Strengthening women’s voices in the tea estates of central Sri Lanka

Nestled in the hills of Sri Lanka is a small organization run by a group of dynamic women. The Social Welfare Mandram (SWM) provides everything from social services to advocacy on women’s rights. This community-based women’s rights organization has been working for more than 30 years to empower women from Hambegamuwa, in the country’s central province. Years of working with women in this plantation community to address their day-to-day problems has provided the organization with a strong understanding of the issues facing them.

Canada’s Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) project in Sri Lanka has enabled SWM to support self-governed women’s societies in selected tea estates, and help women understand their social, political and economic rights.

Canada’s support enabled SWM to continue working in the plantations even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020-2021, the organization helped 300 women in 10 tea estates to form or strengthen women’s societies. This not only provided a strong voice for the women of Hambegamuwa, but also paving the way for young women to develop the skills and confidence needed to become leaders in their community.