Programme Coordinator

As I am a veteran at planning parties, retreats, and reunions, this time, too, I was excited to organize the reunion for the past participants of Emerge Lanka Foundation. Of course, Iro plans the activities for the girls and I get to organize the venue, games, transport, and contacting the girls.

I started preparing over 2 months before the date we had actually planned the reunion, by going through all the telephone numbers I had, calling all the girls and finding out if they were free to participate and telling them that we would love to have them at the reunion. While some were excited to participate, others found it difficult to come all the way from the far out places they were living, even though we promised to reimburse their traveling costs. (Most girls live out station and some take at least 6 to 7 hours traveling time.)

However, I managed to get 20 girls to confirm, but only 16 of them participated, as a few had unexpected issues that came up suddenly and were unable to attend.

This time, the best rate I got from the numerous hotels and guest houses I made inquiries from was the place we went to last time. We were happy to go there, as it is a beautiful hideout and very quiet. We have the whole place to ourselves, a very nice thing, as the girls feel very relaxed and happy with their babies.

I organized a huge bus for us to travel from Emerge headquarters to the hotel and vice versa; all of us traveled in it, while a few of them found it easy to come straight to the hotel and arrived a little earlier than us. On the way, we had to pick up a few others. We had participants who started as early as 3.30 in the morning to meet us they traveled form Matara, Galle, Kurunegala, Kandy, Avissawella, and Chilaw. Some of the participants had 2 babies and the youngest was only 4 months old.

It was so nice to meet them after a long time and the girls were so excited that they met their friends after many years, as some of them came for the first time since they left the shelter.

Once we arrived and after a welcome drink, I gave them the option to select the rooms they wanted and choose the friends to share their rooms, as we had participants from 4 homes. After a while of freshening up, relaxing, and exploring the beautiful hotel, we met for lunch. Towards late afternoon the girls got into the pool and enjoyed themselves, some knew how to swim and taught others how to; some of the kids splashed as well.

In the evening, we had a celebration, as two of the girls had their birthdays in February; a cake was cut and, as tradition holds, everybody was fed with one piece of cake by the birthday girls and loads of photographs were taken.

Before dinner, we met at the hall where Iro spoke to the girls and did one of her activities. She spoke about healthy relationships and, thereafter, we played a few games. The girls enjoyed passing the hat for the music, dancing stars, and the best dancers were chosen. We had a special item where Udani dressed as a Japanese girl and did a special act, which was a welcome surprise.

After dinner, the girls went into their rooms and watched TV and chatted until the wee hours of the morning. The next day, we had breakfast and met for the next session of activities. The girls enjoyed the Tree of Life and the My Life activity which Iro conducted. I spoke to them about how to spend your money wisely and how they must save and about the fixed deposit schemes that most banks could offer them.

As I had received some generous donations from sponsors, many gifts and prizes were shared equally among the girls and, as Emerge had promised, all of them were presented with photo albums! As a welcome surprise, I had a few photos which I had taken years back of the girls, which I inserted in the album and gave them. They were so exited and happy; however, we promised them that each of them would be sent a few photos by post, so that they could put them into the album we gave them and keep them as a memory.

The day went so fast and soon it was time for us to have lunch and leave. Some of them said their goodbyes sooner as their families came and picked them up from the hotel, however, most of us came back to Emerge headquarters as the families were awaiting their arrival in Colombo.

It was a wonderful and most memorable experience! The girls were so happy and thanked Emerge for organizing such a wonderful reunion, some of them presented us with thank you cards and gifts and the seniors who knew Alia gave me cards to be posted to her.

Emerge Lanka

On a beautiful sunny morning, we the Emerge team headed down south on our annual retreat.

I felt a great strength and happiness was overflowing within me to know that through my rough times the Emerge team has been there for me. It also made me very proud that my baby girl was born on the 4^th anniversary of Emerge Lanka Foundation.

We had a great time during the two days we spent at this resort, after a meeting and going through the road map for the year 2012, we were so happy that we had achieved so much during the past year!  We also looked at goals for year 2013.

We also had a meaningful SKPE chat with Alia Miss, Ellen Miss, and Bryanne Miss; I was so glad that Alia Miss saw my baby.

I treasure the Emerge team very much! I felt loved by them more than my family, the affection extended to me like a mother is from Nirukshi Miss. I value her advice immensely and the love of a friend extended to me by the others in the team is very much appreciated.

