Welcome
THE WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Since the mid 1980s, the Women’s Development Centre, or WDC, has worked to improve the situation for women in Sri Lanka. An idea that began with a few women in the central city of Kandy, today extends to many thousands of women, from every ethnic and religious group, in ten districts of the country. The WDC’s guiding vision is the belief that, with support, women can become empowered to make positive changes in their lives.
“Women have so much potential. I think it’s like a hidden treasure but nobody has taken the trouble to take it out. And that’s what we are trying to do.”
(Mrs. Pearl Stephen, WDC Founder and Coordinator)
The Women’s Development Centre strives to minimize the number of women who are subjected to violence by empowering them through access to knowledge and greater economic independence. It strengthens women socially by improving their standard of living and thereby fortifying the family. WDC programs focus on women at the grassroots level, in areas of intervention, prevention and advocacy together with networking of women’s groups for community development and peace.
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Commercial Bank of Ceylon Ltd., 99 Kotugodella Vidiya, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Ac No. 1002155501 Account Name:- Women’s Development Centre
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Women’s Development Centre
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Sthree - A Women’s Initiative
“Sthree” means “women in both Tamil and Sinhala. The merchandise displayed at Sthree comes from all over Sri Lanka. There are brightly colored handloom sarees from Batticaloa and Kalmunai and handloom home décor items from Welimada, stunning silver jewelry from Galle, tasty chutneys and jams from Kurunegala, traditional watti trays and rice containers from Mahiyangana and recycled paper products from Hanguranketha.
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Intervention
CRISIS INTERVENTION CENTRE
“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 Coordinator)
The Haragama Crisis Centre is one of the largest shelters in Sri Lanka. It is not only a safe place for women and girls to recover from violence or abuse, but from the moment they arrive, they are embraced in a community of support and caring.