MEET NALIKA
Nalika is 23 and lives with her husband in Kadurugoda, in Sri Lanka’s Monaragala District. Like many young families in her community, they worked hard to grow crops such as maize, cowpea, and manioc—but each season came with a heavy burden. To plant and harvest, they were forced to take out bank loans and borrow money, trapping them in ongoing financial stress.
Through the Sri Lanka Project, Nalika was given the opportunity to break that cycle. She was selected as a beneficiary of the maize project and received seeds, fertiliser, and training in sustainable farming practices. For the first time, she was able to cultivate her crops without taking on debt.
The impact has been life-changing. Nalika shared that, compared to previous years, this season brought not only a successful harvest but also a sense of freedom. She can now reinvest part of her income into next year’s crops—without needing loans—and set aside savings for emergencies. What began as practical support has become something much deeper: a pathway to stability, dignity, and hope for the future.
Right now, you can multiply your impact for families like Nalika.
For every $1 you give, your impact becomes $3 — thanks to support from the New Zealand Government.
Why Your Help Matters
Access to safe water, climate-resilient farming, and women’s economic empowerment are key to breaking cycles of poverty.
When these come together, families gain stability, dignity, and the opportunity to build a better future.
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The Reality
Families in Sri Lanka’s dry zone rely heavily on unpredictable rainfall
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Limited access to safe drinking water increases health risks
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Farmers struggle with low yields and unstable incomes
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Women often have limited access to economic opportunities
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Many households remain vulnerable to climate shocks and financial instability
WHY YOUR HELP IS URGENT
Thanks to supporters like you, the first steps of this project are already underway — but this is only the beginning. To create lasting change, we must continue building on this momentum.
Project Progress so Far
1. Safe Drinking Water
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- 2 new tube wells have been drilled
- 42 households received water filters
- Families trained and actively using safe water practices
2. Climate-Resilient Farming (in Kadurugodagama)
- Maize FarmingÂ
- 30 farmers actively cultivating maize
- Improved seeds and fertiliser provided
- Training in financial record keeping and farm technical guidance
- Formation of farmer learning groups established
- Harvest is underway with improved income expectations
- Farmers are being connected to structured market systems, helping reduce reliance on informal middlemen
- Chilli CultivationÂ
- 15 farmers preparing to begin chilli farming
- 2 farmers already have functioning agricultural wells, with more to come
- Selected farmers visited established chilli farms, gaining practical exposure to cultivation practices
- A formal market pathway with company Siyambalanduwa Agro Ltd. is being established, which will handle marketing and facilitate sales to major Sri Lankan companies
3. Women's Self-Help Groups
- 330 household visits conducted to ensure fair beneficiary selection
- Foundations in place to launch self-help group
- These groups will support savings and financial literacy, small business development and increased participation in household decisions
HELP US CONTINUE THE IMPACT
The next phase is critical to turning early progress into lasting change. With your support, we will:
- Support maize harvests and post-harvest systems, helping farmers maximise their income
- Launch chilli cultivation to create new, higher-income opportunities
- Complete agricultural wells for irrigation, so farmers can grow crops year-round
- Establish women’s self-help groups to strengthen families' long-term economic resilience
 For every $1 you give, your impact becomes $3.
Thanks to the New Zealand Government, every donation to this appeal will be tripled.
$50 becomes $150
$100 becomes $300
$150 becomes $450
$300 becomes $900
Your generosity goes further — reaching more families, faster.
Four Impact Themes
(Your Gift Options)
1. What SAFE WATER means for a FAMILY
Health • Time • Dignity • Resilience
Gift: NZD 50 → becomes $150: Helps provide safe drinking water through tube wells and household water filters
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Reduces waterborne diseases
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Saves time spent collecting water
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Strengthens resilience during dry periods
2. What WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT means for a COMMUNITY
Confidence • Opportunity • Stability • Leadership
Gift: NZD 100 → becomes $300: Helps establish and support a women’s self-help group
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Builds savings habits and financial literacy
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Supports small business development
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Strengthens women’s role in household decision-making
3. What FARMING SUPPORT means a HOUSEHOLD
Productivity • Income • Knowledge • Security
Gift: NZD 150 → becomes $450: Helps provide farming inputs and support
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Seeds, fertiliser, and tools
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Technical training and monitoring
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Supports both maize and chilli farmers
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Improves yields and income stability
4. What IRRIGATION means for a FARMER’S FUTURE
Reliability • Growth • Sustainability • Opportunity
Gift: NZD 300 → becomes $900: Helps build an agricultural well for chilli farming
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Enables irrigation in dry conditions
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Supports high-value crop production
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Increases long-term earning potential
Donate to Sri lanka appeal
If you would prefer to donate via Online Banking, you can use the details below:
Account Name:Â International Needs New Zealand
Account Number:Â 02-0432-0234652-00
Payee Particulars:Â Your surname & initials
Payee Code: Sri Lanka Project
Payee Reference:Â Your Donor ID # (if known)
If you have any questions, please call us on 0800 463 337 or email accounts@innz.org.nz