Sri Lanka

The civil war in northern Sri Lanka resulted in an estimated 100,000 killings over a 27-year period. Five years before the war ended, Sri Lanka was pummeled by a tsunami that killed over 30,000 people and displaced 1.5 million others from their homes. The hardships and atrocities the people of Sri Lanka have faced left them feeling hopeless, helpless and forgotten. Many are still suffering today as their homes, spouses and children have been taken away.

One By One – in conjunction with local churches – is committed to helping needy widows and their families in the Vanni area, the neediest region affected by the war. Many of the widows, whose husbands were killed by bomb blasts, have nothing. They struggle for food, live in extreme poverty and don’t have access to basic hygiene products. Without assistance, these families are destined for a life of despair. Following the Easter Sunday 2019 terrorist attacks in Colombo, One By One launched an urgent appeal and helped victims rebuild their lives.

One By One opened its first sewing centre in North Sri Lanka in 2017, giving women a safe place where they can come and learn sewing skills and potentially start new businesses. Many of our widows are under the age of 40 and having lost so much, are desperate for a fresh start in life. These sewing centres can become training centres where women are discipled, trained and sent out with fresh purpose and skill, energised by true love and care.

Become a Freedom Builder! Your money will enable these families to have a chance to rebuild their lives after the devastation of loss, poverty and war. We also have several women’s groups that want to support the Hope Sri Lanka project, so if you feel you can help in any way, please get in touch.