OfERR’s work with women aims to promote and enhance the social and economic status of women, increasing their independence and their ability to contribute to the rebuilding of their homeland in Sri Lanka. The empowerment of women is a priority for OfERR, and is facilitated by the creation of self-help groups (SHGs) and by a wide range of awareness programmes. Women make up half of the Ceylon refugee population, and 80% of these people have participated in the programmes conducted by OfERR. As a result, women are achieving a more prominent role in the refugee community, overcoming fear and discrimination, and developing skills which will benefit their families and support the restoration of their homeland.

Refugee women continue to face many problems. Sexual abuse and domestic violence, male alcoholism, spiralling debt owed to local moneylenders, illegal underage marriage and truncated education, lack of privacy in the crowded camp environment, and AIDS spread by infidelity are some of the major difficulties. There are many cases of women resorting to suicide, setting themselves on fire to end their distress. OfERR aims to address these problems through awareness programmes run by its volunteers. Regularly visiting the camps, our trained volunteers cover a long list of subjects including women’s empowerment (a three-day programme), sexual violence and self-defence, gender balance training (for women and men), communication and leadership, health and nutrition, peace education, community development, HIV/AIDS and legal and marital issues. All of these meetings encourage group discussions on the issues affecting women. Group counselling sessions are also popular among women wishing to share their experiences and fears.

Refugee women are becoming more aware of their civil and legal rights in India and in Sri Lanka with a view to their return. They have a better understanding of the complexity of the peace process and the potential for conflict transformation, and they are contributing to that process. OfERR believes that to educate a woman is to educate a family, and thus the benefits of these awareness programmes have extended beyond the participants themselves.

Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

The SHGs instigated by OfERR are central to our work with Ceylon refugee women. Consisting of 12-20 members, these are co-operative groups with the purpose of working together to improve lives. SHGs initially focus on accumulating money for the future security of their members. The women mainly perform manual labour outside the camps, working in agriculture or rice mills, for example. Every Sunday, when the SHG meets, they each contribute Rs.10 of their earnings. OfERR provides training in record-keeping and accounts management to help the women pool their resources efficiently. Savings gradually build, and the group deposits the money in a bank. The people are less reliant on unscrupulous moneylenders and the dangers of rising debt.

SHGs exist in all 117 camps across Tamil Nadu. There are 610 such groups in total. In addition, 40 male SHGs are now in operation. Every SHG has a unique name and uniform, creating an empowering sense of identity.

Having accumulated funds, bit by bit, SHG members find that they have greater economic independence, and can begin to make choices about their future livelihoods. Many SHGs have used their money, and 68 groups have secured bank loans, to invest in various small business ventures, including the following: tailoring, dress shops and clothes repair; community canteens and sweet meal stalls; handicrafts such as candle and broomstick making; detergent powder and dye sales; gem cutting; poultry rearing and sales; home gardens for vegetable sales; and Spirulina and mushroom cultivation. OfERR encourages and supports these ventures, providing free seeds and guidance in the creation of home gardens, and offering training in tailoring and animal rearing. Most SHG business is done within the camps, the women providing low-cost goods and services for their fellow refugees, including the nutritious food served in the community canteens. But many SHGs are now taking their businesses outside the camps, and OfERR is helping them do so effectively with its recently implemented marketing training. These SHGs hope to follow the example of OfERR’s browsing centre and garment store in Chennai, and the grocery shop and telephone booth at Nallayan Research Centre, all of which are small enterprises managed by women and yielding good profits from their trade with the local community.

 The SHGs inspire a sense of solidarity among women at camp level and beyond. An annual day of celebration is held in their honour across the 117 camps. The women also collaborate to mark other occasions such as Women’s Day (every March), World Peace Day, Refugee Day and AIDS Awareness Day. Women join with men to observe these occasions. The SHGs mobilise themselves to do voluntary work around the camps, cleaning streets and toilets and painting nursery buildings. Women’s groups are instrumental in the cultural events and drama performances which are a strong feature of community life in the camps. Young women are encouraged to engage in sports, and there are around 80 sports groups active at present. The sharing of experiences between new and old refugees through SHGs is an important activity. New arrivals are able to talk to the old refugees about the situation on the island and current developments, while the long-established refugees can educate the new arrivals about life in India, as well as provide a range of practical assistance including provision of food and clothing, housing construction and acquisition of refugee registration cards. The friendship and counselling offered by established refugees is also invaluable to those who have recently arrived.  

