Kantha Shakthi – IWDA Program Partner, Sri Lanka

Kantha Shakthi textile piece

“It is not only the financial support [from IWDA] that  is  important  to  us,  it  is  the emotional support”  ~ Kantha Shakti Executive Director Rohini Weerasinghe.

As in many countries in the world, societal oppression of women in Sri Lanka is associated with denial of basic rights, violence against women, lack of mobility and participation, and under-representation in decision-making. Many women feel confined within their households and bear their burden in silence.

With the support of IWDA, Kantha Shakthi runs various projects to support and empower women to overcome discrimination and  oppression. Its projects aim to create a society free from violence against women where every person is respected. Kantha Shakthi works in the tsunami-affected south to mobilise women into savings and support groups.

The socio-economic mobilisation program empowers women through access to credit, skills development, education, capacity building, labour sharing and social and emotional support via their involvement in small groups. The program also provides women with   opportunities to advocate and participate in awareness-raising activities on issues of women’s rights at community and national levels.

Tags: Kantha Shakthi, Textile Exhibition

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 under Events.