We are extremely proud to announce that our TFT pro bono lawyer Marini De Livera, has received an International Women of Courage Award in Washington, in the presence of The First Lady Melania Trump.
This Award recognises women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership, often at personal risk and sacrifice, in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Marini works with TFT to provide pro bono lawyering to child abuse victims, family sustainability workshops and Alternative Family and Foster Care training to Law students.
As former Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority, Marini came to the International Foster care Organisation conference with TFT last year to learn for the first time about Alternative Family and Foster Care. Upon her return to Sri Lanka she wrote a concept note to the President recommending that every child should have the right to live happily in a loving family and go to school.
In December, after months of court hearings our first child, who was being abused in an orphanage, was happily reunited with her mother, just in time for Christmas.
TFT are providing the family with housing and employment until they become sustainable. We gave Ahinsa the schoolbooks she needs and she has now started school and settled down very well. She speaks no English but wants to become an English teacher one day, so she is attending extra English classes and is already reciting poems.