Celebrating women redefining Sri Lanka!

Chrysalis was founded to uplift the lives of women and youth across the island. Formed in 2016, the non-profit offers a range of innovative solutions that range from supporting the private sector to improving social responsibility commitments, and promoting diversity to working with government ministries to establish and implement inclusive and gender transformative policies and regulations.

TO DATE, CHRYSALIS HAS DIRECTLY REACHED 85,000 PEOPLE WITH SERVICES AND CONTRIBUTED TO SUPPORTING THE LIVES OF 750,000 PEOPLE INDIRECTLY

xAshika Gunasena, CEO of Chrysalis, with Vindhya Fernando, Head of Advisory Services and Ahamed Rislan, Head of Development Services discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and challenging outdated discriminatory stereotypes.

Why was Chrysalis conceived?

Care International was in Sri Lanka for 65 years and established itself as a leading development organisation dedicated to fighting poverty and did much for the betterment of women and youth in Sri Lanka.

However, in 2015, Care International reviewed its global presence and defined new ways of working in middle-income countries. As a result, it withdrew its operations in Sri Lanka, but local leadership at Care in Sri Lanka, recognizing the relevance and need of Care’s work and the void it would leave behind, proposed to continue the good work as a local organization with the affiliation of Care International: thus, Chrysalis was born.

We believed that we could be the conduit for women’s voices, ensuring that they are heard by private and public sector decision-makers. We aim to celebrate women and youth for their contribution and recognise them for it amidst the discrimination that they face: this is our vision and mission that drives everything we do at Chrysalis.

There are various complex reasons for discrimination based on where you live, your gender identity, your ethnic identity, age, religion and more.

Despite all the discrimination and marginalization, countless women and young people are indefatigable in their attempts to make a difference in the world they live in and society needs to acknowledge their contributions.

Our philosophy is built on celebrating their contributions and helping women and youth access resources and build capacity so that they can achieve their full potential.

SRI LANKA IS BLESSED WITH A MIX OF ETHNICITIES, RELIGIONS, CASTES, AND CLASSES. WE AT CHRYSALIS PASSIONATELY BELIEVE IN CELEBRATING DIVERSITY: THAT IS WHAT MAKES US RICH AS A COUNTRY

What are the core objectives that drive your organisation’s activities?

We have four clear objectives. The first objective is to enable women and youth to access and use economic opportunities. This entails working with women and youth in the micro, small and medium enterprises and helping employers in selected sectors including tea and tourism to build inclusive and diverse workplaces.

Eradicating all forms of gender-based violence, be it at home, public transport, workplace, or the community at large, is our second objective.

Globally, 1 in 3 women experiences gender-based violence in their lifetime.

Our objective is to look at how we can stop it before it even starts by working with women and men to change attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate violence in all its forms and enabling policies that demand accountability from all stakeholders.

Since we are an Affiliate of Care International, we have played a lead role in coordinating Care’s work on gender-based violence globally.

Recently we conducted a study on the cost of violence to governments, the private sector and society in general. Such findings are critically important for Sri Lanka as it navigates violence experienced by women at home, in public transport and the workplace.

Responding to gender-based violence is not only a moral obligation – it is an investment in the overall financial and social wellbeing of a business and the country.

The third objective is to urge more women and young people to the table where they can influence decisions that impact them and the constituents they represent. They need to become key decision-makers in communities, and local and national decision-making forums, including workplaces. Currently, there are only 12 women in parliament and 23% women in pradeshiya sabhas despite the 25% quota for women representatives.

Our work centres on building leadership qualities among women and creating platforms that recognise them and their right to dialogue, negotiate, influence, and identify solutions before those that hold power.

In promoting inclusive governance, we advocate for changes in systems, policies, and practices to ensure equitable sharing of resources and opportunities are possible.

The fourth objective is to create understanding and harmony among Sri Lanka’s diverse population.

Sri Lanka is blessed with a mix of ethnicities, religions, castes, and classes. We at Chrysalis passionately believe in celebrating diversity: that is what makes us rich as a country.

Our work in this area aims to help people understand that this diversity – across ethnic, religious, and cultural divides – when embraced, leads to equitable economic growth and a prosperous nation.

In this context, we offer regular conflict and risk analysis, develop and scale-up community-driven, context-specific models and approaches to promote cohesion and wellbeing of all using connectors such as arts, culture, sports, economic activity, and local governance mechanisms.

We also encourage youth to seek alternate, creative, and meaningful solutions for the root causes of conflict.

CHRYSALIS IS PURPOSEFUL IN BUILDING STRONG AND TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN DIVERSE GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS

What can you tell us about conditions for women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka and the welfare of women at large in the country?

Small and medium businesses account for 54% of Sri Lanka’s GDP, however, only 24% of women are actively engaged in the sector.

To effectively run a business, entrepreneurs need capital, skills, market access, a network that can give them technical support and access to the latest technology, and an effective regulatory environment.

Most women lack access to these basic requirements. They find it hard or impossible to access finance or other resources such as skills because prevailing attitudes and social perceptions do not recognise women as major contributors to the economy.

A simple example would be the female entrepreneur who travels from Kilinochchi to Maharagama to buy raw materials on public transport and needs to be accompanied by a male companion as a result of real and perceived safety and security implications.

If she is unable to get this support, her business is directly impacted – often having to stop production for several days.

Registering a business and obtaining other regulatory and technical services such as market access and quality controls, remains a critical concern.

Chrysalis understood this need and decided to launch a Business Services Centre. This service enables online business registration with little hassle and gives access to a network of service providers – even allowing one to monitor the status of the application and make inquiries on a mobile phone.

The establishment of the Business Service Centres has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, and 4 such centres will be established in Monaragala, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Matale as pilots – Monaragala already having started its operations in October 2020.

Chrysalis believes in inclusive business. We work with a range of businesses from startups to micro, small and medium enterprises, and the private sector at large to embrace diversity and inclusivity at the workplace.

Our work includes financing, business planning, skills development, training, coaching, mentoring, market networking, use of up-to-date technology and enhanced access to services.

What is your reach, and how is Chrysalis impacting women and communities?

Chrysalis is purposeful in building strong and trusted relationships within diverse groups and individuals.

We choose to work in partnership with the private sector, government, and civil society so that we can co-create and collaborate for a deeper sustainable impact.

To date, Chrysalis has directly reached 85,000 people with services and contributed to supporting the lives of 750,000 people indirectly, including empowering 230 micro, small and medium enterprises, and we continue to widen our reach.

Our work is spread across the country with ongoing work focused in the Uva, Central, North, North Central and North-Western provinces.

We are also looking at extending our work in urban areas including Colombo especially around improving the economic status of women.

What can policymakers and businesses do to empower women and give them equal opportunities?

It is vital that all stakeholders, including the government, the private sector, and development agencies such as Chrysalis, acknowledge the realities women of this country are compelled to face.

We need to have a deeper understanding of the challenges confronting women, the youth, and other groups, who despite these challenges, contribute towards the wellbeing of Sri Lanka.

In this regard, Chrysalis conducts regular studies and research, and disseminates the findings to key public officials to ensure pressing issues are considered when making and executing policy.

Policymakers and businesses must provide the leadership and political will to change the status quo, invest in building capabilities and establish policies, systems and structures that promote diversity and inclusion in all they do to help make a sustainable change: because women, the youth, and everyone in this country deserve nothing less.