Centre for Women's Development and Rehabilitation (CWDR) and the Projects Implemented

[Article Send by M.Nadarajan, USA]

In February 1991, 11 socially conscious women, aware of the urgent need for an organized welfare system for women, volunteered to form the CWDR.

The CWDR was formed in 1991 emerged as a grass-roots women's organization working in the community. Its first objective was to help women who had become victims of shelling by soldiers stationed in Jaffna Fort and of aerial bombardments, as well as women from the underdeveloped coastal villages. The organization provided women with immediate humanitarian relief and, additionally, offered women who had lost the family's breadwinner the possibility to become self-reliant. The organization initiated the first economic development project for women, providing women vocational training and employment opportunities through the setting up and running of a coir factory and a multi-purpose shop. A year later in 1992 the organization took over the Poorani Women's Centre for women, and thus extended its activities to provide refuge to destitute women and young girls directly affected by the war and by various socio-economic crises as well as those who faced other kinds of hardships as a consequence of displacement and psychological trauma.

In 1995 the CWDR was registered as an NGO at the provincial level in the Jaffna District Social Services Department, under the Voluntary Social Services Organization Act. Later in May 2003 the organization also became registered as an NGO at the national level with the Ministry of Social Services under the same Act.

The CWDR currently has centres in every one of the eight Districts of the Northeast. It is funded by local and expatriate Tamils (mostly women's groups), local NGOs, INGOs, UN agencies, and governments, such as TRO, UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, FORUT, ILO, Oxfam, ICRC, ASB, BAJ (Bridge Asia Japan), CARE, Save the Children, the Norwegian Government, Norway Overseas Development Fund, Sri Lanka Government Social Services Department.

Rehabilitation projects at regional district, village, family and individual levels are being implemented to assist women whose lives have been adversely affected physically, psychologically, and economically, due to the war. Assistance was expanded to cover others affected due to other reasons as well.

Assistance provided by CWDR covers individuals who have lost the main provider by income-generation self-employment strategies and loans; village-based saving systems and social awareness - childcare, hygiene and education; resolving and counselling social problems and family violence; locating and assisting destitute women and providing refuge, care and self-employment skills; literacy programmes for the illiterate; evening classes for school dropouts; nutrition programmes for malnourished children and pregnant mothers; and providing skills for small business and craft projects.

CWDR runs five welfare centres for specific projects:

1 Vettrimani - Victory Home - counselling aid centre for psychologically affected women. 80 women of various ages and backgrounds who have been affected by war, victims of rape by the military, loss, separation from family, social injustices, and abuse by family members, are cared for. Most of them were found destitute, roaming the streets. Medical attention is given and their psychological health is monitored. 30 women have recovered, some have either returned home, one is due to be married soon; others are currently undergoing vocational training with 3 having already taken up employment after training.

2 Niraimathy Illam - Full Moon Home - for women born mentally impaired. Some of these women do not have relatives and others have been abandoned by their families. A few are not capable of speaking and some cannot walk. A total of 26 women are cared for. Activities with shapes, speech therapy, sports and gardening are promoted. Encouragement to attend to their own needs is also given.

3 Malarcholai - Flower Orchard - for mothers whose partners have been 'disappeared' or killed by the military, and young mothers who have been abandoned by their partners and thus suffer social exclusions and poverty. Malarcholai gives refuge to them and their children with the aim of restoring their confidence, giving them emotional support, and opportunity to learn skills that will enable them to function independently in broader society. The children are provided with a day care centre, education and healthy nutrition. Family counselling and reconciliation services are also provided. Six families have been reconciled, one woman has remarried, four others have returned to live with their parents. Legal aid and support are also provided for women claiming childcare support from their former partners. 42 women and 54 children are presently living at Malarcholai.

Basic education is given to those with poor educational backgrounds, and awareness about child-care, hygiene and nutrition is taught. Vocational training and job opportunities are provided to all. With these opportunities 26 mothers are now employed, have opened bank accounts and are saving regularly for their and their children's future. The women are encouraged to care for their nutrition by engaging in cattle and poultry rearing and vegetable gardening.

4 Mary Illam - Mary's Home - refuge for young women aged 17 and above made destitute by the war. CWDR provides the service of relocating their relatives. Since the current peace process began it has been possible to reunite 14 women with their relatives through this service. The women are farming and selling their produce to neighbouring villages. Vocational training is also given, and education and counselling services provided. The centre also assists women who desire to get married. Marriages have been conducted for four women. The new couples are each provided with a marital home.

