1. Women Forum IMHO S.Sujanthy Rajaram, MD

2. What is it? Formed by women who volunteers to be part of the IMHO group Formed by women who volunteers to be part of the IMHO group Goals: Encourage minority women in USA, Canada and around the world to help the women and children in need Goals: Encourage minority women in USA, Canada and around the world to help the women and children in need Empower the women and children around the world Empower the women and children around the world Give them better opportunities, standard of living, education and communication skills needed to survive Give them better opportunities, standard of living, education and communication skills needed to survive

3. Goal Give them HOPE Give them HOPE In war zones and refugee camps they feel helpless and hopeless In war zones and refugee camps they feel helpless and hopeless Women who are blessed with education, wealth and better living could help empower the disempowered Women who are blessed with education, wealth and better living could help empower the disempowered Give them hope and give them a voice which can be heard Give them hope and give them a voice which can be heard

4. How did it get started? We had our first meeting in New Jersey. We had our first meeting in New Jersey. 45 women participated 45 women participated Came up with valuable suggestions and plans Came up with valuable suggestions and plans Formed a committee Formed a committee Eagerly waiting to expand the forum Eagerly waiting to expand the forum And be part of IMHO women’s group And be part of IMHO women’s group

5. Partnership Women forum is supported by the partnership of Operation USA. Women forum is supported by the partnership of Operation USA. Op. USA is a charitable organization based in LA, works in most parts of the world including Sri lanka. Op. USA is a charitable organization based in LA, works in most parts of the world including Sri lanka. Op. USA, South Asian director, will stay in the women forum as advisor Op. USA, South Asian director, will stay in the women forum as advisor Op. USA will match all the funds collected by Women forum Op. USA will match all the funds collected by Women forum

6. Some work women could do….. Adopt an Internally displaced camp Adopt an Internally displaced camp Adopt Sri lankan refugee camps in South India Adopt Sri lankan refugee camps in South India Reach out to women in the camps, counseling, education, employment Reach out to women in the camps, counseling, education, employment Writing letters to children, Let our children communicate with the children camps Writing letters to children, Let our children communicate with the children camps Raising awareness in the community Raising awareness in the community Involve children & youths to help the one in need Involve children & youths to help the one in need

7. Some work women could do….. Networking with other women’s group and NGO’s Networking with other women’s group and NGO’s Fund raising Fund raising Letter writing campaigns to UN and other human rights organization Letter writing campaigns to UN and other human rights organization Arrange meetings in many places to get more women involved Arrange meetings in many places to get more women involved Make this as a global effort to help Make this as a global effort to help

8. Suggestions? Our 1 st group meeting involved 3 small discussion groups came out with many good suggestions Our 1 st group meeting involved 3 small discussion groups came out with many good suggestions We encourage any positive ideas and suggestions and involvement We encourage any positive ideas and suggestions and involvement Involve College students and children to get started Involve College students and children to get started

9. “Under Reported Tragedy of 2006” MSF

14. It is obvious these women need help?

15. Center for Women’s development and Rehabilitation (CWDR) Founded in 1991 by socially conscious women in Jaffna In 1995, with massive exodus from Jaffna, moved to Kilinotchi Registered as an NGO in Srilanka with social services department in 1995 Supported by government and NGO’s Made significant change in more than 2500 women and children’s lives in 2003

16. CWDR - Mission CWDR - Mission In Srilanka women & children suffered disproportionately In Srilanka women & children suffered disproportionately Deprived socially, economically, Physically & Psychologically Deprived socially, economically, Physically & Psychologically CWDR – To provide urgent humanitarian relief & long term rehabilitation to women & children CWDR – To provide urgent humanitarian relief & long term rehabilitation to women & children Mission is to help those: Mission is to help those: Directly & indirectly affected by war Directly & indirectly affected by war Social and economic inequalities Social and economic inequalities Natural disasters Natural disasters Behavioral violence Behavioral violence

17. Mission of CWDR & IMHO women forum Mission of CWDR & IMHO women forum Help women & children to live with a sense of Help women & children to live with a sense of Hope Hope Self-respect Self-respect Self-reliance Self-reliance Diverse village-based activities Diverse village-based activities Get help from NGO’s and government Get help from NGO’s and government Identify & provide assistance to W&C Identify & provide assistance to W&C Enable them to participate in community development Enable them to participate in community development

