433.2 km from Colombo, in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka lies the Ampara District. In this district, on 4 acres of land you will find a peanut cultivation initiative like no other. This land is farmed by 20 women, widowed by the 30 year civil war that ravaged Sri Lanka. They were helpless, without a steady means of income as they struggled to rebuild their lives.
However, thanks to the generosity of Dr. Kushwin Rajamani from Australia, these ladies were able to embark on a cultivation programme to grow and harvest peanuts as a means of income for their families. Despite inclement weather conditions all over Sri Lanka during the past few months, we have been blessed and the harvest survived. We are extremely happy to announce that after many months of hard work, the peanut cultivation, tirelessly looked after by the 20 war widows, has been harvested with the guidance of the coordinator of our Village Heartbeat Empowerment Centre in Ampara.
The bountiful harvest was reaped as a result of these ladies cultivating 250 Kg of peanuts. In addition to peanuts, a small corn crop was also grown alongside! Women in rural areas of Sri Lanka still face many barriers in making a living. It is unique initiatives such as these that truly empower women and make a difference.