The brunt of the three decades of conflict, has an astonishing 50,000 families headed by single women. – Source IRIN
Ranjanidevi is a 41 year old mother who brings up her three children single-handedly. Her husband has been missing since 2010 when he and some of his friends left the village in the hopes of travelling to Australia by boat. Ranjanidevi has not, to date, received word from him. He was the sole bread provider for the family. That was six years ago. Ranjanidevi has gone through many ups and downs to provide for her growing family.
During this very difficult time in Ranjinidevi’s life. Pacific Asia Resource Center Inter peoples Cooperation (PARCIC) stepped into her life and provided her with an opportunity to bring a daily income. They connected to her and helped her to make ends meet by providing a means through which she could sustain her family: The Sari Collection.
Today Ranjinidevi has a steady income and is able to manage her household with the income she makes through the project.
The Sari Connection is one project of PARC that helps marginalised women in the North. The product range is created by women from marginalised communities in Jaffna and Mullaitivu and all products are made by upcycling saris. When you purchase a product from The Sari Connection, you help alleviate a marginalised woman from her poverty and empower an underprivileged family to have a better future.
You can drop by their shop at the Good Market every Saturday or call on the numbers provided to place your orders. With every purchase you make, you provide a stepping stone for a women like Ranjanidevi to help sustain their families.
You can also donate reusable saris to the Sari Connection located in Havelock. For more information visit their Facebook Page.
All images courtesy their Facebook Page.