Germany supports war widows

The German Embassy in Sri Lanka launched a micro-project to support war-effected widows in the East. German Ambassador Jens Plotner said he was impressed by the courage and resilience of the war-effected population.

German Ambassador Jens Plotner handing over a symbolic cheque to Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce Chairperson Vidyani Hettigoda and WCIC Treasurer Charmine de Alwis.

"Often, all they need is a little help to restart a dignified life - this is where our micro-project can make a difference," he said.

The project supports twenty young widows in the underdeveloped areas of Batticaloa to start a home-based family business of egg-production as a means of self employment.

This would make way to improve the livelihood of the entire family and would replace the tradition of the male being the breadwinner.

The German Embassy launched the project to encourage women to start their own enterprises which would generate an income and at the same time counter malnutrition of children - a problem common in underdeveloped areas.

Each widow-headed family will receive 30 chicks and cages to commence the breeding of chicken and the production of eggs through the Women's Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Equipped with the initial costs and training, it is hoped that these women will find themselves engaged in sustainable and eco-friendly livelihood activity.