Empowering 100 Disadvantaged Sri Lankan Girls

Dear friends and supporters,

One young mum’s world was turned upside down when she went into premature labour and then experienced severe postnatal mental health complications, alongside epilepsy. In the chaos of that crisis, her six-year-old daughter was taken from her at the hospital and placed in an institution, while her newborn baby, whom we’ll call Amaya - was put forward for adoption. (Amaya means “strong”.)

But this story did not end in separation.

Thanks to a determined lawyer, Marini, who fought tirelessly through the courts on her behalf, this family has now been reunited and is living safely at the shelter. Today, they are together again - recovering, rebuilding, and filled with hope for the future.

And then came a moment of joy.

With a generous donation of beautiful Spitalfields Rose fabric, inspired by the heritage of the Huguenot silk weavers (thank you, Catherine Everest), this mum, who we’ll call Rania, put her brilliant dressmaking skills to work. She created stunning dresses to celebrate Sinhala New Year, alongside a young care leaver who is bravely overcoming the trauma of a lifetime in institutional care.

Stories like this remind us what’s possible when support arrives in time, and why Sri Lanka urgently needs safe, loving alternatives, including foster care, for families facing crisis.

Thank you, as always, for standing with us, and for helping keep families together when it matters most.

Warmest,

Joel