Sustainable Rural Development International

SPONSOR SOMETHING SPECIAL

Approximately once a month we promote something special where your donation can make a significant impact in the lives of those who have lost their jobs due to natural disasters, COVID, conflict or simply economic changes. These are people who are working hard to change their circumstances through entreprenuerial efforts and which benenefit their community and not just themselves.

This month we are supporting several families in Sri Lanka whose work in the tourism sector simply vanished overnight. This is their story and your donation can make a difference.

The coronavirus has disrupted the whole economic, social, and environmental ecosystem of the island, and has deeply impacted livelihoods in rural areas, particularly those directly or indirectly reliant on the travel & tourism industry.

Serene Vacations, a tourism agency in Sri Lanka has decided to work as a team to support the most affected in the rural tourism sector. They wanted to find ways to mitigate the worst economic effects of COVID and create new opportunities that could carry on long after the crisis. The team helps create new rural entrepreneurs through projects that would generate sustainable income and create new jobs for rural families; those who had been working in the tourism sector but who have since lost their jobs and income following the 2019 Easter attacks and now the COVID-19 pandemic.  Each mushroom farm costs about 2000 Euro, creating 10 to 20 jobs while offering approximately 100 - 200 households good quality mushrooms in the village.

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Recently, this has expanded to include watermelon cultivation.  To help, we are raising funds for a mini-tiller that costs about $150 USD.  SRDI will match every $20 contributed!

Donate in Euro, USD or GBP

Thank you for your generous help!