18. Mission of CWDR & IMHO women forum Mission of CWDR & IMHO women forum Assistance to women who lost the family’s main provider through Assistance to women who lost the family’s main provider through Income generation strategies Income generation strategies Loans Loans Established village based saving systems Established village based saving systems Social awareness programs Social awareness programs - Child care - Child care - Hygiene - Hygiene - Education - Education

19. Mission of CWDR Mission of CWDR Resolving & counseling social problems, Family violence Resolving & counseling social problems, Family violence Locating & assisting destitute women & providing refugee care, self- employment skills Locating & assisting destitute women & providing refugee care, self- employment skills Literacy programs Literacy programs Evening classes for school drop outs Evening classes for school drop outs Nutrition programs for children & pregnant Nutrition programs for children & pregnant Skills for small business & craft projects Skills for small business & craft projects Variety of training programs Variety of training programs - Physical &psychological health - Physical &psychological health - Developing sense of responsibility - Developing sense of responsibility - Leadership skills - Leadership skills - Employment skills - Employment skills

20. CWDR branches in North & East Srilanka CWDR branches in North & East Srilanka Jaffna Jaffna Kilinotchi Kilinotchi Mullaitheevu Mullaitheevu Vavuniya Vavuniya Trincomalee Trincomalee Batticalo Batticalo

21. IMHO Women Forum IMHO Women Forum Could sponsor many of CWDR’s projects and help expand their projects Could sponsor many of CWDR’s projects and help expand their projects Monthly need is 10,000 US $ to run the projects Monthly need is 10,000 US $ to run the projects One woman contribute 10$ per month and get total of 1000 women involved this target could be achieved. One woman contribute 10$ per month and get total of 1000 women involved this target could be achieved. 1 $ per day will feed 3 meals per person! 1 $ per day will feed 3 meals per person!

22. Other NGO’s helped CWDR Other NGO’s helped CWDR Oxfarm Oxfarm UNDP UNDP BAJ BAJ TRO TRO FORUT FORUT UNICEF UNICEF ICRC ICRC UNHCR UNHCR

23. District projects: Kilinotchi District projects: Kilinotchi Income generation- poultry rearing, small business, tailoring Income generation- poultry rearing, small business, tailoring Sewing machines Sewing machines Financial assistance to continue with jobs of their choice, raise living standards & save for future Financial assistance to continue with jobs of their choice, raise living standards & save for future Sex discrimination awareness programs Sex discrimination awareness programs Women’s right awareness project Women’s right awareness project Building new wells in schools, households Building new wells in schools, households

24. District projects District projects Social awareness & skills training – Batticalo Social awareness & skills training – Batticalo Vavuniya: Vavuniya: Education Education Data collection Data collection Saving scehemes Saving scehemes Cottage Industry Cottage Industry Skills training Skills training

25. District projects District projects Mullaithiveu: Mullaithiveu: Savings scheme Savings scheme Elders education Elders education Income generation Income generation Nutrition Nutrition Water & sanitation Water & sanitation

26. District projects District projects Mannar District Social awareness Social awareness Reconstruction & Income generation Reconstruction & Income generation Individual help Individual help Jaffna district Income generation Income generation Data collection Data collection

27. Specific projects- Welfare Centers Specific projects- Welfare Centers Vettri Manai – A home for the mentally challenged Vettri Manai – A home for the mentally challenged Medical attention Medical attention Councelling Councelling Social activities Social activities Niraimathy Illam – Full moon home – For women born mentally impaired Niraimathy Illam – Full moon home – For women born mentally impaired Speech therapy Speech therapy Councelling Councelling Education Education

28. Specific projects- Welfare Centers Specific projects- Welfare Centers Malar Cholai- Flower Orchard – Refuge for young mothers ( partners disappeared or killed) & children Malar Cholai- Flower Orchard – Refuge for young mothers ( partners disappeared or killed) & children Education Education Awareness of hygiene, nutrition and child care Awareness of hygiene, nutrition and child care Vocational training Vocational training Self employment- poultry, gardening Self employment- poultry, gardening Enhancing awareness and changes in societal attitudes Enhancing awareness and changes in societal attitudes toward single mothers toward single mothers Traces partners Traces partners

