Livelihoods with virtual learning and jobs for widows,women headed families & disabled persons in conflict affected families in Sri Lanka
Provide range of livelihood opportunities with virtual learning & farm jobs for conflict affected families with hopes & sustainable incomes




Explain your project idea (2,000 characters)
After 30 years of civil conflict in Sri Lanka affected families were replaced and rehabilitated. Among them the most vulnerable are widows and women headed families. Government of Sri Lanka and number of international agencies have provided support with different projects and programmes to develop their livelihoods. But still results and the impact for the most vulnerable families in terms of regular income from their livelihood is not at a satisfactory level as per most of the evaluations and as per the ground realities. This is a serious challenge for government, INGOs, NGOs and Community based organizations and of course those widows, Women Headed Families (WHFs) and disabled person in those conflict affected regions in Sri Lanka. This project will bring an innovation to provide a breakthrough solution for those the most vulnerable and those who failed to establish their livelihoods with all previous attempts. In this regard we will change the landscape of the livelihood support support project modality. We will not ask them to come and waste time for meetings and group activities. In amny cases its not possible or creating more issues. This project will introduce totally virtual livelihood support assistance mechanism including all trainings, follow ups and evaluations will be done using a mobile application installed pre configured tab. We will provide a tab 10 families for sharing and community volunteer with a practically meaningful and totally feasible private sector linked livelihood development option for each family. Instead of traditional trainings we will provide a breakthrough methodology to inspire and identify the level of entrepreneurship of the each family and to select the best livelihood development option led by private sector and through working opportunities at a commercial agriculture and livestock farm. WIth this the most vulnerable and so called "non successful" people will become success stories and develop hopes for their future.Who are the beneficiaries? (1,000 characters)






How is your idea unique? (1,000 characters)
Caritas HUDEC Vanni will be the budget holding implementing partner for this project and PASSAsia (applicant) will be the technical capacity building solutions provider including private sector cooperation. Livelihood support mobile applications, volunteer network and the commercial agricultural and livelihood farm are the three main components. This is the first time in the conflict affected areas in Sri Lanka Caritas or any other INGO or NGO is doing this kind of approach. All existing models and approaches demand more and more beneficiary meetings and group works and visits. This will make those almost zero and through the mobile application we connect, train, follow up and even evaluate their progress with close connections including virtual mentoring and coaching. Widows, WHFs and disabled will then get a big relief since they can manage all at their home. Livelihood options also selected together with the private sector and with totally new options. This is a totally new model.Idea Proposal Stage (choose one)
- Prototype: I have done some small tests or experiments with prospective users to continue developing the idea.
Tell us more about your organization/company (1 sentence and website URL)

Expertise in sector
- 7+ years
Organization Filing Status
- Yes, we are a registered non-profit.
- Yes, we are a registered company.
In 3-4 sentences, tell us the inspiration or story that encouraged you to start this project.
The most vulnerable families have not success though many organizations and government supported for them to develop their livelihood. All are thinking a solutions for that. Most of the recent evaluations also shows that we need breakthrough innovations to improve sustainable income for those most vulnerable. With this situation Caritas HUDEC Rev. Fr. Director and the staff were had many informal and formal discussions with communities and PASSAsia as their Consultant. This is a burning need.Please explain how your selected topic areas are influenced, in the local context of your project (1,000 characters).
Prosperity of the most vulnerable families in conflict affected areas has been impacted by the availability of sustainable livelihoods and income or sustainable and dignified employments. The most vulnerable families always get blame that unsuccessful on their livelihoods. Though supported they have sold those and again they expect support. They never attend meetings and their interest and commitment is not enough etc. Of course that is why they are the most vulnerable. For this contest only we have to address. With this project prosperity and the dignity of those selected most vulnerable families will be influenced with the establishment of private sector led livelihood and economic development options and opportunities. With the economic and social development of those families will be improved. Those who can not do their own livelihood activities will get jobs at the proposed agricultural and livestock farm belongs to Caritas HUDEC Vanni.Who will work alongside your organization in the project idea? (1,000 characters)
Project administration, financial management and the budget holder ownership is with Caritas HUDEC Vanni under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Director of the HUDEC Vanni. Field level facilitation to be done by group of community volunteers who are working for Caritas. PASSAsia will be the technology and the private sector linking partner throughout the project. Caritas HUDEC Vanni and PASSAsia are collaborating partners for more than 5 years of time. Existing partnership is to build staff capacity, undertake project evaluations, project designing and strategic capacity buildings. In addition all required government stakeholders will be partnered for subject matter services such as District Secretary office, Divisional Secretaries, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Animal Production and Health are some key examples. Further Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC (http://www.caritaslk.org/) will provide required national level support.Please share some of the top strengths identified in the community which your project will serve (500 characters)
1. The most vulnerable families have the great desire to get involve with jobs or livelihood options 2. Government organizations also will support Caritas HUDEC for this project since this will solve one of the burning issues innovatively 3. Caritas HUDEC has 20 Ac agricultural land in Kilinochchi to develop as a commercial agricultural and livestock farm to provide employments 4. PASSAsia is a proven consulting partner and private sector relationship builder to think kind of projectsGeographic Focus
Conflict affected Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi District in the Northern Province of Sri LankaHow many months are required for the project idea? (500 characters)
Total 36 months are required 1. Some of the components are already available such as community volunteers, office facility and government stakeholder relations etc. Proposal agricultural farm also at a very small scale. Therefore within 18 months all initial setup including commercial farm, virtual learning platform as a mobile application and the connecting with private sector led most suitable livelihoods to be completed 2. Within balance 18 months the project will produce expected resultsDid you submit this idea to our 2017 BridgeBuilder Challenge? (Y/N)
- No
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CommentOzuluonye Shedrack
Samantha Pathirathna
Ozuluonye Shedrack
Samantha Pathirathna