Progress Update October 2025

FARM AND LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS: RESILIENCE AND HARVEST

Mavadivembu Farm: New Growth and Rich Diversity

Mavadivembu farm continues to demonstrate robust productivity and diversity this month. Our fields are successfully nurturing a range of crops, including long beans, bottle gourd, and cucumber. We are also maintaining a steady supply of essential seedlings, particularly brinjal and scotch bonnet pepper, for local gardeners. A significant success are the moringa project, where the newly planted trees are flourishing and growing well, promising valuable future yields, and the vermicompost project, with 15kg worth of compost produced.

Thikiliveddai Farm: Navigating the Drought

Thikiliveddai farm is currently still facing the challenging consequences of the drought season, with the water scarcity issue yet to be resolved. This harsh climate is significantly impacting our livestock: currently, only three cows are providing milk, and their yield is severely reduced to just one litre per day.

On the cultivation front, a ready harvest of manioc is currently being deferred as we await sufficient rain. This extended dry period presents a challenging situation. Despite the difficulties, we are preparing for future success: the farmland is being ploughed in anticipation of the next set of crop cultivation once the drought breaks. We continue to seek collaborative solutions to mitigate the drought’s impact on production.

Mavadivembu Community Wellbeing Initiative

We were honored to host a critical awareness program at Mavadivembu, led by a highly experienced UK-based Psychologist with over two decades of expertise in counselling, clinical, psychosocial, and community psychology. Informed by a Sri Lankan Tamil background, the psychologist brought a deeply relevant, cross-cultural, and community-centred perspective to the session.

The awareness program was structured around four core, impactful objectives:

• Suicide Awareness: To raise awareness about suicide as a public issue that affects entire communities, presenting it as a broad and real concern to begin breaking the silence around this sensitive topic.
• Maternal Wellbeing and Prevention: To highlight the essential link between a mother’s emotional resilience and suicide prevention, emphasizing how maternal wellbeing directly influences children’s emotional safety and their ability to cope and thrive.
• Affirming Parental Care: To affirm and recognize the profound care mothers already provide, acknowledging efforts—such as enrolling children in extracurricular activities—as powerful acts of parenting and emotional protection.
• Introducing Self-Care Practices: To introduce simple, realistic self-care and peer support practices that are culturally appropriate and manageable within a rural context, encouraging peer solidarity and everyday habits for sustained emotional wellness.

This vital session contributed significantly to our goal of bridging mental health, culture, and community development within the Mavadivembu area.

Batti Women’s Crafts: Expanding Skills and Market Reach

The Batti Women’s Crafts initiative is actively expanding its creative output and business operations. The artisans are continuously producing their popular coconut-based crafts while also mastering new mediums, with ongoing training in resin art and clay-based jewelry production.

We are proud to highlight that the Mavadivembu Center is effectively managed by Priyavathani, the President of Batti Women’s Crafts. Her dedication ensures the project’s growth through consistent participation in exhibitions, online sales, and direct sales visits, successfully bringing the talented work of the Batticaloa women to a wider audience.

Educational Excursion: A Journey Through History and Heritage

Our Saturday skill development classes at Mavadivembu continue to grow, offering new opportunities for our studWe are thrilled to share the details of an unforgettable historical and cultural trip undertaken by the children of Mavadivembu, accompanied by Symbioun team members and several supportive parents who helped ensure the smooth coordination of the journey. The excursion focused on the iconic heritage sites of Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla.

The adventure began in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, where the group explored significant landmarks, including the impressive Moonstone, the ruins of the Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu I, the magnificent rock carvings of Gal Vihara, the intricate Sandha Dhatu Hall, the vast Parakrama Samudraya, and the majestic Lankatilaka Temple, Nissanka Latha Mandapaya, and Pothgul Viharaya.

The highlight of the day was the ascent of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Despite facing a light evening rain, the children displayed remarkable enthusiasm and sportsmanship, thoroughly enjoying the climb and the stunning views.

The day concluded with a night visit to the revered Golden Cave Temple in Dambulla. This educational trip provided a rich, hands-on experience, bringing Sri Lanka’s history and architectural legacy to life. It was an immensely enjoyable experience for all participants, creating lasting memories and reinforcing the importance of our national heritage.

We are grateful for the overwhelming support from the community and our dedicated team who have made these programs a reality.

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