The Final Message Prepared by Ms. Pearl Stephen Before her Demise

Another year has swiftly gone by! Looking back at the events, so many staff left the WDC and some have replaced the vacant position. Life at the shelter gives hope and courage to many women who never thought they can restart their life, new referrals continue to pour in and fill the shelter, and the ages of victims getting younger! The shelter continues its work in taking care of many girls who are downhearted and deceived, full of grudge, hatred and pain. But it is also a joy to see those who revisit the shelter calling it as their home even though they have moved on in life. Some even come forward to help others who have gone through the same experience and support us in many other ways.

We have many volunteers and well-wishers who have come forward to help us in kind during the past year. Volunteers who worked with us have been a great help in many ways. Local donations have helped us to supplement our income. Foreign funding continues to decrease at a rapid pace for Sri Lanka, which in turn affects WDC's work in bringing hope and justice to many families. Water for the shelter is costing a large sum and we have to find financial sources somehow to cope with the need as it is the most basic necessity for our shelter. We handle the largest number of teenage pregnancies in the country which involves transport for regular check-up at hospital and for court hearings; cost for transport keep increasing with the increase of fuel prices.

A Special thanks to the Rotary Club of Kandy and Katugastota for stepping in and reconstructing and renovating one of the buildings and providing equipment, as the facilities at the shelter is very limited to house these women and children.

I also like to thank Mrs. P. A. Weerapana, for her contribution as the Deputy Coordinator of WDC. We certainly will miss her, and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

A special thank you to all our funders, well-wishers and friends for all their support and cotributions, and wishing you all a very blessed new year.

May God Bless you all.

Pearl Stephen

Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the beauteous land...