Because of Emerge, I am empowered and I wish the team many years of success to empower more teenagers like me.

<a href=”http://www.easternecho.com/article/2012/12/emerge-global-jewelry-helps-girls-in-sri-lanka”>If you’re stumped on what to get for your girlfriend, sister or mother or maybe just want to buy something for yourself, you could check out some one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry from the Emerge Global organization.

Emerge Global helps young girls in Sri Lanka, ages 10-18, who have suffered from abuse and have been put into shelters in many cases.
The organization partners up with these shelters and helps the girls learn and develop both business and life skills that will
help them support themselves in the future.

The jewelry is handmade by the girls in Sri Lanka and 50 percent of the selling price goes to the girl who created it.

If you’re stumped on what to get for your girlfriend, sister or mother or maybe just want to buy something for yourself, you could check out some one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry from the Emerge Global organization.

Emerge Global helps young girls in Sri Lanka, ages 10-18, who have suffered from abuse and have been put into shelters in many cases.
The organization partners up with these shelters and helps the girls learn and develop both business and life skills that will
help them support themselves in the future.

The jewelry is handmade by the girls in Sri Lanka and 50 percent of the selling price goes to the girl who created it.</a>

ELF Program

Development Officer

Last week,  the Emerge team went to see one of our past participants, who is working in a garment factory. She was one of my best girls, and is like a sister or a daughter to me. She was at all three shelters (that we work in) in the past few years. She was a bit naughty in those days, but she listened to me. Whenever, I taught lessons she would give fun answers, sometimes, disturbing but, I was always listening.

After she went to the garment factory, she called me several times. Once when she called me and said,  ”Iro akke, I wanna tell you something but I feel very shy to tell it.” I said, “Don’t be shy, why, do you have boyfriend?” She was surprised, she said, “How did you know? Yes, there is a guy who likes me. I also like him a little.”  I said, “Good, but be careful. Don’t tell that him that you don’t have anyone. You tell him that we are here for you, and that we would like to meet him.” She said ok.

Recently, when we went to meet her, I asked her, how is her boyfriend? And, she said, “Iro akke, I don’t like him.” I asked why, and she said, “Iro akke, he always asking me to go somewhere with him. But, I remember that you taught us about relationships. The good things and bad things. After I said no several times, he didn’t speak to me. I am not sad, as I thought he is not the person I want.”

At that moment, I didn’t show my happiness. I am happy because she is wisely making decisions. Nobody is helping her. By herself, she is making wise decisions for her life. I said, “Good, I’m very happy that you remember everything. We’ll see. You have time… you are still yong and strong. You will have a bright future.”

Actually, a lot of garment factory girls will start relationships and face troubles because they won’t make wise decisions because they don’t know. I’m proud of my girl, because I know she will win her world one day. This is one of my victorious days!

Emerge Office Assistant

I look back at the past year I am very pleased, I have been working with Emerge for nearly an year and I am so thankful to them for the knowledge I have gained and the experiences and, most of all, the joy of being a part of the team.

I have been to places I have never been to, I have seen things I would have never seen, and I have met people I have never dreamt of meeting; this has all been an experience to me.

In this new year, I wish Emerge Lanka Foundation and the staff and all the supporters of Emerge a wonderful year and I hope I could serve these wonderful girls as long as I can.

Emerge Lanka

Financial Officer

Since I have joined Emerge Lanka recently, many of my friends were interested in getting to know more about my new organization.  When I tell them about what Emerge Lanka does and the challenges faced by our girls and their present situation, many of them felt like doing something for these girls. As a result of this, my friends joined with me to collect stuff for the girls.

We decided to collect and distribute these things during December, since it is a festival session. We believed everyone would be in a “giving mood,” so we could collect more stuff for our girls.

As we believed, we were able to collect more than 600 pieces of clothes which are good looking and trendy. One of my friends owns a beauty parlor and she donated more than 120 pieces of new fashionable jewelry to the girls, with those and also some other girls’ donations, I was able to make 80 little jewelry kits for the girls.

Friends, who are married and have children, donated dresses and new toys for kids. In addition to these, we were able to collect 11,000/- as a cash donation. Using that money, we were able to buy sanitary packets and soaps for the girls and candies, toys, and coloring books for the kids.

