MNT has long been an ardent supporter of initiatives focused on women empowerment. We are delighted to have funded multiple of these initiatives across the Batticaloa District, to train and enable women to secure their livelihoods.
The first is in a village called Vavunatheevu in the Batticaloa District. For generations, most of the women in this village have made baskets, mats, handbags, and hats from Palmyra palm leaves, which has been their main source of income. However, over the past few decades, plastic and other synthetic materials have become widely available, leading to a decline in the Palmyra weaving cottage industry. To help revive this industry, we have hired an instructor to teach the craft of Palmyra weaving, and are currently conducting a training course at the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office in Vavunatheevu. Thirty young women have enrolled in this program. At the end of the training, we plan to award them certificates and provide a small financial grant to help them start their own businesses.
The second, is in the village of Palaiyadithona has a women’s group called the Mother Supportive Group, which operates under the MOH office in Kiran. One of their ongoing projects is sewing gowns for pregnant mothers and baby clothes, which they sell at a very low cost. The small profit they earn is shared among the members. However, with only one sewing machine, their productivity was limited. To support their efforts, we purchased an additional sewing machine along with essential accessories to help them work more efficiently.
Lastly, the same group initiated the production of natural soap made from aloe vera, neem, and other herbal ingredients. Each soap is handcrafted by the women themselves. To support their initiative, we provided them with a small handheld machine for mixing soap, as well as essential materials such as molds, packaging supplies, and other necessary items. The women were deeply appreciative of our encouragement and assistance.
In six months, we plan to visit them again and support their expansion efforts. They have already established a strong local market for their products, and several businesses have shown interest in purchasing them.
We at Manitha Neyam Trust are proud to have funded these projects, with the help of our wonderful donors. These initiatives not only empowers women, but also promotes locally-made products and sustains centuries-old crafts.
