For many families, the path to stability is filled with challenges that require both courage and support. In Colombo, Sri Lanka, Akila Minoli’s story is one of resilience, hope, and the transformative impact of community care.

A New Beginning at Home

Akila, a mother of two young daughters, faced the daily struggle of providing for her family while being unable to leave her children to seek work outside. As a recipient of monthly relief packages, she was able to meet her family’s basic needs, but longed for a way to build a more secure future.

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Akila Minoli with her youngest daughter after receiving the complete set for her self-employment business. | Photo: Tzu Chi Sri Lanka | 2025/3/20

Recognizing Akila’s determination, volunteers delivered and set up a fully equipped food stall at her doorstep. The new stall came with all the accessories and raw materials needed to launch her own food stall business, including a gas stove and a welcoming Tzu Chi sticker. Volunteers worked together to assemble the stall, ensuring every detail was ready for Akila’s first day as an entrepreneur.

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Volunteers are unloading the food cart at Akila’s home. | Photo: Tzu Chi Sri Lanka | 2025/3/20

With her new stall in place, Akila prepared her first batch of hoppers—a beloved Sri Lankan snack—marking the start of her self-employment journey. Volunteers visited her stall on opening day, becoming her first customers and offering encouragement and practical advice to help her business thrive.

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Akila Minoli's first hoppers, with Tzu Chi volunteers visiting her stall as her first customers. | Photo: Tzu Chi Sri Lanka | 2025/3/20
“I want to express my gratitude for the monthly relief package. It has really helped meet my food needs, especially since I cannot leave both kids and go for a job. Thanks to the support I’ve received, I started my own business, which is a great help as I can work from home while taking care of my kids. I hope to improve my financial situation in the future. I was in a very helpless situation, and any assistance is truly valuable for those of us who are struggling. I wish for Master to have the strength, courage, and luck to continue helping people like me,” shared Akila.
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Volunteers offering suggestions and well wishes for Akila’s future. | Photo: Tzu Chi Sri Lanka | 2025/3/20

A Ripple of Empowerment

Akila’s journey reflects the belief that true support goes beyond immediate relief—it empowers individuals to build sustainable futures. By fostering self-reliance, families like Akila’s can lift themselves up and, in time, extend kindness to others in need.

As Master Cheng Yen’s Jing Si Aphorism reminds us, “To give is more of a blessings than to receive. True happiness is the tranquility, peacefulness, and joy that come after giving.” Akila’s transformation from a recipient of aid to a self-sufficient entrepreneur is a living example of this principle.

Akila’s determination and the encouragement she received have set her on a new path. Her story is a reminder that with compassion and practical support, hope can be restored and lives can be transformed. The community stands with Akila as she builds her business and a brighter future for her family.

Written by Victoria Paranavithana