These stories are a few drops in an ocean, and there are many more success stories in the Refugee community.

SUCESS STORY OF RIZANA

Rizana came to India in 1990. She is from a Muslim family, and before leaving Sri Lanka her father was severely beaten in an encounter with a group of Sinhalese men. With his physical condition badly affected by the attack, he died in 1994. After her father’s death Rizana had to give up her studies and find work to support her family. She did labour work, such as carrying stones for road and building construction, for several years. But in 2000 she joined OfERR’s gem-cutting unit in Trichy. She was joined at OfERR by her sister, who is now preparing for her forthcoming marriage. Rizana is happy that she has found a place where she can build friendships and generate an income.
 

SUCCESS STORY OF ROSARIAMMA

Rosariamma came from Jaffna district to Tamil Nadu in 1990. She has one son but she also cares for five children from another family whose parents have died. Rosariamma and her husband are separated, and she gains only a small income from her job as an OfERR health worker. Nonetheless, she is committed to the education of all the children. The five children in her care are studying at a Christian convent in Trichy, while her son, Newton, has completed a degree in Medicine (MBBS) and is now a doctor. OfERR contributed Rs.6,500 for Newton’s college fees. In return, he continues to be involved with the Sri Lankan Tamil community, participating in weekly medical camps for refugees in Tamil Nadu.

SUCCESS STORY OF ANANDHI

Anandhi is a native of Vavuniya district. She was aged only five when her father left the family. Her mother also left to remarry, leaving Anandhi and her younger brother in the care of her auntie and uncle. The four of them came to India together and were accommodated in Mandapam camp. Here, Anandhi suffered abuse at the hands of her auntie and uncle, in the form of beatings and forced labour.

SUCCESS STORY OF JEYAMALAR

Jeyamalar, an OfERR Women’s Empowerment worker in Trichy region, met Anandhi at Mandapam and encouraged the girl to share her story. Jeyamalar gave Anandhi the opportunity to leave Mandapam and join OfERR’s gem-cutting unit in Trichy. Despite her family’s anger, Anandhi is much happier in Trichy, where she has made good friends. She refuses to return to the camp. Meanwhile, Anandhi is using her income (Rs.2,000 per month) to support her brother, who is studying at college. OfERR is helping him with hostel accommodation, while Anandhi’s contributions help to cover the cost of fees. She is hoping that her brother will secure a good job and will then be in a position to return the help she has given. She can look forward to a brighter future.

SUCCESS STORY OF ARULMALAR

Experiencing the insecure and miserable living conditions, Arulmalar with her husband and three children fled to India seeking refuge. Her family reached Rameswaram on 1990 was registered in the Sri Lankan refugees list and then accommodated in the Sri Lankan refugees’ camp, Sankarankovil in Tirunelveli District. Having left the relatives and properties in their homeland, her family started a peaceful life which seems to be a reincarnation for that family. But her peace could not make a long stand because of her alcohol addicted husband.

Thinking that educating children is the most important task in her life, she sent her elder son Mayuran to an English medium school though opposition from her husband was raised. In 1992, her family has been transferred to Ceylon refugees’ camp, Samugarengapuram in the same district.

There were conflicts rose up between her and her husband on educating their son in English Medium and these were always ended up with a hurting stage and frequently she was beaten up highly. The severity of this family conflict forced the Q-Branch, Police and neighbours to intervene in this issue. Considering that leaving herself with her husband will lead to life threatening consequences, they separated both. The three children were left with her. In the mean time, her elder son’s studies were discontinued from the English medium at 3^rd standard. Both got divorce and separated forever in 1995, when her son and two daughters were 10, 8 and 5 years old respectively. After this, her husband got married with another woman and left the camp.

Having gained the confidence of bringing up the children with great potential and educating them at the maximum, she started her new life with the help of Tailoring. She engaged herself in stitching clothes for the camp people and with that surviving in the fittest conditions.

Helping to her struggle, her children reciprocated with compliments from their studies. Apart from the top ranking in studies, her elder son passed out from the District level Merit exam conducted for the rural people and was awarded with Rs.4000. In the SSLC public exam (10^th standard), he was complimented with lot of rewards as he secured the school first and state third among the overall refugees students in Tamil Nadu. Adding to this, her elder daughter also became the school first in the same school.

She joined with OfERR in 2003 and since then has been working as part of Women Empowerment unit. The empowerment training programs offered by OfERR capacitated her to enhance her knowledge, skills and abilities and at present reach the state of acting the coordinator of Self Help Groups in Nellai region.

Though she has encountered humpty number of difficulties in terms of educating her children in college, her long-lasting effort with the consistent OfERR’s support have helped her son and daughter to complete their Bachelor degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics respectively. Right now, her son Mayuran is doing his Masters in Social Work in Loyola College, Chennai and working at head office, OfERR and her youngest daughter is in II year B.Sc Mathematics.

She also arranged marriage for her elder daughter and executed successfully. Her effort also contributed her married daughter to work in an English medium as a Mathematics teacher.

Without her husband she brought their children to the state of being appreciated by educating them. Her achievement is complimented highly and respected by the neighbourhood people.

