OUR MISSION
Economic Empowerment of Sri Lankan Women
Green Dreams Women empowers economically and socially disadvantaged women in Sri Lanka by providing safe spaces, comprehensive training, and sustainable opportunities for employment.
We connect eco-conscious consumers with products made by women who are rebuilding their lives in post-conflict communities, ensuring that every purchase supports a guaranteed livable wage.
Our mission is to lift women out of poverty, foster community resilience, and promote lasting peace in Sri Lanka through the economic empowerment of women and their families.
OUR STORY
How We Started
GreenDreamsWomen was established in 2014 to address the crucial issue of chronic unemployment amongst the more than 80,000 women-headed households in post-conflict Sri Lanka in 2013. Our vision is to foster economic empowerment for women to rebuild their lives that pave the way for stronger communities which ultimately results in healing and reconciliation between the diverse ethnic communities.
OUR IMPACT
Crafting a Better Future for Sri Lankan Women
8
MICRO-BUSINESSES CREATED IN JAFFNA
2,650+
SRI LANKAN LIVES IMPACTED
30,000+
HOURS OF CONTINUOUS FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT PROVIDED SINCE 2018
OUR MODEL
How We Create Change
Our trained Sri Lankan women artists create art pieces using recycled paper and eco-friendly materials.
We sell the art pieces online, at local craft and artisan markets in San Diego, and through corporate partnerships.
We provide our artists with a consistent living wage each month.
OUR ARTISANS
About the Artists
The talented artists of GreenDreamsWomen are women from post-conflict Northern Sri Lanka, many of whom lead households impacted by the country's civil war. Trained in the intricate craft of handmade quilled art, these women use their skills to create beautiful, eco-friendly products.
Through their artistry, they are not only rebuilding their own lives but also contributing to a thriving micro-economy that supports sustainable livelihoods. Each piece they create tells a story of resilience, empowerment, and hope for a better future.
THE SITUATION IN SRI LANKA
Overcoming the Lasting Impact of War and Inequality
Sri Lanka is a nation emerging from a 30-year civil war between the minority Tamils and the majority Sinhalese, which ended brutally in 2009. As in many conflicts, women were disproportionately affected both during the war and in its aftermath. The war left over 40,000 women-headed households in the North and East regions of the country, with more than 20,000 in Jaffna District alone. Despite this, the unemployment rate for women remains twice as high as for men.
OUR VISION
Our Vision for the Future of Sri Lankan Women
To foster economic empowerment for women to rebuild their lives that pave the way for stronger communities which ultimately results in healing and reconciliation between the diverse ethnic communities.
GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Our Commitment to A Better World
Our commitment to the women, community and the environment also directly support the following UN Sustainable Development Goals.
OUR FOUNDER
About Tara Jeyaratnam
Green Dreams Women was founded by Tharani (Tara) Jeyaratnam, a Sri Lankan-born American and Social Impact and ESG consultant. After living in India, Botswana, and the USA since 1983 due to the civil war in Sri Lanka, she returned to Jaffna in 2010. Since then, she has opened a resource center in her family home in Jaffna.
It is her personal relationship to a homeland she had to leave that drives the mission behind Green Dreams Women.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER