A perfect partnership
Sightsavers works with local partners around the world – but what does that actually mean and how does it work?
An example of a really successful partnership is our work with the Women’s Development Centre (WDC) in Sri Lanka. This is one of the few organisations in the country that supports visually impaired people, and through its community development projects Sightsavers is working with them to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
WDC operates through a network of women’s forums, which means they can reach right into the heart of the community. They are therefore ideally placed to raise awareness about disability and eye health. It also means they can form a strong network for people with disabilities who are so often excluded and isolated.
Training volunteers
Our support has provided training to a number of community volunteers, recruited from these women’s forums. They can now provide counselling, and teach skills to help blind people’s rehabilitation into their communities. They run vocational training for people with disabilities such as making soap, candles and joss sticks.
This was how Mr Chadrarathne (pictured below) came to hear about the project. He has low vision, and was taught to cultivate mushrooms and make papier mache pots by a volunteer at the Visaka Women’s Society, one of the WDC’s women’s forums. His training took place at the community temple. Ten days a month is set aside by this women’s group, to identify those like Mr Chadrarathne who may need help under the project.
He was also given a 10,000 rupee loan (around £55) through WDC to turn these skills into a successful business, so he is financially independent. “I really appreciate the help I’ve been given as I can buy supplies for both businesses,” he said. “This is very helpful as there is a huge demand for mushrooms”
Mr Gamini Wijewardana (pictured below) also has low vision. He used to be a handloom weaver but an arm injury meant that he was unable to continue his work. He also qualified for a 10,000 rupee loan, and although he can no longer make the material himself he has started to sell woven items like sarongs. He has turned this into a profit making business and is paying back his loan in instalments, 500 rupees per month.
Working together
These are just two of the people we have reached and helped by working with WDC. Being able to make the most of their existing networks of women’s groups and volunteers is allowing us to reach some of the most vulnerable and isolated people we would not otherwise have had access to.
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