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who we are

Empowering Marginalized Communities and People with Disabilities Since 2017

For over 7 years, Neyam has been committed to uplifting underprivileged communities and individuals with disabilities in Sri Lanka, providing sustainable solutions and support for lasting change.

Introduction

Neyam, a Swiss non-profit organization founded in 2017, is dedicated to improving the living conditions of underprivileged Tamil communities and people with disabilities in the rural areas of northeastern Sri Lanka. The name Neyam, derived from the Tamil word நேயம், embodies the spirit of goodwill and kindness towards people, which is the driving force behind the organization’s mission. With a commitment to uplifting marginalized individuals, Neyam focuses on fostering community-driven development initiatives.

Although the civil war in Sri Lanka was declared over in 2009, the island has continued to grapple with the aftermath of the conflict, which has left a legacy of poverty, post-war trauma, disabilities, and more. For the past 15 years, the Tamil minority residing in rural areas has persistently endeavoured to rebuild their lives and communities. Currently, political instability and economic downturn in the country have intensified these challenges for the Tamil population. Recent reports indicate that the Sri Lankan government continues to repress freedoms of expression and association while pursuing policies that discriminate against minority communities (human rights watch, Jan 2024). Since 2017, Neyam has been a beacon of hope for these rural communities, addressing socio-economic challenges and enhancing their quality of life.  

To identify the specific challenges faced by the community, Neyam conducted a needs assessment in 2017. To address these needs effectively and create positive change, Neyam established collaborations with various stakeholders, including government agencies, other non-profit organizations, businesses, and community members. In the same year, Neyam partnered with the Enter World Foundation (EWF), a local NGO in Sri Lanka, to work together towards common goals.

Six sets of Goals of Neyam

Upon completing the needs analysis, Neyam adopted a system thinking approach to develop sustainable solutions aimed at fulfilling the community’s basic need. To effectively alleviate poverty, promote prosperity, and foster equality, Neyam has established the following six goals, with a primary emphasis on economic advancement.

  1. Empowering disabled individuals through improved health and wellness: fulfilling basic need by providing care, therapy and opening job opportunities
  2. Generating basic income through providing Job opportunities: Enhancing economic opportunities and creating job opportunities to alleviate poverty and promote prosperity.
  3. Ensuring Food security: through fostering local agriculture and supporting families with backyard livestock farming
  4. Creating access to clean and safe water supply
  5. Unlocking education opportunities: granting financial support to the underprivileged students with university admission and Tutoring services to school students
  6. Improving basic Infrastructure for the rural communities: such as public bus stop

 

Neyam strives to craft feasible solutions that not only address immediate needs but also possess the potential to achieve financial self-sufficiency over the long term.

 Target Group and the Regions

Target Group: Our projects arededicated to addressing unmet basic needs, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups within the minority Tamil community: people with disabilities, underprivileged families, women, farmers, students. It’s worth noting that while our primary target group is the marginalized Tamil minority, our projects also include other ethnic groups residing in the target location who face similar challenges.

Our target regions encompass rural areas across seven districts in the northern and eastern parts of the island. The seven districts, highlighted in the map below, include Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa.

Our Values

At Neyam, we are guided by our core values of Integrity, Compassion, Empowerment, and Fairness as we work to uplift marginalized communities. We embrace cultural diversity, uphold dignity and respect for all, and ensure that our services are inclusive, sustainable, and tailored to the unique needs of each community we serve.

Our Vision

To transform marginalized communities in Sri Lanka by empowering individuals, fostering sustainable development, and creating pathways to prosperity, equality, and self-reliance.

Our Mission

Our mission is to uplift underprivileged communities and people with disabilities through education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihood programs. By providing resources, opportunities, and support, we aim to enable individuals to achieve financial independence, improve their quality of life, and contribute positively to their communities.