Rebuilding Livelihoods in Sri Lanka

International Medical Health Organization (IMHO)

Leading the Way Forward…

Working to Restore Livelihoods for Resettled Families in Sri Lanka

With just $200 you can provide a sewing machine to a woman in need to help her secure a regular source of income. Not only does this help to empower her to provide for her family, it also restores a sense of purpose and self‐worth that often gets lost during times of crisis or hardship.

Lives Take Shape Again with Microfinance & Micro‐Grants

With the resettlement of war‐affected persons in Vanni, there still remains much to be done in serving this vulnerable demographic and bringing them to their feet again. The loss of property and livelihoods remains a major obstacle in the way of these persons restarting their lives with confidence and with the tools to succeed. Small‐scale microfinance efforts have helped people worldwide to emerge from poverty and reclaim their lives, their health, and their futures. The opportunity arose last year for such efforts to be undertaken in the war‐affected regions of Sri Lanka, to assist those in need in returning to a situation of economic stability. Whether these persons engage in agriculture, animal breeding, poultry farming, small‐ scale business, or any other industry, access to micro‐grants, education on microfinance, and mobilization of persons into small collectives leads to empowerment and income generation. Such income generation holds the key to meeting the needs of one's family, upgrading the standard of living, and returning to a sense of normalcy. It also helps to address many of the psychological stressors and mental health issues that have emerged on account of recent events. With such great loss and suffering, mental disorders and suicide rates have spiked in the post‐conflict period.

Microfinance efforts are crucial to helping people in need to rebuild their lives. Given this pressing need, IMHO committed to a number of efforts in this regard, including:

1. Survivors Associated—SA, an organization with a strong track record in carrying out vocational training projects, has been implementing a project in the resettled areas of Mannar & Kilinochchi areas since last year to benefit 90 people. This project included training “Small‐scale microcredit efforts have helped 20 people each in the industries of masonry, people worldwide to emerge from poverty and carpentry, and tailoring, and another 30 trained reclaim their lives, their health, and their futures.” in starting small businesses, all over a course of 3‐months. Upon completion of the training, equipment was given to the beneficiaries to carry on with their work. IMHO committed $10,000 towards this end.

2. Magasakthy & Yougasakthy Women’s Federations—IMHO Canada gave $5,000/each (or $10,000 total) to these two local nonprofits, which themselves are headed by women that were left deeply affected and impoverished by the conflict in the Northeast.

3. Kalmunai Mental Health Society (KAMHA)—Thanks to the dedication and creativity of a few hard‐ working individuals, KAMHA served as the sponsor for many efforts in 2010 to address all the needs of target families, focusing on one village at a time. IMHO gave $9,500 total for various micro‐grants and vocational training efforts that have helped an initial 19 families to restart their livelihoods in Kilinochchi.

These families were from a severely disadvantaged socioeconomic background and were simply hoping to rebuild their lives now that the war is over. With this small amount of capital, they were able to purchase equipment and other resources that helped them to start small industries in such vocational fields as carpentry, poultry, three‐wheeler driver, selling dried fish, farming, etc. After just 3 months, these families started to pay back approx. Rs. 1,100/month with a 98% rate of return. IMHO has also been supporting a tailoring course for mental health clients from Kilinochchi, which was initiated on September 27, 2010.

These women are now collectively paying their sewing teacher’s salary with some of their returns. Upon completion of their program, they will be given a small amount to establish their own small business.

With funds left over after these initial efforts, a tuition center was also established for students from Grade 3 to GCE O/L. At present, there are around 100 students benefiting from this center, each of which contributes just a small amount to keep the center running. The newly constructed Vasantham Vocational Training Unit (VVTU) at the Kalmunai Hospital Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit was also officially opened on October 9, 2010 as part of their World Mental Health Day celebration.

It is important to put a face on the people who are benefiting from these efforts, as their stories and successes are truly what matter. Here is a brief glimpse of a few of the people who have received micro‐grants from IMHO:

1. Mr. Mannivannan is the head of household for 4 families now taking shelter in his home. In addition to their losses, his aunt was also burned following a bomb blast, and his brother has been unable to work—both of which add extra burdens to his ability to care for all under his roof. He received Rs. 50,000 to start a cattle farm. His sister‐in‐law, who still does not know what happened to her husband after the chaos at the end of the war, also received Rs. 50,000 to start a poultry farm.

2. Mrs. Nagamma, who lost her husband and her two brothers, received a sewing machine at a cost of Rs. 20,000.

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3. Mrs. Maniyam lost her grandson and her daughter in a shell blast.

She received Rs. 50,000 for poultry farming, so that she could construct shelters for her chickens.

4. Ms. Venitha is coping with a spinal cord injury, including a severely weakened left leg and loss of control of her foot. Her family received Rs. 30,000 to purchase a water pump for agriculture.

5. Mr. Rangan lost his 2 sons in a shell blast. He received a grant to purchase a sewing machine and start a small shop.

6. A bomb blast took the lives of the father and brother of Mr. Jeyakumar, and left his son deeply injured. As a mechanic, he will use the Rs. 30,000 he received to purchase new tools to continue his work.

7. Mr. Babu received Rs. 50,000 to settle the leasing of his three‐ wheeler, enabling him to return to work and a feeling of self‐worth.

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So far the news has been incredibly positive—the microfinance & livelihoods 7 empowerment initiatives sponsored by IMHO have already produced noticeable results. Those who have benefited from this effort have seen an improvement in their overall well being, thanks to the true dedication and hard work of our local partners. For those who have started poultry farms, the hens have started laying eggs. For those who have opened small businesses, the returns are starting to come in. There are many such similar stories, testimonies to the perseverance of the human spirit and to the power of giving. Together we truly can make an impact...

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