Abstract:
In many aspects, women are more disadvantaged than men around the world. Particularly women in rural areas in
developing countries suffer much from poverty, less access to opportunities and less participation in decision making.
In Sri Lanka, with Tsunami in 2004, many women in coastal areas lost their residences and their livelihoods and at this
time, many NGOs helped Sri Lankan women, especially by using group-based approach to empower them. This
research was an attem pt to find out whether these group enterprises are really effective on empowering rural and
vulnerable women. For this case study, three group enterprises, viz; integrated fruit farming, a coir-based products
and pottery, in Hambantota district, launched by Oxfam Australia were selected. After analyzing data, it was found
that social factors such as recognition from husband, children, adults of the family and harmony among family
members improved with group activities in different extent almost in all groups. When considering economies of
scale, in banana cultivation, 168 kg of more production and around Rs.16 of more profit per head per month could be
obtained by group activities than non-group production. In curd pot making, 142 more curd pots per head per month
and Rs.2.12 of more profit per pot is obtained with group activities. Women have the decision making capacity in a
considerable level in all the aspects studied, such as decision making on day-to-day expenditure, decision making on
children's education, decision making on doing a job etc. Even though there are some aspects that should be improved
further in group activities, it can be concluded that the group enterprises are effective on empowering women, both
socially and economically.
