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CDS CANCER FUND

Cancer is a life-altering condition, often leaving families grappling with despair and distress when a loved one is battling the disease with little hope. In Sri Lanka, roughly one in ten individuals will face some form of cancer. CDS embraced its mission of supporting cancer patients and their families and is catalysed by its executive director’s journey with the illness – battling 3 primary cancers in seven years.
The CDS Cancer Fund serves as a beacon of hope, geared towards providing the necessary treatment, care, and healing for those facing this illness.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE FUND
  • Through a sustained crowd-sourcing process, invite individuals, corporates, and philanthropists to assist those battling cancer to make regular contributions to the Fund.
  • Support patient needs at the Maharagama Apeksha Cancer Hospital.
  • Collaborate with and provide financial support to other existing cancer funds in Sri Lanka.
  • Make financial contributions towards cancer research and purchasing of equipment.
  • Provide financial assistance to households where the cancer patient is the breadwinner.
  • Encourage and support alternate cancer treatments like Homeopathy and Ayurveda.

As the Fund is launched, we aim for it to evolve into a sustainable and impactful community funding platform. Financial contributions made by donors will enable us to achieve the goals mentioned above in addition to meeting the medical and wellness needs of cancer patients and, providing them and their families with much-needed hope. To keep our valued contributors informed, we will provide quarterly progress reports on the Funds’ progress and impact.
Below are the account details to contribute to the Fund. You are welcome to contribute in any currency and amount you prefer and know that in doing so, we can support as many individuals battling cancer on their journey to healing.

Name of account: Community Development Services

Name of bank: National Development Bank PLC
Rajagiriya Branch
Rajagiriya
Sri Lanka

Account number – 111000205814

Swift code – NDBSLKLX

Bank code – 7214

Branch code – 005

RESILIENT WOMEN – RISING FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY

As the COVID-19 pandemic brought operations to a standstill, CDS took the initiative to unite local, district, and national Civil Society Organisations to foster a coalition to strengthen their institutional frameworks and capacities. The Life Integrators Coalition, formed in 2021, comprising 23 member organisations focused on HIV, SRH, and labour migration with the core mission of engaging with vulnerable and marginalised communities and protecting their rights.
THE ISSUE

Following the recent economic collapse in Sri Lanka, a significant portion of the population has plunged into severe poverty. Exacerbated by food insecurity, unemployment, and underemployment, many struggle to earn as little as 4 USD a day and this is a crisis that has hit the urban poor and women particularly hard.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Underprivileged and marginalised women residing in both urban and rural areas living in the borderlines of poverty.

ROOT CAUSE
Women in low-income households face limited opportunities to leverage their talents and creativity for income generation. Consequently, they endure a cycle of servile living, soaring debt, and discrimination all of which perpetuate their economic vulnerability.
IMPACT

Current national women’s policies are very broad-based and tend to overlook those at the lowest socioeconomic strata. This perpetuates their vulnerabilities trapping them in poverty and exploitation and limiting their prospects to thrive.

SOLUTION

A targeted empowerment program, implemented at the grassroots level is essential to lift women out of poverty. This involves skill-development, revitalising micro-enterprises that have fallen to the wayside, scaling up existing enterprises, and providing start-up opportunities to aspiring female entrepreneurs. We believe that fostering self-determination and reliance will liberate them from government handouts and welfare programs, enabling them to escape the poverty trap and exploitation.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR WOMEN COMMITTED TO CHANGING THEIR ECONOMIC STATUS FOR A BETTER LIFE?
  • It means generating a sustainable source of income in their homes for a better life.
  • It means saving and investing in an enterprise that aligns with her skills and aspirations.
  • It means eradicating unemployment and creating employment opportunities in her community.
  • It means their children attend and remain in school, without interruptions due to poverty.
  • It means having the ability to give her children and family three nutritious meals a day.
  • It means empowering women to lead.
  • It means equipping women with skills for dignified employment.
  • It means that women will have opportunities to establish business partnerships
HOW YOU CAN PARTNER AND SUPPORT THE DIRIYA DIYANI INITIATIVE

Whether you are a corporate entity/foundation or representing one, a philanthropist or merely an individual interested in making a difference, there are various ways in which you can support this initiative.

  • Contribute monthly, quarterly, annually, or with a one-time donation to our crowd-funding account.
  • Provide technical expertise based on your qualifications and experience.
  • Supply start-up goods or equipment that our entrepreneurs may require for their businesses
  • Offer technical skills in accounting, marketing, and social media to their businesses.
  • Partner with us to provide ongoing support
Name of account: Community Development Services
Name of bank: National Development Bank PLC Rajagiriya Branch Rajagiriya Sri Lanka
Account number – 111000205814
Swift code – NDBSLKLX
Bank code – 7214
Branch code – 005
If you need to discuss the project initiative further, please contact Andrew Samuel (andrew.samuel@cdscolombo.com) or by mobile or WhatsApp on +94 777 341110 for a discussion or meeting at your convenience.