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In an old
age home for women
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Traveling from Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, we arrived
at this quiet village of Warapalana in the district of Yakkala
in 45 minutes. Twenty elderly ladies live in the Warapalana
home for women. It feels like the perfect place to spend one's
old age being surrounded by trees and vegetation. Most of
the women who live here have no families and some of them
have never been married. One 80 year old lady said “I
never got married. I do not have any children who would take
care of me. I am glad to be here. They take care of me very
well. ” They all had similar stories.
Three years ago I met the visionary woman who built this home.
An unmarried single woman herself who did not have any siblings,
she thought of such women and what happens to them when they
get old. She had a piece of land and was preparing it to build
a home for women who have nobody to take care of them as they
get older. I was so impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication
of this woman that I decided to help her. We assisted her
by sponsoring the water well, the water tower and tank, toilets
and shower.
This time I was visiting to donate some much needed furniture
for the home. It made me very happy to see how one woman’s
dream has come true and so many ladies have benefited from
her vision.
At the request of Vineetha Alwis, we arranged to donate bedside
cabinets with drawers for all the residents. When she made
the request, she said “I feel so sad to see that the
few belonging that these ladies own are wrapped in plastic
bags and they keep them under the beds. We need to help them.”
On the 21st of February, when I arrived in Sri Lanka, I went
to the old age home straight from the airport. After touring
the place we all sat down together and had a wonderful conversation.
Some of them told me the stories of how they came to live
in this home. After a short blessing ceremony they asked questions.
One lady even did a long prayer for me. They all were happy
to receive the bedside cabinets. We talked and had even a
few good laughs. It was a pleasant and joyful time.
For women who do not have families or have been abandoned
by families, old age can be lonely and difficult. I was so
happy to see that the twenty women who live in this home have
a family and friends and are being well taken care of. Let
us all wish them healthy and happy long lives. Special thanks
to Vineetha Alwis and everybody who supports TGS.
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