LIVELIHOOD PROJECT

Our ‘Livelihood Project’ is in reality an umbrella label for the donations we have made to groups, businesses and sometimes individuals to help them generate a livelihood income. The desire to help empower people and improve their livelihoods is our principal mission statement, and is integral to all we do. The first donation Friends of the South ever made was to a livelihood project, in October 2004. We gave to the Sri Nyanawimala community organization, a body of about 160 families under the leadership of their priest which has set up junior schools and undertaken ways to generate income for the benefit of the community. We enabled them to buy equipment and materials to expand their clothes making business, thus boosting community income and allowing them to pay teachers a regular salary. The extent of our Livelihhod Project, as with all our activities, totally changed after the tsunami. It was immediately apparent to us that with our limited resources, but good local network, one of best ways to help was to get small business working again, getting them taking back laid-off employees so that individuals and families could begin again to make their own economic decisions and set their own priorities. Small business and sole traders are the most common form of enterprise along the coastal area hit by the tsunami, and the most vulnerable. Unlike in larger businesses, virtually none have insurance or savings to fall back on. Our strategy was therefore to provide funding for the purchase of specified machinery, equipment, tools or materials that would help the relevant business either totally restart or else boost its income generating capability. In many cases this would also mean that people who had been laid off were given their job back, and in some instances entirely new jobs were created. Tailors, grocers and small retailers, garages, print shops, bakers, ironworkers, carpenters, restaurants, guest houses, photographers, shoe makers and a variety of other businesses have been helped. This programme is ongoing.

In action: a livelihood project Ranga Ironworks is a micro-business on the main road in Unawatuna. It makes metal grills, gates and other security and ornamental objects. Prior to the tsunami there were three workers, two of whom were trainees. The tsunami destroyed the workshop, most machinery and washed away tools and stock. The owner was traumatized by the destruction of his business, laid off the staff and moved to his wife’s village. He had no savings, no insurance, little hope. After careful discussion and site visits, FoS provided him with about US$1500 to buy a new compressor, welding equipment, tools and stock. He was unbelievably grateful, stating that this really did provide him, his family and his workers with a new lease of life. This was the only financial assistance he had received. His business is growing solidly, helped by the fact that there is much new building work going on. He now employs six people in his community.