Krys Gadd, Tonie Pottage, Karen Cunningham Walker and Jo Wright are fundraising for the girls refuge (Crisis Intervention Shelter) in Sri Lanka, run by the Women's Development Centre, WDC.

Our latest project is to renovate some accommodation for the girls at the refuge. At the moment it is in a bad state of repair - with broken floors, gaps in the roof and poor bathroom facilities. Please see the pictures below. If renovated this would house 15-20 girls that have survived gender based violence.

Please give as generously as you can to help give these girls a hope for their future.

The Crisis Intervention Shelter is one of the largest establishments for crisis intervention and was also the first shelter located in Sri Lanka. The centre provides many facilities that enable a safe environment for women and girls to recover from violence and abuse with a great amount of support and care. It provides a loving home for survivors of violence. Since its inception, the priorities have been safety, security and ensuring empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

They are made to feel part of a family, part of a community. They also receive skills training, in areas such as housekeeping and cookery, handloom weaving, sewing and handicrafts, home gardening, animal husbandry, shop work, fabric painting and other vocational skills

“Rape is something you’ll never forget. It’s a severe trauma, but still, I firmly believe that no matter what the crisis, however severe, it is possible to come back to normalcy, given the right environment. That’s what we are trying to do.” – Pearl Stephen, WDC founder

“I came here five years ago and I was very afraid because I didn’t know what to expect. But with all the support and love and affection of the staff, it has made a big difference in my life. I feel that mentally I have returned to normal; and I am much happier now” – (Client, Crisis Intervention Centre)

As a UK charity, Their Future Today, collect (and transfer) the money we raise on behalf of the WDC and they receive any gift aid donated. In exchange, they hold the WDC accountable for all the monies donated and spent, so we can concentrate on the fundraising.

Just thought I would let you know that through the generosity of a legacy trust in honour of someones father, we will be match funded in this project up to the sum of £10,000!!!