In a bid to help urban female headed households, WERC launched its ‘Care and Share’ project on the 8th of March 2018 as a part of its activities for International Women’s Day 2018. New and nearly new clothes, shoes, stationery, children’s toys and dry rations etc. were collected by the WERC staff and distributed to the needy beneficiaries.

WERC identified the immediate needs of four families in the Wellawatte urban area with the help of a volunteer field officer who was a former employee. Three out of the four chosen families comprised school going children and the fourth family was taking care of their aging mother who was over 80 years. The distribution of the items to the needy families took place at the WERC auditorium.  

WERC also linked up with the Sooriya Development Centre and Affected Muslim Women’s Forum in April to identify needy families in Batticaloa. In addition to the items mentioned above, monetary assistance was provided by a number of individuals. WERC also purchased DSI Samson Group gift vouchers and other school supplies such as mathematical instrument boxes, color pencils etc., with generous donations by Dr. Ramani Jayasundere, Ms. Shanthi de Silva and Ms. Mihiri Gabriel.