At 46, Hayathu Mohammed Subaitha is raising her two children alone after being abandoned by her husband. The separation left her deeply depressed and struggling under a heavy financial burden. To survive, she ran a small petty shop, but the income was so low that she was forced to work as a domestic helper as well. Together, she barely earned 10,000 rupees a month, and she carried her hardships silently, unwilling to share the weight of her struggles.

Everything began to change when Subaitha joined the CIRCLE Wing of Young Feminist Team (Batticaloa). Through its exchange programmes, she slowly regained her confidence and became an active participant in the community. With the support of an LKR 45,000 SDG grant and CIRCLE’s training in business planning, she was able to expand her petty shop.

Today, Subaitha earns around 40,000 rupees each month from her shop, enough to cover her family’s needs without leaving home. She now runs her business systematically with continued coaching from CIRCLE’s field team, and saves 5,000 rupees each month to secure her future.

Her journey is no longer just about survival. Subaitha is also giving back to her community. As a member of the Women and Youth Advocacy Network, she plays a key role in local initiatives, especially in collaborating with stakeholders to address the drug-related challenges faced by young people in Biranthuraichenai, Batticaloa.

Looking ahead, she is preparing to formally register her business, a step that would have seemed impossible not long ago. Grateful to CIRCLE for rekindling her energy and sense of belonging, Subaitha now sees herself not just as a mother and survivor, but as a community leader helping to shape a brighter future.

This initiative was led by the CIRCLE Wing of Young Feminist Team under the Peacebuilding Fund and SDG Fund, Vriddhi and UNOPS Sri Lanka.