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