Empowering 100 Disadvantaged Sri Lankan Girls

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Loss of freedom and isolation has affected almost every human being on the planet during the Covid 19 pandemic. None more so than victimized young girls, who are rejected by their families and locked up in confined and oppressive institutions to ‘protect’ them from their abusive perpetrators. All dignity and human rights are lost, often for years,

In the 21st century, this situation seems absurd, and to many unbelievable, but it’s true, and we are advocating at a national level for system change to introduce an alternative family and foster care policy, to end institutionalization for all children.

As part of this theory of change model, we have set up the TFT Heartbeat Centre to provide probono lawyering, safe shelter, and education, to keep single mothers and their babies together, and innocent girls out of institutions. This TFT project can be found under gender equality if you would like to donate.

While this archaic system does exist, amazing GlobalGiving supporters like you have helped us to give a voice and provide vital life skills and opportunities in the way of emotional support, schooling, and vocational training in preparation for the outside world, to help them successfully survive and thrive when they are released at 18 years old. Without self-esteem and education, the alternative is often crime, prostitution, and suicide.

Covid-19 cases are rising rapidly in Sri Lanka, schools are closed indefinitely, and only government workers are allowed to work inside state institutions, which means our IT, sewing, embroidery, and bakery teaching classes have disappointingly had to pause again.

Thankfully the girls have been allowed to continue to use the TFT bakery with skills already learned, and this has been their greatest pleasure during these unimaginably difficult times.

On a positive note, we are very pleased to report that we have finally received permission from the government to install WiFi and the technology needed to provide online classes, which will not only mean that we can expand our vocational training programme, but 20 girls who are studying O’levels with the schoolbooks we provide, will now have the facility to reconnect with their schools and complete their examinations.

Thank you again for each of your donations and continued support.

Kind regards,
Joel

Dear Friends and Supporters,

In November classes were put on hold again due to a high number of COVID-19 cases in the community, and last week, they could finally resume. In 2021 we expect cases to go down and with that volunteers will be able to visit again, to continue the teaching of art, music, drama, meditation, self-defence and to provide careers advice and counselling.

Thanks to your support we are creating educational opportunities for disadvantaged girls who are victims of violence and abuse, and are placed in harmful institutionalised care for their ‘protection’.

Sometimes, against all the odds, and with the worst possible start in life, they excel, and we are so pleased to share the news that Tharushi* has passed her GCE O’level with distinction, and completed her MS office and software technical knowledge qualification.

She dreams to further her education outside of the institution, and as she is now 18 years old, we plan to support ambitious girls like Tharushi* in 2021, in a safe transition home to empower, educate and elevate her into the workplace through an apprenticeship or job. At the same time, we are developing a foster care pilot, to place girls into loving families, so they can flourish in society, and begin the lives they deserve.

Thank you again for each of your donations and support.

Kind regards,

Joel