Alia miss is back

Posted by Nirukshi de Lanerolle on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Alia miss known to be one of the girl’s favourites is as you all know is the founder of Emerge Global. When she visits Sri Lanka we keep her arrival a top secret as we want to surprise the girls. But this time we informed the girls she was coming, so they waited in excited anticipation.

On Monday the 13^th it was the usual beading class day and when we arrived the girls wore the special dresses made themselves for her arrival, they had also put up a welcome sign at the entrance of the orphanage.

They were so excited to see her after many months, the new girls who had joined the programme recently introduced themselves, she also told them she missed them and is now very happy to see them after so long. There were so many of the senior participants who had left the programme and Alia was sad to have missed saying goodbye to them.

The girls had lots of things to catch up with Alia miss while the workshop was going on; we collected the last lot of products which the girls had made and handed over the Fall/Winter beads and supplies for the girls to make jewelry for the next beading class.

After lunch we left the orphanage as Alia was tired as she had arrived at 4 in the morning that day, as much it made Alias’s day, it was the girls who were the happiest to have Alia back with them again.

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Don't Forget Me

Posted by Ellen on Monday, July 13, 2009

Today Rachael was introduced to our girls in Sri Lanka, and it turned into one of the most hectic, emotional workshops she could have visited.

Hectic because the workshop wasn't run like normal. We are about to change the workshop bead colors from Spring/Summer to Fall/Winter, so instead of handing out new beads we only collected products, and asked the girls to finish up their current supplies before next week. Hence Rachael didn't get to see the Emerge Store and Bank in action.

Emotional because we found out about one girl who had left, two more that would be leaving within the next week, and the girls found out that I would be leaving in a little less than two months.

Nirukshi and I organized a birthday party (my birthday was the day before, July 12th) for the girls, complete with balloons, noisemakers, cake, and "buns" (i.e. burgers) from McDonald's that Nirukshi had gotten for free by filling out 20 comment cards. Rachael was introduced as the new Country Director, with Nirukshi explaining that I would be leaving in the near future. As soon as this was said the mood in the room changed, with two girls beginning to cry. It broke my heart to see them unhappy, and also forced me to think about leaving in a way that I had subconsciously been avoiding.

The party was overall a success: the girls loved their buns and party favors, and I even followed the Sri Lankan tradition of feeding everyone, including Nirukshi and Rachael, a bite of cake.

Things became more serious again towards the end of the workshop when one of the girls told me she would be leaving to go home within the week. Tears were streaming down her face when she looked at me and said "Ellen Miss, don't forget me." I pointed to her, and then to my heart. "I won't." When the Emerge team piles into the car to leave Ma Sevana the girls will usually wave us goodbye. Today this certain girl kept waving until we were out of sight, not breaking eye contact with me until the gate closed behind Nirukshi's car and we were back on the road.

After visiting Ma Sevana we usually stop by the Vocational Training Center (VTC) where many past program participants learn English, computers, how to sew, and other useful vocations. When we arrived, we were told that another one of our girls was going home. In her case, she was being sent to an aunt's house, and she looked worried and scared when she spoke about her uncertain future. She had been living away from her family, and society, for over four years. And for the second time today I heard "Don't forget me."

I've become so intertwined in these girls lives that it's hard to imagine not remembering them. But many times, like this afternoon, I realize they are more realistic and grounded than I am. I came to Sri Lanka with the hope that I could make their lives better, and I'd like to think I have. But at the end of the day, these girls know that while people come, they also leave. And where I am going none of them will be able to follow. It's something that hits me hard, to think of these girls as sisters and realize that they will never visit me, and that if I am to see them again it is my responsibility to get myself back to Sri Lanka. "Don't forget me." They say this because not forgetting is my responsibility. They understand that between the both of us I'm the one who is moving on, who will have the capacity, and ability, to forget.

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The Emerge Lanka Foundation Exists!

Posted by Ellen on Thursday, July 09, 2009

Yesterday I received the official documents from the Sri Lanka Registrar of Companies that approved Emerge Lanka Foundation as a charitable company (company number GA2271). This approval is the culmination of my work in Sri Lanka, and very fittingly arrived two hours before Emerge's new Sri Lanka Country Director did.

When I arrived to Sri Lanka in late-August of 2008, I realized that we needed to formalize and standardize our Bead Program before we would be ready to expand to other homes or projects. Hence I developed our Bead Program curriculum framework, which subsequent Emerge team members worked on implementing, improving, and building upon.

After spending most of 2008 working on the Bead Program, 2009 was the year of the legal entity. As the curriculum was being developed, I concluded that before we tried to roll out the Bead Program to other locations, we needed legal standing. While it would be possible to continue partnering with preexisting organizations, if we wanted to have the impact that Alia, the Emerge team, and I envisioned, we would need some kind of leverage. And that leverage would come with becoming an official organization, and having the ability to operate in Sri Lanka on our own.

In January I began the quest of forming Emerge Lanka Foundation, a local charitable company that would be tied to Emerge Global in the USA. My first several weeks were spent trying to identify a lawyer who could help navigate the legal system. I was introduced to Sumi through a friend-of-a-friend, and it has been one of my most serendipitous finds in Sri Lanka. Sumi is a smart, savvy, and powerful woman. She doesn't take no for an answer, and problem solves incredibly well on the fly, two things that are required to get anything done in Sri Lanka. In our first several meetings her determination and dedication were evident, and from that point on Sumi and I were a team, working together with the same goal of becoming an approved charitable company.

The process was long, with lots of roadblocks along the way. Letters of support we were promised were rescinded. Legal documents that had been approved were denied. Forms that were submitted were sent back because it was decided entries should written in all CAPS. Setting up Emerge Lanka Foundation has been an incredible learning experience. I've learned how to work with all kinds of people and come to solutions that are mutually beneficial for both of us. How to stay calm and not get flustered even when things seem unfair. And most of all, how to laugh at the absurdity of situations (and people) and keep on going regardless.

Our work isn't finished. Next we'll be establishing a local bank account, speaking with Inland Revenue about tax exemptions on VAT and import/export duties, and setting up our accounting systems to name a few. But at this point, all I want to do is share my excitement, and tears of joy, with all of you. So join in my elation, and throw a mini Emerge party wherever you are!

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The Ma Sevana girls get their vitamin fix

Posted by Nirukshi de Lanerolle on Wednesday, July 01, 2009

On her recent visit to the US Ellen, my youthful and vivacious Boss, created an impact with the students of Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana when she shared the stories of the girls at Ma Sevana. The students of Mrs. Coors Fashion and Textile Class, excited about the work we do at Emerge, wanted to send back gifts for the girls in Sri Lanka. When Ellen and I had our usual Skype chats which we had planned prior to her departure she asked me what would be the most appropriate gifts that could be given to the girls and I named a few. One of the suggestions I had made was to give them some vitamins which they need frequently due to the infections they catch so easily.

When Ellen came to Sri Lanka she brought donations of bags which the students of the Fashion and Textile Class made themselves along with hair brushes and toiletries sponsored by Wal-Mart and the girls were overjoyed to receive these gifts.

Donations collected in cash to buy vitamins by the High School girls were purchased personally by me. Since the girls and their kids at Ma Sevana love the taste of vitamin C and Cod Liver Oil, we came up with this bright idea that we would make it a habit to give them their favorite vitamins every week prior to commencing their beading class.

When we went down to the orphanage on Monday last they all came in line and wanted their peththa (tablet). It was a fun experience to give out the vitamins and fish oil capsules and it was also rewarding because not only did it make for a lively class that day but we were assured that they would stay healthier in the long term.

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