Almost everyone in my friend’s circle helped me with collection and packing.  A few of them provided free transport to collect the stuff from different places, and everyone willingly dedicated their precious time to this event.

On December 28, 2012, we went to Salvation Army and distributed all these stuff with the help of Nirukshi. The girls were very much excited about the trendy jewelry; I think they did not expect this kind of a gift from us. The kids were excited with their “Toy Pack,” which had one piece of candy, a coloring book, and a new toy. Since there are more “Toy Packs,” we asked the kids to select one pack as they wished.

Each of my friends felt that, they had spent a momentous day in their lives. Many of them are willing to continue this connection with our girls; therefore, I am approaching them to be mentors for these girls.

Emerge Lanka Foundation

Programs Assistant

Stringing a necklace bead by bead is like meditation, it keeps your mind in one place. By looking at different kinds of beads and colors you get creative ideas. Once you make a necklace and see someone wearing it, it gives you a great sense of satisfaction.

When the girls make their necklaces, I see something special in them. How much effort, time, exceptional skills, and color matching has gone into creating this beautiful product.

Seeing the skills of these wonderful girls gives me a great joy and satisfaction.

Programme Coordinator

It has been always the case that when it comes to planning out a reunion, retreat or party for Emerge, I have always been the one to organize it. I was excited when Amanda told me to organize the retreat this year as well. As always, I looked for the best bargain, as I had a budget to work on; I looked online, at many budget hotels and got a good deal with one of the providers.

The dates were set; the two younger members in our team had not experienced going on the newly opened southern highway before. We arrived in Aluthgama where we had access to the river of Benthota and the sea. Last year, too, we went to a similar surrounding we were excited we would have the best of both.

On our way, we stopped at the newly built resting area on the highway. When we arrived at the hotel, we had a welcome drink, and, thereafter, we were invited to a scrumptious lunch. In the evening we had a dip in the sea and played a few board games. Then we had a meeting and Amanda praised and congratulated us for the amazing year we had. She was proud that we had mostly achieved our goals on the road map. We ended the meeting with a game, where we had to say something good about each other. It was so nice to hear the amazing things which were said!

Some of the things that struck me most were the following:

*Sithara said that Amanda Miss wass the one who made her a permanent staff, and always pushed her to achieve her goals.

*Udani mentioned that she was glad she was given the opportunity to join Emerge and that I have filled her void of being a mother to her and looked after her growth in the team.

*We all agreed that Udaya came into the organization and has worked efficiently and streamlined the accounting system; Amanda said she has been an immense support to her.

*All of us know that Iro is an amazing teacher and the girls love to hear her teach.

*We were pleased that Sithara and Udani have matured and are very professional in the work they do.

*Each of us mentioned that Amanda has been a strength to us all and we were happy that we could go to her at anytime with our needs and that she is always there for us, even though she is our Country Director.

*Last, but not least, I was touched when Udaya said that I have been a mother figure to all the girls we work for and that it was not easy. All the others agreed that I was a mother figure to them as well.

*I was so thankful that I was appreciated by the staff and we all felt very good and happy for what everyone said about each other.

The finale of trip was the Ringo ride we had on the river. We all remember the toss we had last year on the Banana boat ride and we made it very clear to the people who were taking us that it would not be repeated. While Sithara sat with her 5-month-old baby on the speed boat clicking away, we had the most enjoyable and exciting ride.

We came back home the next day after a relaxing retreat, we say a big Thank You to Emerge and Amanda for making this a possibility.

Emerge Lanka

Financial Officer

Victoria Sato, a victim of the Newtown incident. She will be remembered as a hero forever. I am dedicating my blog post to her. I honor Victoria and her sacrifice…

I am a strong woman
you can see the fire
burning in my eyes
it’s not the strength
of a powered muscle
but the hand that is feeding my soul

I am a strong woman
that sees beyond the veil
walking on clouds
as a virtue
they become my cushion
my syllables of words unspoken
carriage of believes
carousel of rainbows
painted upon my heart
become the seal of my energy

I am a strong woman
I stand between the two poles
darkness and light
my arms extended to keep them straight
might comes from most powerful source
I don’t rely on the potency of the flesh
that weakens me with every pore
the power within my only authority
so vivid and immense
remains
I am a strong woman

Kasia Fedyk