Empowering 100 Disadvantaged Sri Lankan Girls

Dear friends and supporters,

Finally, after months of lockdowns, Sri Lanka is now open for tourists and business, but now it is feared the country is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis.

The government recently declared a state of economic emergency, with food, fuel and gas scarcity and 11% inflation which is affecting the once well off as well as the poor. An estimated half a million more people are now living below the poverty line, and child trafficking, child marriages, child slavery and domestic abuse cases have risen sharply.

Life is unimaginably difficult for the 100 girl victims we support who live in a very confined space in an institution. Our vocational training teachers have not been allowed inside for several months in order to protect the girls and staff from the spread of the virus.

We were determined to find a solution and requested permission from National Childcare Probation services some time ago to install WIFI and technology to provide classes online.

There have been many delays due to ongoing lockdowns, but at last, we are able to share the news that finally this project is up and running and is already providing a lifeline to the girls to enable them to continue with their education

The TFT Heartbeat Centre continues to keep abused single mothers and their children out of institutions and provides safe shelter and access to justice. As well as continuing their English, art and music classes which the girls love, they have also recently been learning tie-dyeing techniques for potential income generation.

One young mother is now participating in work experience to support staff there, while she continues her studies to become a lawyer.

Thank you again for your donations and continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Joel