When women take over the economy of their village, everything changes. Family life, health, education, social and civic life all are strengthened. The YMCA village women's program is a mix of micro finance, empowerment, and community organization. For a decade, groups of 20 women have been organized in east Sri Lanka - one village at a time. You can support expansion to one of the next two villages.
When women are kept from full participation in the economy of their village very few if any resources are invested in children, education, health and civic engagement. When the role of women is turned around, they take leadership in their own small businesses and invest in family priorities - children, health and education. They work together. They set village priorities and everything changes. The challenge is to develop facilitation leadership within the villages of the district.
The YMCA micro finance and women's empowerment program has resulted in dramatic changes in dozens of villages in east Sri Lanka over the last decade. The micro finance piece is well funded. The need for donations today is to support women who are being recruited and trained by the Y to start new groups in new villages and to facilitate the weekly meetings and help women work together in ways unique to each village. The goal is not just a stronger economy but also a stronger society.
This project will expand the program by two villages underwriting expenses for the first full year of each group. Forty women will change life for all families in two villages. This will be led by local women trained and supervised by the district YMCA, increasing the long-term potential for stability throughout the district. Cultural value shifts take time. This project builds on a successful history while aimed at strengthening the future.
