Focused Empowerment Projects for Women
The empowerment of the local women is key to help their self esteem as well as providing a means for them to help support the family.
Hope House was established in December 2015 by Jess Butcher in Ampilanturi, eastern Sri Lanka, its mission, to provide a place to transact from as well as provide the necessary training for the women.
In November 2015 Jess was privileged enough to be selected to get involved in the filming of an episode for the National Geographic documentary series, 'Undercover Angel' - a format designed to drop successful business entrepreneurs into under-privileged areas around the globe in the hope that they could use their business experience and means to initiate and set-up sustainable projects to help support and develop struggling communities.
The original Hope House was pulled together in a week. Jess then partnered with Ocean stars to ensure the project continued and grow.
The women of Ampilanturai were all uneducated and devoid of options or opportunities to improve their lives - they lived hand to mouth and they worried constantly about their children's future. This is the same across many villages in Sri Lanka.
The centre continues to train 100s of people a month, has become the lively hub of the village - and all for the monthly cost of around 5 people's UK gym memberships.
Sewing is a popular income earner in Sri Lanka and Hope House provides a place to transact from as well as the necessary training for the women.
Whilst many take in sewing, it can be the start of a small business and so the provision of a sewing machine and training has and will continue to help lift a family out of poverty.
Ocean Stars and Jess would so love to continue to expand and have more Hope House's. Bringing these much-needed community and training facilities to other villages, similarly, still suffering the after-effects of the war.
Watch the video to see the women talking about Hope House