The Imperial College Sri Lankan Society is proud to announce our partnership with the Rosie May Foundation supporting their 'Think Pink!' initiative for the academic year 2021-22.

The Rosie May Foundation was established in 2004 and works in Sri Lanka, Nepal and the UK. The mission of the foundation is to provide direct support for families at risk of separation and to reunite and reintegrate institutionalised or trafficked children and women into their community.

More specifically, 'Think Pink!' is an economic empowerment programme, challenging gender and cultural barriers. Vulnerable women in Sri Lanka are trained to drive Pink Tuk-tuks as taxis, to provide a reliable income for these single-mother drivers as well as personal safety for women and children travelling to work and school. This programme is being expanded to reach more women. This is particularly necessary given the recent findings by the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), which has identified that over 90% of women in Sri Lanka have experienced sexual harassment while using public transport.

So far, this project has given over 50 single mothers, and their families, a means of sustainable income and this number is set to increase in the near future. The initiative has also had the added benefit of ensuring that over 900 women and children can now reach their destination safely.

£4,000 will cover the costs of training six female drivers as well as purchasing a branded, reconditioned tuk tuk. The charity's driver support is a holistic package that includes mentoring, practice driving with other female drivers, managing finances, personal safety, digital skills training as well as lessons at a local driving school.  The vehicles are second hand, refurbished, resprayed and branded, taxed and insured. The drivers rent the vehicles from the charity at a lower market rate and benefit from maintenance, repairs, road tax and insurance being the charity's responsibility.

Single mothers and their families in Sri Lanka face many challenges and these have only increased during the current pandemic. 'Think Pink!' enables these vulnerable families to earn a stable income and get back on their feet. This is why we believe supporting The Rosie May Foundation is an obvious choice and we hope that you do too!

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The 1785km walk to empower march!

To raise some  money for the Rosie May Foundation, throughout the month of December we, as a society of budding athletes will be tracking our movements as we run/walk/swim and even crawl the perimeter of Sri Lanka!!!

Your donations will be a long way in helping vulnerable single mothers in providing for their families and giving them a new way of life! 

To be someone in the making of new beginning, a new way of life, a new future for someone less fortunate. Please consider donating.

For more information on the foundation and to see how much your donations truly change lives for the better, visit: https://www.rosie-may.com/