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Our Activities in Sri Lanka

AMURT supports families and poor mothers to stand on their own feet.
AMURT started its operations in Sri Lanka on 28th December 2004, only two days after the tsunami struck.
A small team arrived in Sri Lanka and supported 200 families with food, clothes and household items.

After the first emergency, AMURT carried out a transitional housing programme building transitional houses for 105 families.

Finally, AMURT launched a livelihood programme. The main objective is to generate family income for both tsunami-affected families and low-income families at Galle Four Gravets and Hikkaduwa. Initially AMURT trained 533 women on coir and dress manufacturing. After the training period, beneficiaries obtained raw material and machinery. This programme has enabled women to improve their own businesses, to better manage their income and to invest capital.

The women follow a 5 days training in micro-business: how to keep books, how much to invest, how much to save, market study, how to market the goods.
The next 5 days are dedicated to practical courses, where the women deepen their skills in some handicraft they already master. The groups specialised in coir rope making, learn how to make mats or carpets. The groups specialized in sewing learn how to make decorative designs.

What we do
AMURT work includes:
A. Temporary housing
B. Support to livelihoods

A. Temporary Housing

Temporary housing for 105 families

As soon as the first emergency was over, it became clear that people needed housing in order to have something coming near to a normal life again. For 6 months, from March to September 2005, AMURT carried out its transitional housing programme. With the help of the beneficiaries and on a cash-for-work basis, we have constructed temporary houses for 105 families. Considering that each family counts approximately 6 to 7 persons, we could help 700 persons to have a new house. The temporary houses are equipped with electricity and water and sanitation facilities and meet international standards.

The inauguration and handing over of the houses has been carried out according to the local customs, with a Buddhist festival and with traditional dances and meals.

Since 2005 many of the first families have now moved to their new, definite houses. Other families, waiting for their houses have moved in and fill the community with life.

B. Support to Livelihood

Women training programme

Many of the tsunami victims were lucky not to lose their houses. But they might have lost the basis of their income generation. Some unfortunate have also lost their husbands or fathers, being left without any means to earn their living.

Our livelihood programme supports women with a two weeks training programme. During the first week, they learn the basic knowledge of business, such as basic accounting, how much to invest and how much to save. During the second week, they get some practical training in a chosen skill. These women already have expertise in a handicraft and they only take some advanced technical lessons.

Handicrafts that we have covered include coir making, sewing, embroidery and lace making.

At the end of the training programme, the women are handed over the equipmentWomen training programme or embroidery kit) together with some raw material. They can immediately start their income generation.

The total number of women supported under this programme during 2 years is 1044. Out of these 835 (=80%) have a good income now and can cover the basic needs of their families, such as food, housing, medicines and education for their children.

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