She says, "Self Confidence is imperative for women to achieve great things in life. My self confidence only brought me to this stage. Hence I request women to have a trust over you and do things with great courage."

Success Stories of IDPs in Sri Lanka

Success Story of Yogamalar

There are 4 Self Helped groups functioning at Thampalagamam village of Mullipothana. Out of these 4 groups one group called   as Utayasooriyan and 15 members are there. One of the member‘s details as follows.

Name  : Yogamalar
Age     : 36Years
Mother’s age : 67years
Son’s age  : 12 studying at 7th standard

She was deserted by her husband in 2007 and living separately .She was very poor and found difficult to spend for his son’s education. At this stage, she joined Uthaya Sooriyan  group in 2007. And she was given loan of Rs 10,000.She bought 10 fowls with shelter for 10 fowl’s .From this money. Now she has  55 fowls and her day to day living is being maintained with the income   Rs 150 to Rs.200 per day from fowl rearing.

Now she has repaid this loan  and has money is under saving .She made us understand that she is participating group meeting regularly and started a new life without any feat and organizing cultural activities.

Before she joined Uthayasooiyan group, she was deserted by husband and   she was expecting others help for her day to day livings.Her life was miserable at that time. Now Yogamalar becoming a member at Uthayasooriyan, She is very happy as she is having   savings for her livelihood. She is now not depending others for her day to day living and she is looking after her own needs by herself.

Earlier   she was neglected by own society and now they are inviting her
for all activities. She also arranged tution for her son ater school hours with her own savings. 

Success Story – Mullipothana Self Helped  Group

Self Helped Groups were formed at Thampalagamam village of Mullipothnana in 2007 among the women to improve living condition of  of the families of that area. Among these groups, two groups are called Luxmi and Uthaysooriyan. They conducted meetings separately and  started  to save Rs. 10/- at the beginning and now they have  saved quite good amounts. During the last 2years period they performed very well.

1. The meeting is  conducted at one of the member’s house and the  group members  provide the house owners the required rice, flour sugar etc on the meeting day.
2. In one family husband and wife are mentally depressed. They are having six children none of them doesn’t have birth certificates. Arrangement was made to obtain their birth certificates. And got the couple legally married.
3. when any NGOs  or funding  agents visit their village , the women come forward and organize all activities,
4. Common Shiramadana work (Voluntary work) was organized and executed .The expenses incurred are debited from their monthly contribution.
5. The members who save money from their earning are granted loan not exceeding Rs. 10,000 for livelihood activities.
6. When a death occur at a members home. These group members attend same and supply food for 3 times.
7. The members of these groups doesn’t get loan from outside and obtain loan from this group and fulfil their requirements.
8. The grooups collect interest on these loans and add some to the capital.
9. Both groups had common discussion and arrived a decision that they will jointly start goat farm. Both groups invested Rs. 80,000 for this project without help from any grants.
10. Our Organization appreciated their activities and granted Rs. 100,000 for each group. They purchased 33 goats for this project and running a goat project. Every day 5 members are looking after the goats and maintain the farm.
11. Out their savings Rs. 150,000 had been given as loan among members in turn. Now the members of the groups are happy and moving with each other without ill feelings. They are happy in doing group activities instead of doing individual activities.

Medical Success Story

Sundarathiruvarul is a 38 years old woman living in Kottapattu Camp, Tiruchirappalli District. She has been acting as OfERR Health Worker since 1996.House visits to assess the Nutritional status, Monitoring of Chronic Patients, Conduction of awareness programs and Medical camps in coordination with regional offices, Spirulina and Grain distribution, and assisting refugees to benefit from ICDS, Dr.Muthulakshmi and Janani Suraksha Schemes, etc. are the responsibilities of a health worker. She made her not only committed with the delegated works, but also shown utmost commitment towards the people who are in nutritional and medical need. She was kind enough to put more attention on suffering people and took them to Hospitals to get them recovered.

Chellamuthu is a 70 years old resident lived with his son in the same camp. Despite of his age, he did not depend upon his son for survival. He worked as “Security” in a company and independently led a peaceful life. Unfortunately, he was detected a nerve problem in his brain. He underwent surgery in Brain as per Doctors’ advice. Regrettably his body was disabled after the treatment and so he was unable to walk. In the mean time, his son also got married and left him abandoned. He was fully stressed.

When no others in the camp find easy to get in touch with him, Sundarathiruvarul met him with the view of healing his stress. She initially assisted him to come out of stress and later referred him for Counseling. Continuous counseling sessions made him to realize his worth as human being and healed his psychological wounds to a greater extent. Likewise, she gradually strengthened his confidence and provided mental support.

As she had a concern over his immobility, she attempted to mobilize local resources to obtain him a wheel chair. She met the District Collector, Trichy personally and requested him to support with a wheel chair to overcome his disablement. Her efforts resulted in winning the heart of District Collector to offer a Wheel Chair. District Collector presented the Wheel Chair to Chellamuthu in a program held at Kottapattu Camp. Presently, Chellamuthu could move around through Wheel Chair and take care of his personal needs.

She not only left with that, but also keeps on trying to mobilize resources to develop livelihood opportunities for Chellamuthu to sustain his life. Her service to breathe a human being is considered one of the greatest things among the refugees.