Stories of Transformation.
“When I had no one, Arva Foundation became my family”.
At Arva Foundation, the stories of the single mothers we empower are at the heart of everything we do. To honor their privacy and protect their dignity, we use names of flowers instead of their real names. This approach allows us to share their journeys, challenges, and triumphs without compromising their safety or personal boundaries.
Flowers are powerful symbols of resilience, growth, and beauty. These qualities mirror the strength and courage of the mothers we support. Just as each flower blooms in its own unique way, every mother’s story is distinct, shaped by her experiences and determination. By using names of flowers, we celebrate their individuality while providing a safe space to share their voices.
Through this symbolic language, we hope to shine a light on their journeys, inspire others, and remind the world that strength, hope, and transformation can blossom even in the face of hardship.
Meet Jasmine.
My name is Daffodil I’m 39 years old and live in Dandugama, Ja-Ela. I have one son and two daughters. My husband has been addicted to drugs for around 7 to 8 years now. I came to fully realize the extent of his addiction about 5 to 6 years ago, although in hindsight, the signs were there even earlier. Before I joined Arva Foundation, my life was extremely difficult. I had no job and no stable way to support myself or my children. I was often physically assaulted by my husband, and I spent many days in tears, feeling helpless. I was trapped in a painful situation, struggling to raise my two children while enduring abuse and fear.
In the midst of all the hardship, I came across Arva Foundation. That’s when I met Miss Rebecca, who has been a great source of support and encouragement. Her help and advice have played a big role in helping me move forward in life. There was a time when I was so overwhelmed with pain that I even considered ending my life, without thinking about my children. It was Miss Rebecca who intervened and helped me through that dark moment. She spoke to me with such compassion, and I listened. She explained the legal steps I could take and guided me on what I should do from my side. That conversation gave me hope and direction. Since the beginning of this year, I have been receiving Rs. 5,000 each month from Arva, and I am so deeply thankful for that support. I have twin daughters, and even buying basic school supplies for them is a struggle. Our family of four, my mother, my two daughters, and I, we barely manage to get by. My son no longer lives with me; he stays at my husband’s sister’s house. At the moment, I earn as little as Rs. 1,500, and for that, I need to travel all the way to Kochchikade, Negombo. Just the bus fare costs around Rs. 380. Feeding and caring for the four of us is incredibly difficult, and there are days when even our basic needs feel out of reach.
Right now, I am receiving monthly support from Rs. 5,000, and it means so much to me. I mainly use it to buy rice. When there's rice at home and a few other essentials, at least for two weeks, things feel a little more manageable. That Rs. 5,000 truly helps ease the burden. My two daughters are in Grade 9, and with all the school-related expenses, this support has been a great help. Recently, I also received an oven from Arva, and that has given me the opportunity to start a small home-based business. I’ve only just laid the foundation for it and am still learning, but I’m trying my best to grow it step by step. I don’t have much experience yet, but Miss Rebecca and Miss Roshi have been guiding and encouraging me along the way. Their support means everything to me.
Miss Rebecca introduced me to a counselor, and from that moment on, my life began to feel less lonely. The counselor calls me every week, not just to check in, but to truly listen, to help carry my burdens. Over time, we’ve formed a deep, sisterly bond. She knows everything about me, and she’s been the one to guide me, to advise me, and to save me during some of my darkest moments. That’s the kind of connection I now have with Arva. As a single mother who has been separated from my husband for a long time, I have no one else to lean on. But through Arva, I found not only support but also something that feels like family. It is Arva that helps carry my family through. In many ways, this is where my new family began. Arva has done so much for me, and I know there are many other single parents like me, struggling in silence, who can't bring themselves to ask for help but desperately want to build a better life for their children. For people like us, the support from an organization like Arva means everything. It’s not just about financial help; it’s about being cared for mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It creates something powerful: a family built on compassion, dignity, and hope. For all of this, I am deeply grateful, to Arva, to Miss Rebecca, and to the counselor. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart not just for myself, but for my children.
Daffodil’s story is not finished — it is still unfolding. She continues to balance hardship with courage, sacrifice with hope. And with every cookie she bakes, she moves closer to a future of independence and dignity.
Meet Orchid.
When I first joined Arva, I was in a truly helpless state and unable to do much on my own. I am a kidney patient and have undergone a kidney transplant. One of my toes has also been amputated, and I was living in great difficulty each day. I have a 12-year-old son, and my mother is unable to walk. Before falling ill, I held a respected job, but I lost it due to my health condition. Life became incredibly hard, and I had no stable means of survival. Raising my child during this time was a huge challenge, and I managed only with the help of many kind-hearted people. When I came to know about Arva, it gave me hope. Arva taught me how to rise again, not to give up on life. It truly helped me find strength and a new path forward.
The Miss I met through Arva encouraged me not to lose hope and taught me how to move forward without giving in to despair. At the time, I was a kidney patient and unable to walk, but her words inspired me to believe that I could rise again. Following the guidance I received from them, I slowly began to look at life with a sense of optimism. I also started receiving a monthly allowance from them, which made a huge difference in my life. It may have seemed small to others, but to me, who had nothing, it meant everything. When I thought about what I could do from home, the only skill I had was cooking. So, I started preparing food packets. With the financial support I received from Arva, I was able to purchase the essential items I needed to start cooking. From there, I began my small business and kept moving forward.
I didn’t have the financial means to start my business on a large scale, so I began small, with what I had. But then I realized that not many people knew I was cooking, as I was doing everything from inside my home. That’s when I began to think about setting up a small shop where people could easily find me. However, I had no money to make it happen. It was a real struggle to get started. I rented a small space and faced many challenges preparing everything I needed. Despite the difficulties, I began setting up the shop step by step. During this time, everyone at Arva would call me and encourage me. Their support gave me the strength to keep going and reminded me not to give up on life. I told myself that I had to find a way to start over. With that determination, I set up a small shop—and now, I continue doing what I can, the best way I can.
During this journey, I received a great deal of guidance from Arva. I was given valuable advice on how to manage my finances, how to reinvest the profit into the business, and how to take small but steady steps forward through business mentorship. That encouragement gave me the strength to keep going, and for that, I’m truly grateful. The support and care shown by everyone at Arva meant so much to me. They took the time to check in on me, calling me weekly to ask how my small business was progressing. That kindness and concern made me feel seen and supported. As someone living alone with a child and caring for an estranged mother, life isn’t easy. But having an organization like Arva, which is dedicated to uplifting people like me and helping us not to fall, gives us immense courage. I am deeply thankful to them for sharing knowledge we never had—how to do business, how to grow from it, and how to stay hopeful even in the hardest times. Their support is a true blessing for me and many other mothers like me.
Lily’s story is one of fragile health but unbreakable spirit. Even when life pushed her down, she stood again, driven by love for her child and faith in a brighter tomorrow.