From 19th to 26th September I visited CWM Sri Lanka before I participated –together with our world Chaplain Guy Boudaud– in the regional seminar south Asia/Chennai/India.
The country Sri Lanka is very interesting because there are different areas. Beaches, rainforests, high mountains, lakes and so on. Down near the capital Colombo the climate is very hot and 2.500 m. oversee level it is very cold. Many tourists are there. The population is divided in rich and poor. There is a part who benefit from tourism but many peoples are unemployed. CWM feels more responsible for the poor and it is active in 7 dioceses and different target groups.
We have seen active woman groups which are working in vegetable, handcrafts, flowers, tailoring and others projects. I was so impressed about the creativeness, solidarity and good atmosphere among the members of these groups. Another target group are the emigrants: the government is pleased about the emigrants because they send money at home to Sri Lanka. But 90% are women as housemaids and the have worker’s conditions like modern slaves. This was the motivation for CWM why they are active in this sector.
They have Projects on 4 fields:
1. Women who consider going. There are seminars to motivate the women to remain in Sri Lanka to avoid such terrible experiences.
2. Preparation of the women who have decided to go. There are Seminars to prepare the women with her rights and give them advices for their behaviour.
3. Helpdesk for the women in work who have problems. They write to CWM when they have problems. Sudharma goes to the emigration institution pour complaining or other activities to help.
4. Helping for reintegration after coming home because the women made experiences in a very luxury world. If the come home the most are very disappointed and frustrated because the most are coming from rural area without water pipes and electricity. In my opinion CWM works very qualified exactly to the point and for the needs of these women. What a good work.
Organic Farming
Groups in different villages make seminars and give advices for organic agriculture. They make also common activities and projects.
Help for fishing families
Fisher families are the biggest group of unorganized workers along the cost. They are faced with a lot of problems. Husbands are often the only ones who earn money for the family. But this income is very poor because there is a fierce competition and the business is depending from different seasons. Unfortunately, many men spend the money for alcohol and the family suffers a lot. Children are often without any education and have also to work because there is no money from the man in the family. CWM helps the families in different projects. They give the women possibility to participate in save and loan groups and exchange their experiences to solve some of the problems. The effort to bring some children in education.
I’m very much impressed about the good work of our sisters and brothers from CWM Sri Lanka. It shows that we are really working on the ground to improve the situation of the affected persons. But another phenomenon admired me. I was during my stay carried from a great friendly atmosphere, solidarity and hospitality. You could feel that we are a family. This is the spirit of our word movement. I thank a lot to all my sisters and brothers which have accompanied me but especially Sudharma Kumudumala and Joseph Anthony Manchanayaka.
Ernst Bodenmüller
Treasurer of WMCW
