Ketheeswary’s journey: Standing strong, leading forward

Beyond the daily financial pressures, she navigated another, deeper struggle – the weight of social stigma placed on women who manage families and livelihoods without a husband: 

People looked at me with doubt. They assumed I couldn’t succeed on my own. After some time, I started believing them.”

Those judgments wore away at her confidence. Decisions felt heavier. Stepping outside the home felt harder. She worked tirelessly yet felt unseen.

The shift began when Ketheeswary joined the empowerment programme run by UN Women and implemented by the Foundation for Innovative Social Development (FISD), with support from the Government of Japan. Within the women’s collective, she found something she’d been missing for years – solidarity.

The programme’s model brings women together to examine social norms, share experiences and strengthen their voice within their families and communities. Through self-care activities, group dialogues, Power Walk exercises and discussions under FISD’s Happy Families Model – which focuses on transforming household relationships and advancing gender equality – women learn about healthy relationships, equitable sharing of household responsibilities and emotional well-being.

“During the Power Walk, I realized how much strength I already carried,” Ketheeswary says. “I saw myself differently for the first time – not as someone struggling alone, but as a woman who has endured and continues to rise.”

She also attended stakeholder meetings that introduced her to local networks and government support systems, helping her expand business opportunities and improve market access.

With renewed confidence, she began making decisions that reflected her value rather than others’ expectations. She restarted her business with greater focus, strengthened relationships within her community and began speaking up in local discussions and women’s collective meetings.

“I no longer live for what others might say,” she shares. “I choose how I dress, what I eat and how I spend my time. I make decisions with confidence – for myself and for my children.”

Samitha Sugathimala, FISD Programme Director adds: “When women stand together, social norms begin to shift. Ketheeswary’s confidence did not appear overnight – it grew from shared understanding, self-acceptance and community support.”

Echoing this, Ramaaya Salgado, UN Women Sri Lanka Head of Office, says: “Empowerment is rooted in dignity and agency. When women recognize their own power, they transform not only their lives, but also the social environments around them.”

A story of strength that inspires others

Today, Ketheeswary is not only running her business successfully but supporting other women who face similar barriers. She speaks openly about confidence, decision-making and the importance of collective support. Her story reminds us that empowerment begins when women are seen – and when they see themselves.

As communities across Sri Lanka continue conversations on women’s rights and equality, Ketheeswary’s voice rings clear: “Strength was always inside me. I just needed a space where I could recognize it.”

As the world marks the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, her story is a reminder that ending violence also means expanding women’s choices, voices and opportunities. When women have the resources and confidence to make decisions about their lives, they’re better able to challenge harmful norms and shape their futures with dignity.

Ketheeswary’s journey shows that economic empowerment is not only about income – it is about safety, respect and the right to live without fear. When women are supported to walk forward with confidence, entire communities benefit. Families become stronger, relationships become more respectful, and the cycle of stigma and silence begins to break.