5 Senthalir Illam - Tender Sprout Home - for destitute children and displaced children who have lost one of their parents, aged up to seventeen years. The philosophy of the centre is that no one should be deprived of education due to the crisis of war. Therefore the objective in Senthalir Illam is to provide these children with education and a nurturing environment so that they develop as responsible and knowledgeable members of society. 34 pre-school children attend a nursery school at the centre and others attend a regular school. Sports, drama, music, art and other extra-curricular activities are encouraged. Four students sat for the Ordinary Level examinations and are presently studying English.

Employment Opportunity Schemes run by CWDR

Uthayatharakai - Rising Star - is a brand name for products produced by the organization's various employment opportunity schemes. The organization provides training and jobs for unemployed women who are the sole breadwinners for their families. The CWDR runs sewing centres, a pappadam factory, multipurpose shops, a coir factory, a motor mechanic workshop, a brick-making factory, a mat-weaving centre, grinding and rice mills, and a 15-acre coconut, fruit and vegetable farm. 120 women are employed in these establishments.

Vocational Training run by CWDR

CWDR offers women training in computer skills, typing, shorthand, typewriter repairs, the food industry, office skills, artificial flower making, batik workshop, fabric dying handicrafts, administration, leadership and communication skills, basic literacy skills, visual arts, sex discrimination awareness, women's and children's rights. The objective of the CWDR is that women should be able live independently, therefore the training is designed to develop their skills base which will empower them in their employment. CWDR also provides an employment service and start up loans for women's self-employment. So far the centre has found employment for 600 women subsequent to this vocational training.

Women and children as the most vulnerable members of society have been particularly affected by the war and social emergencies. However, because of lack of funds CWDR is not able to reach all those in need. With more funding CWDR would be able to expand its work to help more people and to initiate additional women and children's development projects.

Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation and the Projects Implemented by it

[Article Send by M.Nadarajan, USA]

Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) was founded by Tamil refugees in India in 1985 and then was moved to the Tamil homeland (Northeast Sri Lanka) in 1987. It is run by a board of governors with offices in all 8 districts of the Northeast as well as an office in Colombo, the country's capital. With units in 14 countries overseas it receives funding from both the local as well as expatriate Tamil communities, local and International NGOs, UN Agencies, the World Bank, the Asian Development Fund as well as the Sri Lankan government. TRO has also established a Socio Economic Development Bank with 5 branches for rural development.

TRO was registered as an NGO at the Provincial level under the Voluntary Social Services Act in 1993 and at the National level under a similar (Registration and Supervision) Act on 27th June 2002. It is a member of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) in Colombo and is a member of National Coordinating Committee of Triple 'R'.

It's Annual Report for 2002 contains letters of appreciation from Mr. Bradman Weerakoon, Secretary to the Prime Minister, as well as the Political Wing of the LTTE, Dr Jayalath Jayawardana (the Minister for Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees), Dr Rayappu Joseph Bishop of Mannar, and the venerable Madampagama Assaji Nayaka Thero, co chairperson of the Inter Religious Peace Foundation.

TRO is a self help organisation involved in rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction of those affected by the war, refugees as well as the disadvantaged, particularly women and children. It's purpose is to give much needed help and hope to those affected by the war by helping them to raise their level of income, to carry out capacity building, to help empower them and to promote gender equality.

Programs implemented include Children's Welfare, Education, Food & Nutrition, Services for Women, Water & Sanitation, Mine Action, Resettlement & Housing, Health Services, Vocational Training, Social Economic Development and Emergency Relief.

Its total operating costs in 2003 was 617.5 million. In 2003 Rs. 450 million was received from expatriate Tamils. This represents 73 % of the total funds received.

