Sri Lanka - Clarence Mendis - 1981 Graduate
Farms Lanka
submitted by Clarence Mendis, General Manager, July 2019
2019 First Quarter Report with Brief Narratives
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The Farms Lanka Ministry had the privilege of serving our Lord Jesus Christ with great pleasure and happiness and manifestation of His love towards the community which we have experienced through Him in our lives.
Women's Empowerment
Part of Farms Lanka’s work includes women’s empowerment programmes. The Farms Lanka manager participated in the special women’s development programme in Uswatte on 24th March, 2019 to commemorate world women’s day with a gathering of 250 people organized by the Deputy Finance Minister and a counselor on the Moratuwa Municipal Council. This programme was conducted to strengthen women to take the burden of the family as a wife and mother to achieve her goals - especially economically - with her time and skills. There were a few resource personnel who shared some valuable thoughts to encourage women and their role in the community. After the programme they shared some food and distributed dry rations for selected families. Farms Lanka also partly contributed to the dry ration packs.
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-The programme commenced with a religious observance from Buddhists and Christians
-Women gathered at the programme
-All agreed that women should take part in the development process of the family and community
Seminars for Low Income Groups
Farms Lanka also conducts seminars for low income groups in churches and CBOs island-wide. Seminars cover the topics of agriculture and animal husbandry, focusing on how food production is a means of poverty elimination and income for their lives. A seminar was conducted in a church in Mylampavadi, Batticaloa in the Eastern Province on 14th February, 2019. We selected 22 women to assist in small livelihood projects such as poultry, goat rearing, preparing and selling of spices and curry powder, home gardening, small grocery. In the north and east there are many isolated women and widows, numbering as many as over 80,000, and this number has been heightened after the civil war. The Farms Lanka manager gave instructions on how to use the money and the resources to run the project profitably.
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-Farms Lanka Manager explaining how to use resources
-Women from a group receiving assistance
-Farms Lanka Manager with the pastor and the women's group in Batticaloa
Due to the present Sri Lankan economy, the ability of small families to purchase essential food items has been affected. Farms Lanka promotes home gardening with some vegetable cultivation in the land and some in the pots as well as some bird-rearing. During Farms Lanka project visits, they take time to introduce housewives on how to cultivate something in their land which will bring a little money for the family. Farms Lanka staff carry vegetable seeds, books, and plants most of the time to be distributed during their visits. One person that Farms Lanka works with is Mrs. Mali Nimalka Fernando.
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-Mrs. Mali receiving a pot with a plant and she has some plants already growing in her garden
-Mrs. Danny Perera of Gonawela who is famous for cattle rearing receiving a chilli plant in a pot
Farms Lanka has provided relief assistance to many places in Sri Lanka where disasters have taken place. This year, the drought hit many parts of the country. The Kilinochchi area in the northern province was also affected by the civil war for many years with a lot of destruction. During the time of disasters, Farms Lanka works with churches to bring relief to the people. The Farms Lanka manager and staff visited the Kilinochchi area in the northern province where the organization had initiated some projects earlier. We are happy to see the development taken place in churches, institutions, and families. The Farms Lanka team visited St. Luke’s Pre School, Dharmapuram on 17th January, 2019 and distributed some health kits among pre-school children and teachers. Farms Lanka conducted a seminar soon after the war ended with the affected women at St. Luke’s church.
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-Farms Lanka manager conducting a livelihood seminar soon after the war
-Farms Lanka manager distributing seed packs and agriculture books for affected women, especially widows
We thank God for our partners and friends who have contributed to Farms Lanka relief and development programmes. Although there is a shortage of resources for some programmes, Farms Lanka has a very wide role on relief and development programmes in the community. God has given us opportunities and we thank Him for all His blessings for us and towards the ministry, bringing Glory to God and helping the poor and needy in our island and in neighbouring countries.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:10