SHGs use their funds and influence to improve the living conditions of the camp community. Many groups have approached government offices to ensure the provision of basic amenities, especially the vital supply of good quality ration materials, electricity connections and water and sanitation facilities. Other groups have appealed to local organisations to fund improvements in community infrastructure, such as the construction of camp libraries. SHGs have diverted their savings for the repair of school buildings and medical treatment for sick patients. They have given TB awareness training to other camp members, and some have even visited Tsunami-affected villages to offer counselling and instigate group discussions.

The awareness programmes and SHGs supported by OfERR produce long-term benefits both for women and the whole community. By working together to learn and generate income, women are empowered to address many of their problems, to educate their children, and to build for a positive future in Sri Lanka. OfERR continues to promote the equality of women and men. Both are talented and valuable groups, and both must participate fully in the future of the refugee community.  

Case Studies

Vaniyaru camp is situated in the Dharmapuri district. 60 families live there. Since local job opportunities are scarce, men tended to seek work elsewhere, and spent regular periods away from the camp. Financial problems and alcoholism were widespread.

The women were given awareness training on SHGs and in 2003 two groups, called Alli and Annai Theresa, were formed, with 32 women enrolling as members. The co-operative work of the SHGs brought about a remarkable change in the family finances of the members, and many other women soon enrolled, establishing several new groups.

Growing in confidence, the women began to tackle other issues affecting the camp. To counter the problem of alcohol abuse, the SHGs approached the local police department and succeeded in establishing a ban on the sale of arrack on camp premises.

The camp lacked an administrative structure, and so the SHGs co-ordinated to form a new administration which ensured the functioning of camp services. One problem was the irregular provision of ration items from the government. A letter was sent to the Rehabilitation Commissioner who addressed the issue and restored the regular supply of this vital ration.

When a dispute arose over the use of a playground, the SHGs intervened to facilitate discussions and find a resolution. Not only was the dispute dealt with, the SHGs also cleared space for a new playground and donated this space to the camp sports groups.

With OfERR’s assistance, the SHG members have learnt to write and maintain their accounts efficiently. As their bank savings increased they were able to secure a significant loan to fund some income generation activities. Skills training and awareness sessions have continued, and the groups at Vaniyaru camp are looking to the future. The community has been revitalised by the collaboration of its women, and everyone can share in the positive results of their work.

A woman and her three young children arrived at the Mandapam camp in 2006. The family is from Thirukkadalur Sirimapuram in Trincomalee district, a fishing village in a mainly Sinhala area. Upon arrival, the woman, Latshiyam, began to use the camp library (Manbakam), a place where she could read and talk to fellow refugees. In discussions with the women there, she revealed her story. Her husband, a fisherman, had gone out to sea for work one day in 2004. Three days later he had still not returned. Latshiyam and her neighbours searched for him without success. Finally, the husband’s boat was discovered floating out at sea, his dead body inside. He had been drenched in kerosene and set alight. The stench of burnt flesh was overwhelming. Latshiyam was consumed by grief and distress about the future – how could she support herself and her family? Looking at her three young children, the youngest just a baby, she decided to escape to India for the sake of their future safety and chance of a better life.

In 2006 they were able to make the crossing to Rameswaram, and arrived at Mandapam. The youngest child is called Sarmy. Now four years old, she began to ask about her father, and was greatly distressed by the story of his loss. Her mother decided that she could best remember her husband by ensuring that their children were given education and settled lives free from the trauma of the past. As she came to build friendships at Mandapam, Latshiyam joined an SHG and engaged in capacity building through tailoring training. In addition, she joined in the preparation and distribution of nutritional supplements to the 400 young children in the camp, including her daughter. This work generates a small income for her. Now earning a little money, and with her three children attending the camp school, Latshiyam is happier and is at last feeling optimistic about her family’s future.

In Thappathi camp in the Nellai region, 20 women came together to form an SHG called Mullai. Highly organised and motivated, the group collaborated to save a substantial sum – over Rs.1 lakh (Rs.100,000). In 2007 they used their funds to start a poultry shop, selling their meat every Sunday. However, a poultry shop was already operating in the camp, run by a male group, and the consequent competition caused conflict between the two groups. The men took the attitude that the women should not be engaging in business; they should return to the home and stop interfering with the men’s work. The women, however, stood up for their right to seek a livelihood, and responded by challenging the men’s shop with lower prices and good service. The women are continuing to display their determination and competence, and business is going well. By working together to overcome obstacles and achieve success, the SHG members have gained a sense of empowerment and solidarity, and these feelings have spread to other women in the camp.