The Asian Tsunami of December 2004, with its catastrophic destruction of the East, warranted more involvement in reconstruction and rehabilitation, and MWRAF responded to the special situation. While it scaled up its on legal awareness and counseling, action against gender violence, drug abuse etc., through its Women’s Centres it also diversified into livelihoods
development, skills training and capacity building, especially for marginalized women
MWRAF initially focused on rapid emergency relief and shifted effectively to economic development and reconstruction of livelihoods. MWRAF concentrated on rehabilitation by
introducing income generation activities, providing training and assistance to re-establish micro-enterprise initiatives and vocational and skills training. This would help people, especially women, to become self-sufficient, increase income rebuild their communities and economically stabilize the region.
Micro Enterprises
MWRAF has identified women who were not only affected by the tsunami but also by ethnic strife and those who were victims of domestic violence, living in poverty or just above the poverty line. Those who wished to engage in micro-enterprises to improve their lives were provided with technical know-how, capital, equipment and mentoring. Income generation activities such as mat weaving, handlooms, tailoring, food preparation, de-husking paddy, brickmaking, preparing rice flour etc., micro-enterprises were carried out by women successfully. Those who wished to engage in the trading of fish, meat and food were also supported. These projects were carried out in Sainthamaruthu, Maruthamunai, Islamabath etc.
MWRAF supported affected women and men to undertake agricultural activities such as paddy farming, cultivation of home gardens, livestock rearing such as goats and poultry (back yard farming), manufacture of compost, waste recycling etc.
Skills training and start ups
Several vocational and skills training programmes and Training of Trainers programmes were conducted to ensure sustainability. Most of the training focused on the target beneficiaries. These programmes included training in tailoring and batik manufacture for women in Thirukkovil & Sinnamuhathuwaram and Kalmunai, Training and provision of tools of trade to more than 300 women and men for masonry, carpentry, electrical wiring, tailoring, and beauty culture in Kalmunai, Nattpatimuni and Pandirippu. Training in Recycled paper craft was successfully carried out among both men and women in Kalmunai.
Whilst most of the training was undertaken locally in the East, programmes were also initiated in Colombo (MWRAF Training Centre) to train the rural and urban poor in different livelihood skills and English language classes.
Fisheries
Restoration of fishermen’s livelihood – Fibreglass boats and outdoor motors to 25 groups of fishermen , bicycles, weighing machines, fish cutting knives and insulation boxes to another 50 fish vendors were distributed.
Womens Groups
Livelihoods development of 270 Muslim and Tamil tsunami-affected women in Amparai district were undertaken through the formation of 54 women's groups within 6 months. Ten sector specific livelihood training and provision of seed money. Livelihood activities including tailoring and Batik manufacture, mat weaving, masonry, carpentry, electrical wiring, tailoring, and beauty culture were done
Quality Products from Recycled Papers
A group of women and a few men from the Muslim, Sinhala and Tamil communities from Kalmunai in Eastern Sri Lanka were trained by MWRAF to turn out notebooks, autographs, note cubes, pen holders, journals, picture frames, magazine holders, organizers, jewellery boxes, cards, envelopes, bags etc. MWRAF facilitated the marketing of these items to several banks and private companies
Comments are closed.