Empowering War Widowed Women in Sri Lanka

PAKKIYAM – A SUCCESS STORY

Pakkiyam (45) lives in Vellamaichenai, a remote village located nearly 40km away from Batticaloa town. Her husband died 15 years ago leaving her with a one-year-old daughter and no access to an income to make ends meet.

To provide for her and her daughter, Pakkiyam began goat rearing and vegetable cultivation, both of which did not yield a sufficient income. Even though she was discouraged by her lack of success, she worked tirelessly to make her business work for her daughter’s sake. However, due to the lack of skills and knowledge her efforts did not yield her a sufficient income to tend to her daughter’s needs, including her education. As a result, Pakkiyam was forced to discuss with the Divisional Secretariat office and arrange to send her daughter to a child care institution when she was 12 years old, so that she would be looked after.

Through this project, Pakkiyam was provided with poultry, as well as training on business skills development and disaster resilience in livelihood. She now engages in poultry farming, as well as continuing goat rearing and vegetable cultivation through home gardening, and is able to run her business more confidently. The project also linked her with the veterinary officer and agriculture officer, who she would be able to approach for any future technical guidance and assistance that she needs to successfully continue her business.

As a result of the project, Pakkiyam’s monthly income has been increased by 50%. And Pakkiyam says that, she is now able to bring her daughter home and she can finally have a family. “I hope to build a safer house for the two of us and provide for her education as well as save for her future.” Said Pakkiyam.

• Empowering_war_widows_Progress_Case_Study_2.pdf (PDF)