Women who Overcome Challenges

The WDC aims to improve the status of women by identifying the problems faced by them and assisting them in finding solutions. We also help to build the abilities of women by raising their awareness on various issues and assist them in improving their economic situations. 

WDC works with the STD/AIDS clinic in Kandy and conduct regular meetings with commercial sex workers who attend the clinic. We have identified that these women face diverse problems and need assistance to find solutions. In order to accomplish this we reach out to selected low income rural communities and visit women who are referred to us by the STD clinics. We specially concentrate on women who are already involved in the commercial sex trade and those who are vulnerable to it through abject poverty. We also incorporate women who work on the streets and motivate them to find alternate income.

The program also included awareness activities to men with whom these women associate. The awareness programs are conducted on preventive methods and medication provided at the HIV/AIDS clinic. We also encourage the women to share the knowledge they have gained with their partners and others.  These women are provided revolving funds to start up income generation projects. We are happy that those who have received these loans are successfully involved in IGPs and some have already quit the sex trade. We monitor their progress and encourage them in their enterprises by providing them additional loans if necessary. A revolving loan fund has been established from which they can obtain loans.

The training programs include gender awareness, leadership, ethics/values, counseling on prevention and leading a happy family life. We promote their involvement in religious activities and assist the children of these women to continue schooling so as to prevent them getting into the same trade. These women are encouraged to get involved in other community activities.

We have helped to form a ‘self help group’ where they meet to discuss their problems. They are also encouraged to bring others who are in this trade and educate them of safety precautions. The members subscribe to the group and request the WDC for special skills training programs.