29. Specific projects- Welfare Centers Specific projects- Welfare Centers Mary Illam- Mary’s home – refugee for young women aged 17 and above Mary Illam- Mary’s home – refugee for young women aged 17 and above - Locate families - Locate families - Training in farming - Training in farming - Vocational training - Vocational training - Education - Education - Councelling - Councelling

30. Specific projects- Welfare Centers Specific projects- Welfare Centers Senthalir Illam – Tender sprout home: home for destitute children Senthalir Illam – Tender sprout home: home for destitute children - Attendance at regular school - Education - Nutrition - Nursery school - Extra curricular activities - English classes - Adopt a child program – Donors could adopt a child and contribute

31. Employment opportunities Employment opportunities Uthayatharakai – Rising star Uthayatharakai – Rising star Regional service centers Regional service centers papadam factory papadam factory Shop Shop Coir factory Coir factory Mechanic workshop Mechanic workshop Grinding mill\Snacks factory Grinding mill\Snacks factory

32. Vocational Training Vocational Training Computer training Computer training Cattle & poultry rearing Cattle & poultry rearing Battik workshop Battik workshop Food technology course Food technology course Vocational fabric design & dying course Vocational fabric design & dying course Leadership & communication training Leadership & communication training Project managers training Project managers training

33. Monthly Expenses Monthly Expenses Vettri Manai – A home for the mentally challenged Food & clothing - 450,000 Rs Food & clothing - 450,000 Rs Medical facilities - 150,000 Rs Medical facilities - 150,000 Rs Staff salary - 296,000 Rs Staff salary - 296,000 Rs Fuel - 96,000 Rs Fuel - 96,000 Rs Building & maintenance - 85,000 Rs Building & maintenance - 85,000 Rs Total - 1,077,000 Rs Total - 1,077,000 Rs About 10,000 US D per month About 10,000 US D per month

35. Staff Organisation Chart Centre for Women’s Development and Rehabilitation EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PROJECT DIRECTOR (planning and development) District Directors ( 7 districts) Divisional Coordinators (40 districts) Field Officers Village Groups ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR DIRECTOR FOR MANUFACTURING (Uthayatharakai) Factory Operation Managers Factory Workers WELFARE CENTRES DIRECTOR Centre Managers Administrators Care Givers Head Office Accountant International Communications Administrative Officer District Accountants District Communications Officers Communications Officers Administrative Staff District Instructors Instructors CWDR BOARD OF DIRECTORS CWDR Advisory Committee

36. Operations Organisation Chart Centre for Women’s Development and Rehabilitation Identifying Problems & Decision Making Guidance & Advice Farm Sewing Centres Coir Industries Pappadam Industries Elukai Workshop Oil Manufacture Industries Locating Finance Monitoring & Evaluation Projecting Advisory DistrictsSector Family Division VillageIndividuals Loans & Housing Village Awareness Government & Non- Governmental Organizations Education Centers Vetri Manai PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION DEVELOPMENT SECTION WELFARE SECTION Niraimathy Illam Mary Illam Senthallir Illam TEACHING SECTION Instruction for Project Development Vocational Training Instruction for Management Law VOCATIONAL SECTION ( UTHAYATHARAHAI) Vegetable Farm Animal Husbandry Malar Cholai Food Clothing Medical Education Encouragement Individual Assistance

37. Operations Organisation Chart Centre for Women’s Development and Rehabilitation Identifying Problems & Decision Making Guidance & Advice Farm Sewing Centres Coir Industries Pappadam Industries Elukai Workshop Oil Manufacture Industries Locating Finance Monitoring & Evaluation Projecting Advisory DistrictsSector Family Division VillageIndividuals Loans & Housing Village Awareness Government & Non- Governmental Organizations Education Centers Vetri Manai PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION DEVELOPMENT SECTION WELFARE SECTION Niraimathy Illam Mary Illam Senthallir Illam TEACHING SECTION Instruction for Project Development Vocational Training Instruction for Management Law VOCATIONAL SECTION ( UTHAYATHARAHAI) Vegetable Farm Animal Husbandry Malar Cholai Food Clothing Medical Education Encouragement Individual Assistance