Background of Penn Wimochana Gnanodayam
Penn Wimochana Gnanodyama (PWG) began its work in 1976 in Hatton. At that time, it was known as the Plantation Women's Group. The group changed its name to Penn Wimochana Gnanodayam in 1993. It is registered as a non-profit making limited liability company on 3 September 1993 under the companies Act No 17 of 1982.

The PWG is basically a grass roots organisation working in a limited area of the tea plantations. It’s aim is to enable women to understand their reality and encourage and form and train them to be involved in the transformation of their reality. In doing this we attempt to build up agents of change. We take seriously the economic and socio political reality of the tea plantation community and the women in particular. These women face a triple if not a quadruple oppression. They are female, basically a daily paid working class, Tamils of the Hillcountry known as Malaiyaga Thamils (a minority within a minority) and ostracised as low castes.

Vision
A just society in which women can live with freedom and experience justice, dignity and gender equality

Mission
Empower the tea plantation women by mobilising them to live with self-respect and act independently.


Goals of PWG
To raise the level of awareness and provide a forum for women in the plantations.
To motivate plantation women with a view to emancipate them from their subordinate status and empower them to play a positive and equitable role in society (awareness and training).
To provide for the organisation of plantation women in order to enable and develop their confidence, self esteem and participation in decision making.
The PWG is one of the oldest women's groups working specifically among women of the plantation community. It focuses on self-help and awareness-raising activities at the plantation and community level, and also has a national and international outreach through which it publicises the situation of women on the plantations and builds solidarity networks with other women's organisations both within and outside Sri Lanka. In the context of the ethnic conflict, the role played by the PWG in promoting pluralism and inter-ethnic harmony, as well as a negotiated solution to the conflict is extremely critical.

Objectives of the Project
Project objectives based on PWG’s Vision, Mission and Goals.


Outside Environment

1. a. Work to reduce domestic violence against women.
b. Create awareness on what immediate legal action could be taken when violence against women occurs.
c. Awareness on sexual abuse against women.
2. a. Create an awareness on how to eradiate child abuse in the society and to make pressure on that.
b. Create awareness about child rights amidst families in order to prevent child abuse.
3. Conduct preschools in order to create self-confident children and carryout children’s awareness programmes on estates.
4. a. Create awareness on the ill effects caused by the consumption of liquor on a family and in society.
b. Conduct common Programmes to eradicate production of illicit liquor and drugs in the area.
5. Engage in programmes that build up unity and understanding between communities.
6. To make way for women to take part in decision making and social activities
7. To work for a change in attitudes caused by the impact of media amidst people e.g. family problems, deterioration in social values and its impact on children’s education.
8. a. Create awareness and conduct activities which promote and respect the socio religious and cultural values in the family and society.
b. Work to regain the dignity and respect of elders which is eroding as a result of the negative aspects of globalisation.
9. Have discussions with the management and the people due to the destruction of fertile soil about future possibility of unemployment, environmental problems and the importance of organic farming.
10. Enable women to participate with equal status in the family and in society.
11. a. Create awareness on household money management.
b. Create awareness and carry out activities regarding income generation projects
12. To mobilise them to obtain their Citizenship documents and NICs on their own.


Internal Environment
1. Overcome the shortcomings in planning
2. Capacity building and training for PWG staff
3. New approach in training and activities.
Note: In future PWG will while continuously sharing their activities with the donors,
try to be more clear.

Activities
1. Awareness
2. Training
3. Income Generation Programmes (loans for self employment)
4. Seminars
5. Group activities
6. Participatory activities
7. Publishing leaflets
8. Monitoring and evaluation
9. Planning
10. Communication
11. Forming small groups
12. Networks and Linkages
13. Award scholarships through Hill Country Education Foundation
14. Celebrate relevant International Days
15. Conduct Health Camps
16. Children and Elders development activities
17. Organic farming
18. Human resource development activities

1. a. Work to reduce domestic violence against women.
b. Create awareness on what immediate legal action could be taken when violence against women occurs.
c. Awareness on sexual abuse against women.
2. a. Create an awareness on how to eradiate child abuse in the society and to make pressure on that.
b. Create awareness about child rights amidst families in order to prevent child abuse.
3. Conduct preschools in order to create self-confident children and carryout children’s awareness programmes on estates.
4. a. Create awareness on the ill effects caused by the consumption of liquor on a family and in society.
b. Conduct common Programmes to eradicate production of illicit liquor and drugs in the area.
5. Engage in programmes that build up unity and understanding between communities.
6. To make way for women to take part in decision making and social activities
7. To work for a change in attitudes caused by the impact of media amidst people e.g. family problems, deterioration in social values and its impact on children’s education.
8. a. Create awareness and conduct activities which promote and respect the socio religious and cultural values in the family and society.
b. Work to regain the dignity and respect of elders which is eroding as a result of the negative aspects of globalisation.
9. Have discussions with the management and the people due to the destruction of fertile soil about future possibility of unemployment, environmental problems and the importance of organic farming.
10. Enable women to participate with equal status in the family and in society.
11. a. Create awareness on household money management.
b. Create awareness and carry out activities regarding income generation projects
12. To mobilise them to obtain their Citizenship documents and NICs on their own.