The Widow Project

Many women in the Vanni emerged from the war and the camps as a widow, with or without children. They live in appalling conditions, because the culture entails that widows deserve little to no respect. The fathers of OMI have taken care of their fate and asked HAVONOS for help. OMI assists them in starting and running a business as a very simple and effective way to break the vicious circle of poverty. Along with Wild Geese Sieni Schouten (chairman Havonos) visited the project in 2016. They personally spoke with the women who were selected for the project. It were very impressive encounters. Women must help themselves, some even with a disability, a leg or an arm off. Their perseverance, combined with their flexibility, is admirable. With help, they can now start to earn their own livelihood. Sieni, with the delegation of Wild Geese also visited a few ladies who run a peanut roastery in a tiny room. It was thrilling to see how they got back their self-esteem and confidence. The visitors were all very impressed.