The projects under each program are detailed below:

1. Children's Welfare

a) Children's Homes: There are four children's homes in Vanni to provide care, security, basic education, recreation, human development and vocational training. In 2003, 1,800 children including school drop outs and the traumatised benefited from these homes. Since 2003 five more children's homes in the East have been supported by TRO.

b) Homes and Schools for the disabled: This project is concerned with looking after children with impaired eyesight, hearing or special needs. Special educational facilities are provided in the homes and in government schools to help them. A number of children sat for O/L and A/L examinations and several won awards at district and provincial level competitions in sport, drawing, painting and music. In 2003 a number of beneficiaries benefited.

c) Pre-Schools: TRO coordinates the activities of all pre schools throughout the Northeast. It has repaired 120 pre-schools and built 56 new ones. It employs 323 teachers and trained 72 and provided in-service training for 43. 11,250 children attended these schools in 2003. The paid teachers number 480.

d) Child Sponsorship: Foster parents in foreign countries can support children who have lost one or both parents in the war. In 2003, 700 children have benefited.

e) TRO International School: An International School with schematic theme park and playground where the study of English will be emphasised was opened in January 2004. This school currently has an intake of 150 children.

2. Education

a) The Every Child Back to School Program: This Program reintegrates children who have dropped out or have never attended school back into formal education. It started in the year 2002. At the end of 2003, 26227 were reintegrated into schools.

b) The Assistance Scheme for Education Program: This program covers 538 children in 11 centres to become reintegrated into formal education. Allowances of Rs.2, 000 each was given to 52 students to start or continue their studies at universities. Allowances were also given to 250 volunteer teachers to cover the current shortage of teachers. Provisions of laboratory facilitators in village schools helped 270 students and provisions of public library services helped students, teachers and villagers. On average 40 people visited the library per day. In 2003, 104 students benefited under the university students aid programme, and 25 under-graduate teachers was appointed in remote area schools.

3. Food & Nutrition

a) Mother and Childcare Nutrition Centres: Located in 6 locations in the north these centres care for under nourished children, pregnant and lactating mothers in a residential setting until they reach adequate nutritional levels. Mothers are taught to maintain a good nutrition status. Started in 1999 this has been an on going project and at the end of 2003, 920 have benefited.

b) Day Care Centres: Started in 1993, there are currently 7 centres in the Vanni where nutrition, food and pre school education is given. Regular health checks and access to medical treatment are arranged.

c) Centre for the Production of Nutritional food: This project was implemented by the WWDF and funded by TRO where the food produced is distributed to Nutrition Centres in Northeast. In 2003, 4,500 children and pregnant & lactating mothers benefited.

4. Services for women

Residential centres are run in the five districts of the erstwhile Northern Province to care for destitute, abandoned and retarded women, and children to attend to their basic needs and help them to build their futures. Women in women-headed households who lost their husbands during the war were given training and interest-free revolving loans of Rs. 10,000 each to rear poultry.

5. Water & Sanitation

Activities include water resource management: Repair, restoration, construction, deepening and cleaning of public open & tube wells, sealing of unused wells, preservation of underground water, restoring small tanks & ponds, preventing water turning brackish or salination, provision of clean drinking water by bowsers; environmental protection; provision of public toilets; training of public officials; ensure prevention of water borne diseases.

6. Mine Action

a) TRO began demining in the Vanni areas in 1999 through the Humanitarian Demining Unit (HDU). During 1999 to 2002 HDU cleared nearly 120,000 mines and UXOs in the LTTE controlled areas without international assistance. After signing of the MOU, TRO got assistance from Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG). At the end of 2003, 170,000 mines and UXO'S had been cleared and total of 98,000 displaced people have returned to their homes. In 2003, TRO received further assistance for demining through agreements with Swiss Foundation for mine action and Danish Demining Group. At the end of 2003, 800 Deminers were trained in accordance with International Mine Action standards. Medical support was given to demining groups. Minefields covering 1,400,000sq meters were fenced and 123,700sq meters of land cleared. At the end of 2003 the demining programme was expanded in Batticaloa.

b) Mine risk education was provided extensively with the help of UNICEF and MAG.

c) Prosthesis Technical Institutes with branches in Kilinochchi, Jaffna & Trincomalee were established commencing in 1995 and are ongoing. Manufacture and fitting of artificial limbs & provision of physiotherapy services, wheel chairs and walking aids to those who have lost limbs or have impaired functions due to the war, landmines, birth or accident is part of the programme. In addition, vocational or trade skills training and help in finding employment is given and grants or micro-credit is given to establish income-generating businesses. 2,542 persons benefited by the end of 2002 and 3000persons at the end of 2003 benefited with INGOs and Tamil Diaspora assistance.

