Empowering vulnerable rural women for socio-economic development through Self Helped Groups – SHGs

The ethnic war which lasted for more than 3 decades had devastated the socio-economic conditions of people directly or indirectly affected by war and it has increased the depending nature. In the post-war context, the resettled were full depending on external relief to overcome effects of war. Accordingly, Government and I/NGOs are initiating various development projects to improve the socioeconomic condition of war affected communities but the needs among them are quite higher than the service and resources accessible to them.

On realizing the benefits and applicability of SHG approach to the context, ZOA and FOSDOO has initiated the project to promote socio-economic development through Self Help Groups. Major intentions of the project were socio-economic empowerment of women and poverty alleviation because SHGs are viewed as a catalyst for women’s economic empowerment that will lead to larger social empowerment. Because, most common and serious problems that exist in rural areas are increasing debt rate and microfinance institutions / banks and money lenders are influencing the rural communities specially the women groups. Therefore, the project has initiated to introduce SHG approach to the women in targeted locations in District. Now, 193 SHGs with 1317 members has formed and running SHG in total of 40 villages in Vavuniya,Vavuniya south,  Vavuniya North & Vengala cheddikulam DS divisions, Also, we were able to see or observe certain changes among the targeted communities.