Our Monthly Commitments
The Village People support these individuals or families every month with food aid and/or money for medicine.
Mallika- Mallika is an elderly woman who lives alone and is unable to walk. Mostly when we visit, Mallika is bed-bound, but occasionally she sits in her wheel chair outside. Mallika lost her children during the civil war and never found out what happened to them. Each time Vanaja visits, she cries because Vanaja reminds her of her daughter whom she lost. Mallika relies not only on food aid, but Vanaja’s love and care.
Cost to support per month: £20/ $24/ 105 RM
Valli Amma- Valli Amma lives in Kantale and is looked after by her daughter. She has bad mobility problems and was walking without stability using only a small stool to balance her. We brought Valli Amma a wheel chair. We also support Valli Amma with monthly food aid.
Cost to support per month: £20/ $24/ 105 RM
Sithy Amma- Sithy Amma is 78 years old and lives in Kinniya (on the East coast, 35km from Kantale). She worked in a small rice mill in her younger years. Her husband passed away and she now lives alone. Her home is a simple corrugated metal hut with two rooms (living room/kitchen and bedroom) and the floor is the earth. During monsoon, her home leaks and she’s at the mercy of the elements. She has lived here all her life, and her parents before her. Her home is surrounded by plants and trees, including pineapple trees she planted. Sithy Amma suffers nerve pain from her teeth/gums; she says it is like an electricity current in her face. Sithy Amma requires food aid and money for her medicine including pain relief.
Cost to support per month: £40/ $48/ 210 RM
Maryam- Maryam is 90 years old. She lives alone in Peraru, Kantale having lost her husband and is looked after by her daughter (Fathima, who lives in a hut nearby). Maryam lives in a single roomed mud hut that she built by hand many years ago; she is unsure how long ago because they do not keep track of the years. Her bathroom is outside. When she was younger, she worked in a sugar factory cutting and binding sugar cane with her hands. Maryam is from a very poor family and relies on our support for her food and medicine.
Cost to support per month: £40/ $48/ 210 RM
Rajaswery- We have been supporting Rajaswery, an elderly woman who lives alone in Kantale since the start of 2023. Rajaswery is unsure how old she is: she thinks approximately 64 years, but maybe older. She lives in a simple home with two rooms. Every month, we provide Rajaswery with a food parcel as she has no income.
Cost to support per month: £20/ $24/ 105 RM
Thasna Umma and family– Thasna Umma is the single mother of a very poor family who live in Kantale. She has five daughters: Masmia is the oldest (30 years old); Tasmia (who has a 5 year old son); Nabeeba (who has a 3 year old son); Hadija; and Sameena who is the youngest (14 years old).
Masmia and Hadija both have severe learning and psychological needs: Masmia has been mute since birth and Hadija displays challenging behaviour, including trying to run away. Another of Thasna Umma’s daughters is divorced, which is still stigmatised in her community. Her youngest daughter, Sameena, is studying at the local school and requires support with school uniform and equipment.
Cost to support per month: £100/ $128/ 575 RM
Puma- Puma is 68 years old and is from Kantale. She makes and sells appom (a savoury pancake often eaten for breakfast). In 2022, due to uncontrolled diabetes, Puma got an infection in her feet which spread and as a result, her leg below the knee from amputated. Currently, Puma is living with her son and his family in Trincomalee while she recovers. We have raised funds for her to be fitted with a prosthetic leg when she’s strong enough. In the meantime, Puma is unable to work which is why we are supporting her with a monthly food parcel. Once her prosthetic leg is fitted, she hopes to return to living and working in Kantale.
Cost to support per month: £20/ $24/ 105 RM
Sharwin- Sharwin is two years old and lives in a remote, rural community in the Trincomalee district. When we first started to support Sharwin in December 2022, she was suffering acute malnutrition, rickets, a respiratory tract infection and showing skeletal abnormalities. We provide Sharwin’s family with food parcels every month to ensure she gets the nutrition she needs to recover and grow.
Cost to support per month: £50/ $65/ 285 RM
Riyath- Riyath lives just outside of Trincomalee with his mother and brother. He is 40 years old and likes to practice his English when he visit. He is also interested in contemplating extra-terrestrial activity and conspiracy theories. During Riyath’s childhood and teens, he was a bright young man who thrived at school. Suddenly, in his late teens, Riyath had a mental health crisis and hasn’t recovered. He is on medication to control his mental health, especially violent outbursts (sometimes aimed at his main carer, his mother). Riyath cannot work due to his mental health difficulties and as a result, we provide money for his medicine and food costs.
Cost to support per month: £20/ $24/ 105 RM
Markandu- Markandu is a 70 year old man living in Thiruvannamalai, near Trincomalee. He is unable to walk and so, he cannot work. Markandu has no income. Every month, we support Markandu with money for food and medicine.
Cost to support per month: 40 GBP/ 50 USD/ 222 RM
How You Can Help
Your support is essential to fulfilling our mission and providing food relief to those in need. There are several ways you can contribute:
- Donate Funds: Your financial support allows us to provide resources, tools, and educational programs to local gardening initiatives focused on food production. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference.Donate Now
- Volunteer: Join us in the project and help us to grow our operations. Your time and expertise are invaluable. Volunteer here
- Spread the Word: Share our mission with your friends and family on social media or through word of mouth. The more people who know about our work, the greater impact we can make in providing food relief.Follow Us on Social Media
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