DAILY ROUTINE IN THE MOTHER-CHILD HOME
The day in our shelter begins with breakfast together, followed by a short play session with the babies before classes begin. The mothers learn in small teams/groups. While the teacher works with one group, the others work independently on tasks to deepen their understanding. When the mothers are busy learning, the house mothers look after the youngest residents. Three main meals and at least two "teatimes" a day offer opportunities for exchange and community bonding. At least twice a week, all mothers have sessions with the psychologist, which also include creative activities such as gardening, crafts, or group games. At lunchtime, there is time for rest, reading, and/or play with the babies. In the afternoons, further lessons or independent learning sessions follow as needed. Two Zumba classes per week and a weekly sewing class provide variety. Once or twice a month, there is a movie night. This daily routine consists of fixed routines that combine learning, practical tasks and shared activities, providing young mothers and their babies with a stable and happy environment.
"OUR" NEW PINK TUKTUK
Since September, we've been collaborating with the Rosie May Foundation. They provide us with a tuk-tuk at a very fair price. This saves us transportation costs that we urgently need elsewhere. We're very pleased with the collaboration and hope to continue it in 2025.
HELP FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MOMS
This year, a total of nine young women have lived with us in the home. Two were allowed to return to their families a few weeks after the birth of their babies, and two others now live in other facilities. Currently, five mothers live with us in the home – with three babies (three weeks to four months old) and our "Big Boy," who turned one on December 16, 2024. A court date for another mother with a baby has been constantly postponed for days; she will probably move in with us within the next few days. Of course, there are occasional minor and major disagreements in our shared lives, but everyday life in the shelter is characterized above all by mutual consideration. We admire our residents for their willingness to help, which is particularly evident when a mother is not doing well physically or mentally. Then the others help without hesitation – for example, with looking after the baby, doing the laundry, or other daily tasks.
SPONSORSHIPS
Since some mothers will be staying with us long-term, we now offer sponsorships. With a sponsorship, you can help a young mother manage her daily life with us, complete her schooling, and thus lay the foundation for a self-determined life. By sponsoring, you specifically support one of our young mothers. You can choose between a partial and a full sponsorship. Sponsoring allows us to plan for the long term and makes our work much easier. You can find more information here.
Past News
The latest figures
In the meantime, five young mothers have given birth to five healthy babies. Two of the mothers have left our home and are now back with their families. We maintain regular contact with both of them, and they and their babies are doing well.
Three mothers with babies and one expectant mother currently call our mother-child home their home. Our on-site team currently consists of seven members, with a key new addition being the teacher.
The most important changes
After our previous manager left our team due to personal matters and moved back to the capital (to her friends and family), we were fortunate enough - thanks to good local relationships - to quickly find and hire Hasitha. She has been coordinating the work in Sri Lanka with Ishani for five months. This team manages the balancing act between office work, managing employees, dealing with authorities and creating beautiful moments with the girls in an admirable way. At the beginning of April, we spontaneously decided to move to another house. We were not actively looking for a new place, but just mentioned to friends that the long journeys to doctor's appointments, etc. were costing us a lot of nerves and time in the long run. We then received an almost unbeatable offer and moved on July 1, 2024.
The team’s biggest task
One of the most important tasks, which Hasitha is primarily waging locally, is to ensure that young mothers who want to keep their children and cannot return to their families under any circumstances can live in our facility until they turn 18. Currently we are discussing this with the youth welfare office, since for them it would be better if mothers and children would go either back to their families or seperatly into state facilities. This is due to the many more pregnant women who are in need of a home like ours. On the other side our goal is to give the mothers at least the possibility to stay with their child until they are 18 and prepare them for a life as a (single) mother on their own. Both "strategies" are valid for their own reasons.
After some discussions, at least for one mother we were assured that baby & mother can stay together and with us.
More details (in German):
GOOD NEWS!
After some back and forth, two to fourteen spontaneous changes of plan and several sleepless nights, we are happy that we were finally able to welcome the first girls into our home.
Aaaand the first three babies were born in December and January and all are doing well.
We were also able to...
Complete our team
Our team on site consists of a manager, shelter supervisor/house mother Santhushti, house mother Sunethra, cook and driver Ishani. On top of that at least once a week a psychologist that supports our work and the women on site. A midwife is also regularly with us in the shelter to work with the young mothers and babies.
Looking back – What we achieved in 2023
1. Founding of a local partner organisation
The founding process of our partner organisation has FINALLY been completed. There were a few (bureaucratic) hurdles to overcome - just this much: we are very pleased to inform you that our partner organisation YOUNG MOTHERS FOUNDATION is now fully operational.
2. Employing a manager
After we had initially found a wonderful manager, but after a few weeks she received a very good offer from her old employer that we couldn't match, we had to go looking a second time. This time, too, we made a very good choice and now have the lovely Nadeeja in our team.
3. Finding a suitable house
We have found a beautiful house with wonderful landlords. We are particularly pleased with the spacious communal areas, the tidy kitchen (an absolute rarity!) and the fact that almost no renovation work was required. Four women and their babies can stay here without any problems, which is great for us to start with!
We have also already been able to furnish the little house, as the first women moved in at the end of the year.
4. Empolying a FEMALE Tukuk-Driver
We have found a female tuktuk driver who is willing to work for us for a very fair price. This may seem like a small thing, but it's not! It is an absolute exception, especially here in the south of Sri Lanka, that there are female drivers. After almost two months of regular journeys with her, we can say that she is a really pleasant and reliable driver! At this point in time, it is definitely an option for us to employ her permanently for the weekly errands, doctor's appointments and trips to school.
5. Cooperation wit Cupper Tea
In addition to the annual Advent calendar, this year we had a collaboration with the brand Cupper Tea on Instagram as part of their ResponsibiliTea campaign. As one of the three projects, donations were collected for our organisation with the sale of the ‘Sri Lanka’ set.
6. Taking in the first two women and them giving birth
Last but really not least: In November and December, we were able to take in the first two women/girls. Both were already quite far along in their pregnancy when they arrived. As luck would have it, both children were born almost at the same time on 16 December 2023. Mothers and children are doing well.
REVIEW 2022
After more than two years that have gone anything but according to plan, we FINALLY have good news for you!
We will begin our work on site in 2023, as planned in the first quarter, and open a shelter for young mothers and their children! This is only possible thanks to our wonderful members, who have supported us with their contributions despite all the stumbling blocks and believed in our project.
A ♡-ly thank you to all of you!
The powerful women of the SAMBOL FOUNDATION, who have built a shelter for women affected by violence in Sri Lanka, also play an important role in the latest developments. They were valuable contacts for us last year and greatly enriched our development process with their experience and their warm and reflective manner. - THANK YOU!!
Even if the progress was small at times, it was steady and we are happy to be able to share the good news with you today. The need for institutions like ours is very great in crisis-ridden Sri Lanka! The situation in the country is - as some of you have surely seen in the media reports - even more precarious than in 2019, when we started our work.