystyna’s wonderful weaving
Krys said she had a great first day volunteering at the refuge. She watched a young girl weave tea towels on a floor loom and who was very skilled and very quick. She saw some of the items they’d made already and then helped some girls and women warp up some rigid heddle looms. These were the looms we’d raised funds for just before Covid broke out and Krys was prevented from coming out. Her plan tomorrow is to teach some girls who are new to weaving and they will have a chance to try the new peglooms.
Further sponsorship – I’m now at 94% of my £30,000 target thanks to two recent very large donations with 6 days left to go! If you’d like to help me to help those who have various forms of need in Sri Lanka, whilst being assured every penny will get to those who need it, then please donate by clicking on this link. Don’t forget if you’re a tax payer to declare gift aid when doing so which will increase your donation by 25% at no cost to you. Alternatively, if you know of anyone or any organisation who may have an interest in this cause please share this blog link with them. And, if you’d like to get involved in anyway please get in touch with me at marciasummers@hotmail.com
Next up: trekking the Pekoe Trail in the tea plantations
If you missed the last blog here it is