7. Resettlement & Housing Programme

a) In excess of 400,000 families were displaced throughout the Northeast. Data had to be collected and the families resettled. The project commenced in May 2002. In addition to repairing or rebuilding homes, roads, wells, irrigation systems, school systems need to be re-established. Support is also required to develop the social & economic environment for the village to prosper. People were mobilised to participate in project activities by planning, management, monitoring & organisation. One village was selected from each of the 8 districts. At the end of 2003, 3,000 families consisting of 15,000 persons benefited.

8. Health Services.

Services undertaken include repair of hospitals in 5 locations, reconstruction of one hospital, construction of a new hospital, and remodelling of an office to function as a hospital. Distribution was made of medical equipment received from overseas. TRO paid wages to nurses and midwives in two locations.

Commencing in 2001, permanent medical centres for free medical treatment throughout the Northeast and temporary health centres in remote areas in Vanni have been provided. Transport was provided for patients. 13,500 patients benefited by the end of 2003. Funding was provided for cataract surgery for 50 patients. Mobile medical services were provided in the three districts of the Vanni. Health clinics are conducted free, regular visits by clinical staffs are made, & training given to health volunteers. In the year 2003, 30, 000 persons benefited. In 2003, 6 eye camps were conducted. 1,556 adults and 2,600 children were given eye tests. 150 students were given eye glasses free of charge. Funds were provided for cataract operations for 121 persons. Indigenous medical herb gardens were developed and free consultations and treatment given to 3,926 persons.

9. Vocational Training.

a) Conducting training in repair of office equipment, vehicle & communication equipment for unemployed youth for employment, or self-improvement. This commenced in 1995 and is ongoing. In 2003, 1600 IDPs were trained.

b) Commencing from March 2002, free computer training was given to youth, with priority given to poor students. In 2003, 600 youths benefited in all eight districts.

c) Sewing classes are given to unemployed women through the NGO, WWDF. Project commenced in February 2002. In 2003 the sewing centre was expanded to the East and 250 youths benefited from this programme.

d) Training in the production of tiles and bricks using locally available raw materials. Unskilled construction workers were provided on-the-job training. It commenced in June 2002. In 2003, 50 workers were trained.

10. Socio-Economic Development.

a) North-East Irrigation and Agricultural Programme (NEIAP) funded by the World Bank.

22 villages in three districts of the East, while the erstwhile Northern Province was selected for social mobilisation, tank renovation and village development. In each village a social-mobilizer and in each district a NEIAP mobilization and implementation office have been established. The project commenced in February 2002 and expanded by 14 villages in 2003. At the end of 2003, 19,600 persons had benefited.

b) Social Mobilisation training in four districts was provided through workshops to develop the skills of volunteers who participate in the implementation of projects in participatory development approach, project management, risk analysis, financials, time management and social integration. This project commenced in June 2002. At the end of 2003, 160 youths had been trained.

c) A Socio-Economic Development Fund for savings and micro-credit was established by TRO in 1993 as a self-employment opportunities fund to help individuals to establish small business and other employment opportunities. In 1997 the scope was extended to cover agricultural ventures in rural villages and to encourage regular savings, particularly among school children. It is now called by a new name Socio-Economic Development Bank and operates in 6 locations in Vanni. The fund also provides loans to local NGOs to implement projects related to social welfare & humanitarian assistance programmes. 118 organisations and 3,915 persons have become members to-date.

d) Social Development Centres started in 1995, and now operate in three locations in Vanni. They provide vocational training free of charge and provide material & financial assistance to the needy.

e) Strengthening the capacity of local NGOs. Training in management & administration is given to those who work for the relief, rehabilitation & development of society. In some cases salaries are also paid. This commenced in 1989 and is ongoing. During 2003, 1200 CBOs members were trained.

f) Financial management and training consultancy is provided to local NGOs supported by TRO at the head office and a branch office to assist in preparation of accounts and monitoring and evaluating the projects. 60 local NGOs and other institutions benefited. In 2003 this was going on.

g) Home for the aged provides lodging and food for 65 aged people without family to care for them.

h) An agriculture farm was started to produce agricultural income & seedlings. 30 families earn a living in the farm.

i) Running of a printing press for the needs of TRO and its partner organisations who are charged low rates.

j) Road renovation was carried out on Chundikulam road to convert a sandy road to gravel road.

11. Emergency Disaster Relief was provided to other parts of Sri Lanka during disasters such as floods.

If more funds are received TRO can undertake more activities that would benefit more people.

: 03-05-2004