One Woman A Year project

Whilst living here in Doha we have met many workers who come over to work here from all parts of the world. We have talked to many men and women who have left their homes, their families and often their children so that they can send money home to help them survive. This means that they are here for 2 years at a time without seeing loved ones. We decided recently to travel to Sri Lanka because we had met so many Sri Lankan workers and we were interested to see what drove them away from their own country to find work. On our most recent trip we were invited to visit the East Coast of Sri Lanka. The East Coast of Sri Lanka was, up until 2 years ago, a war zone. We were taken to areas where the Tamil Tigers were living and where there was bloody conflict. Then this same coastline was hit by a devastating tsunami- there is evidence of the destruction wrought all along the coastline. It is a very poignant experience to stand on the site of a village that was completely wiped out. Even more humbling were the many reminders of human resilience in the face of continuing extreme poverty and loss created by many years of devastation. We visited a small school in Eravur that had been started by one of the workers now living and working in Doha. Ansar had decided that the best way he could help his community was to start an after-school program in a little 2-room rented house for children from the poorest homes, teaching them English and IT skills so that they would be well on their way to climb out of their present circumstances. We watched children of all ages walk up the muddy lane clutching their little book bags, dressed in their finest clothes, eagerly awaiting their hour of tuition each afternoon after they had spent a whole day at their local school. The school now has a very strong link with a school in Doha and we will return in December to watch the first work begin on a new building, built voluntarily by the local families- so that the school can cater for many more children.

One afternoon I dropped into a humble tea house nearby for a drink, and peeping out of a dark tin-walled extension at me was a mum and daughter and son who I recognised from the school. There were 4 small children in all, no light, no windows and very little to look forward to except for the privilege of learning English every day. This family was eking out a living by selling tea and bread for a very small amount. As I enquired further, I found that there had been many women left widowed by either war or tsunami who were struggling to bring up their children and who were relying on the help of neighbours to eat. As I left this area I began to think of ways I could help women of this part of the world who were caught in such circumstances. It would not take much for me to find out if they had an idea of how to help themselves and how to begin that long climb. My first port of call was to Amina and her little family living at the side of the shop. What would she like to do to improve her life? Then as I was developing this idea, it kind of grew legs and in no time I was sent the names and circumstances of 5 other women who were very much in need. The board of directors of Eravur School interviewed each of these women and found out what they might need to set themselves up in business. As I write this blog, all 5 women plus Amina are beginning their new journey with a simple donation each of no more than $300US. due to people opening their hearts to this project. There will be more women I meet I am sure - and in 6 months we will be in Eravur again to report on progress. Lets hope we see great success and lets hope that every person who reads this will find a way to help at least one person a year to a better life.