A stroll with DOLLS

Jayamali Perera’s will and skill bring a stilled smile:

Chandraratne Kaluarachchi Hindogama Group Corr.

Soft, pretty and cozy are the dolls that are kept on display. Smile is stilled on their faces impressing one that it will never fade. But the tale of making these beautiful dolls and to stitch a fixed smile on these faces is never a soft business for its creator - Jayamali Perera, a woman who has stitched a life for herself and her family on those ‘happy’ dolls.

She is one among many women who takes great strides to banish hard times and build a new life in its true sense.

But she stands out as her self will and skill has earned her praises and strength placing her third in the Best Entrepreneur in the Small Scale Business category in the Trade exhibition at the BMICH. “It is a great achievement and a position that all self-built women look for,” she exclaimed.

Thus, the self-employed mother who fights tooth and nail to support her family of three daughters has emerged a beacon of hope to other unemployed women in her village.

“There’s a huge demand for my dolls and a stall for my products is always reserved every time that exhibition is held,” she said.

Jayamali, took interest in dolls as they are fondly adored by little girls. “I used to adore them when I was a child but we could not afford expensive dolls. They were very roughly made and barely beautiful. Yet, they meant a lot to us and just so adorable,” she exclaimed.

She believes it’s a token of mirth and hope that one can cling onto. She observed how they are stitched and the best way they can be presented with a little cost. Whenever she stepped into a toyshop with her children her fingers ran through the long breaded hair of dolls in satin dresses. Soon the thought pricked her that she could make the same beautiful doll with slight alterations to it as she has already mastered the skill of sewing at home.

“I was so thrilled to discover that the making of cloth stuffed dolls is not so hard and it will be another avenue to support my family along with my husband,” the self-willed woman from Maradankulama in Mihintale said.

Jayamali’s husband who is serving in the 13th National Defence Regiment in Mannar promptly agreed to Jayamali’s suggestion. Jalamali went ahead with her plans and reached out to professional training. She received training on Business Management and the art of dolls making at the Industrial Development Authority of the North Central Province.

Soon, the period of doubt and despair was over. She started alone and reaped good results. The soft, adorable, cloth stuffed pretty things ignited hope in her to proceed further. She is now managing her doll making along with eight women.

“They were unemployed women who were not directed to any specific job or trade. I trained them and now we all are earning for ourselves to support our families. We derive satisfaction in the work we do and are inspired by that,” Jayamali observed.

Jayamali uses cloth, cotton and threads to bring out beautiful dolls. She, along with other women in her workshop designs colourful dresses for the dolls. “We keep up with the modern fashion trends in the market to infuse a sense of novelty,” she noted.

Success took Jayamali to new heights as she purchased a van to speed up her enterprise, on a loan facility provided by the Bank of Ceylon. She got the opportunity to exhibit her dolls at the Trade fair exhibition at the BMICH which opened new avenues to her.

She displayed her teddy bears and dolls at the exhibition conducted by the Co-operatives Ministry, Anuradhapura, recently.

“I believe we all can win life if we work hard and learn a skill. That thinking may help remedy the problem of unemployment in our country,” she remarked.