Winning together
Although it has been three years since the war has ended and a peaceful life has replaced the violence, bloodshed and displacement that was almost routine, economic development is still slow in Kebithigollewa and restoring livelihoods was a crucial part for the community.
“My husband and I used to run a small boutique but it was hard to continue during the time of the war. Most of the community also left the village,” Ranhami (55) says, “Although my husband is not there anymore, I still wanted to restart the boutique after the war.” Ranhami is one of the 872 single parents living in Kebithigollewa, most of who have been widowed by the war. They have never had a stable livelihood, but today, they are supported through the network initiatives of World Vision.
She built a small hut on a clearing by the road to start a boutique but had to abandon it due to the opposition of some people. In her helplessness, Dayawathie, another war widow who lived by the road oered her a space in her garden for Ranhami to put up a shop.
Ranhami obtained a Rs. 20,000/- loan and built a little shop. With the income she received she managed to repay the loan and take another one to improve the shop and to buy more goods to sell.
Most of the villagers buy goods from Ranhami now. She has a variety of products from food items to toiletries and things for daily needs and sweets for children.
“I get a good income and I am happy,” Ranhami smiles, “Dayawathie and her daughters have become like my own family now and even on the days I am unable to come to the shop, they take care of it for me.”
The two friends also do cultivation together.
“We received seeds from World Vision and we have cultivated 1 ½ acres with cashew nut, coconut, several varieties of vegetables and fruits,” Dayawathie says, “We would soon be able to get a good income from that too.”
As World Vision prepares to leave Kebithigollewa, it has networked the community not only to the government authorities and services but also to both local and international organisations that work in the area. This initiative will help the community to obtain the sustainable development that it needs.
“World Vision was there to support us all through,” Ranhami smiles, “Even the years we spent in a displacement camp, World Vision assisted us and visited us.”