Success Stories
from our programme participants and alumni
Turning Passion into Action
Dealing with the challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks. Emerge Lanka Foundation emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words. Here are our success stories in the words of our survivors.
In order to protect participant confidentiality, Emerge never shares real names or reveal photos, and instead use the initials of participants' names as a code.
Courage and Resilience
Recognizing the enormity of the challenges our society faces, Emerge Lanka Foundation is dedicated to making a lasting impact through our campaigns and programmes. The "success" that our programmes have the potential to create are immense. Success can mean a programme alumni having the tools to seek mental health care during a tough period - and success can also mean a programme participant understanding the importance of creating goals and targets for her future. Success, is defined by each of our programme participants.
We celebrate every step they take forward; may be be a leap or a hesitant scoot forward.
UGLWAR met us through the shelter and moved onto become a part of the Centre as well. She followed a nursing course, which granted her access to work at the Nawaloka Hospital for a year, after which she got married and moved on to work as a creations facilitator at the Emerge Centre. Made by herself during the Emerge programs at one point of her life, she trained the girls who came to the Centre to design these pieces of jewellery, and overcome their difficulties through the therapeutic process.
MV is an example of hard work and genuine interest in building a strong life for herself. There was a time that we, to be honest, were very surprised to learn that she walked all the way from her boarding to her workplace during her first job, because she was being paid sparsely and she wanted to save. But, never once did she bring this up. Instead she kept going and going, until she decided it was time to move on, setting an important lesson to life nothing is impossible without hard work and commitment.
NL started work at the MAS Panadura, and currently works at the MAS Katunayake. She has been a committed individual, and a determined employee. Even within her personal life, NL has been able to maintain well-formed and healthy relationships
- a core component of the Emerge curriculum. Her bonds and professional boundaries are well bred, and mature. She is doing wonders at her workplace and is bound for great things, yet to happen!
APIL was one of the very first participants of the Emerge B2B program. APIL became a teenage mother at the very tender age of 16. With years to come, she is now married with 2 children. Emerge helped Apil set up a business to sew tote bags for the Emerge jewellery, while also not forgetting to put her skills at jewellery making to good use.
This is how APIL spoke about Emerge: "I have no words to express what Emerge means to me. When we were sad and alone in the shelter, it was only Emerge that I felt close to and it was only because of Emerge that I could keep happiness within my heart. I instantly felt close to Nirukshi Miss, although there were several programs other than the Emerge bead program run by other people. It was the bead program that helped me through, when I felt trapped and lonely in the shelter. Emerge has helped me so much even after I left the shelter. I am so thankful to Emerge. Emerge keeps helping me to this day. My husband also agrees that Emerge is a special place with special people."
