Caritas supports Eastern Women for healthy lives

“Today is a very happy day for us. For the first time, we have opened the market to sell the harvest we have cultivated for so long. Muslim dignitaries, a Buddhist clergyman, and Catholic Priests, Caritas representatives are here with us on this occasion. It is a very beautiful scene.” several Muslim Women expressed their joy.

Muslim women expressed their views so, during the inauguration of the new community market and the event of distribution of some tools, equipment,  seeds, and manure for their cultivation, held recently in the Iyankerney Muslim village.

The new community market for income generation was opened last Saturday, June 29, in the Batticaloa-Iyankerney village, representing the Caritas Sri Lanka National Centre by Sister Deepa Fernando, who heads the Sustainable Peace and Justice Unit of Caritas Sri Lanka, and Melani Manel Perera, the Sri Lanka Correspondent for ASIA News Service.

Caritas EHED recently launched a new program aimed at educating people about the benefits of organic farming, emphasizing its importance for current and future health, and helping boost their economy.

 

After the community market opened, the Rev. Fr. S.L. Jayanixon who is the Director of Caritas – Eastern Province Human and Economic Development Center stated, “The goal of our CAFFOD project is to establish a society that is toxin-free and to empower everyone to live together in the society. We are happy about this success. It is up to you all to maintain good health and achieve economic development.”

 

According to the Director, Father Jayanixon, 31 Muslim women in Iyankerney village, Batticaloa are benefiting from this organic gardening project of the Cafford project which was started in January this year.

 

Furthermore, Buddhist, Muslim, and Catholic clergy from nearby areas, alongside Caritas National Institute, participated in the opening of the new community market and distribution of equipment. The chief incumbent, Dambagalle Vanarathana Thero, Director of Al Madrasathul Muhammadiya, Eraur K. M. M. Kabeer Moulavi, and the Parish Priest of Chenkaladi, Father Nihastan Peterz, spoke to the congregation.

 

Addressing the gathering chief incumbent, Venerable Dambagalle Vanarathana Thero said that, in an era where insecticides and poisons are widely used, mobilizing people for organic farming is a valuable work that should be appreciated. Also said that setting up a market to sell their cultivated crops is a task that should be appreciated a lot.

“The opinion of many people is that it is very difficult to do this organic farming. It is not difficult. We are not used to it. From the beginning, we were used to fertilizers such as urea brought from foreign countries. Since there was no use of organic fertilizers, when we stopped bringing urea fertilizers to our country, all our farming and cultivation were crippled,” explained Venerable Dambagalle Vanarathana Thero.

K. M. M. Kabeer Moulavi commended Caritas for their significant efforts in the community, mentioning that even many years ago, the Holy Quran emphasized the importance of consuming non-poisonous organic food. “Our Prophet Mohammad stated that all individuals, not only Muslims, should preserve their well-being by eating organic food that is toxin-free” he added.

 

“We urge you to keep collaborating in your farming, in the marketplace, and in all other endeavors. The sole offering of Caritas is to supply you with the necessary financial resources and offer guidance” said Sister Deepa Fernando, head of Caritas National Centre’s Sustainable Peace and Justice Unit.

She commended the dedication of Muslim women, urging them to harness their skills to enhance their economy and foster unity.

“Using the resources you received peacefully to strengthen your economy and develop unity among you is a task you must do yourself,” said Sister Deepa.

 

The home garden crops of beans, eggplants, green beans, okra, drumsticks, various green leaves, and peanuts were brought by women to their first selling, and all the crops, and vegetables quickly sold.

 

“We reaped the advantages of organic farming and a thriving economy, introduced by Caritas – Batticaloa” several women stated with Mojo News.

 

“For a long time, we used to eat poisonous food, although they looked good. We used to get sick after eating them. But because of this organic farming that was introduced to us, today we and our children eat fresh and healthy vegetables that are produced by ourselves, without poison” told Mojo News a Muslim woman, Zulfika

“I feel very happy to see these non-toxic and healthy vegetables brought from our gardens for sale today,” she added.

 

Hamzia, another Muslim woman, praised that through this organic gardening project introduced by the Caritas Eastern Province Human Economic Development Institute, their relationship has grown, and their economy has also grown to some extent.

 

Continuing, Hamzia further said that , “From this point forward, our kids were fortunate enough to consume organic vegetables. Additionally, we were fortunate to boost our economy during a period of economic downturn. As a result, we were fortunate to be able to save some money today”

“We are grateful to Cafford Project, Caritas Eastern Provincial Human Economic Development Institute, Director Father Jeyanixon, and Caritas National Institute for these benefits,” joyfully expressed Hamzia.

END.