My name is Jasmine 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 SW, 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 SW. 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 SW, 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 SW, 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 Miss Andrea, and from that moment on, my life began to feel less lonely. Miss Andrea 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 SW. 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 SW, I found not only support but also something that feels like family. It is SW that helps carry my family through. In many ways, this is where my new family began. SW 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 SW 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 SW, to Miss Rebecca, and to Miss Andrea. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart not just for myself, but for my children.