Women empowered by Save The Children and INDECOS share experiences at Gender Conference 2015 

Dhammika Jayawardena

District Secretary Matara E.A.C. Vidnagamachchi 

Julian Chellappah (Save the Children)​

Kamini Chandrika

Susima Nandasiri (Save the Children)

Hemamali Jayawardena

Wasantha Shriyani

Text and pix by by P.D. De Silva

Women empowered by Save The Children together with the Institute for Development of Community Strength (INDECOS) during the past three years shared their experiences in life at the ‘Gender Conference 2015’ held at the Solis Hotel Matara last Thursday (8th). The European Union has graciously being funding INDECOS and Save the Children to help empower vulnerable women in Sri Lanka. 

“We have empowered more than 6,000 women belonging to about 400 small groups in the Matara and Batticaloa Districts in the past three years,” said Julian Chellappah, Director Programs of Save the Children International addressing the participants. “By empowering women we are assured that they will transfer their knowledge and wealth to their children and protect their offspring better.”

The Chief Guest at Gender Conference 2015, E.A.C. Vidanagamachchi said that she appreciated the manner in which INDECOS and Save The Children International had empowered the women in the district in the past three years. She also mentioned that the Prime Minister had stated that there should be at least a 25% female representation in local government bodies in the future which was an encouragement to the women of the land to engage in active politics. 

“During the past three years we have helped women increase their standards of life by empowering them with leadership skills and negotiating skills and by changing negative thoughts towards women among men and boys,” said Susima Nandasiri, Project Manager of Save The Children International. “We will be discussing how gender equality supports development and how it has benifited the lives of women and their families.”

Hemali Jayawardena of Devinuwara related how she was encouraged and assited to establish her Yoghurt industry by INDECOS and Save The Children International. “There is a big demand for my homemade ‘Mali Yoghurt’ and sales are increasing each day,” she said happily.

Sithara Maduwanthi is one of the 300 youth who received a full scholarships to undergo a Computer Course said that Save the Children International had awarded her the scholarship at a time that she was heartbroken being unable to gain admittance to the university. 

It was INDECOS and Save the Children that helped young designer Lakshika Sandeepani Guruge to set up her own designer label and factory. Today Sandeepani is one of the four top young entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka and has been selected to tour Vietnam in November. 

These were a few of the many success stories shared at Gender Conference 2015.

Gamini Samarasinghe Director – Award Management and Compliance of Save the Children International presented in length ‘A view on women from a Literate’s Eye’ while V. Weerasingham Consultant -Gender and Conflict Resolution spoke on ‘Men engagement in family and community level’. Lawyer Dhammika Jayawardena of Women In Need spoke on the ‘Role of WIN with regard to violence against women and children’.