Following the death of her husband, Kandayan Paikkiam and her daughter were forced to work as road construction labourers in the district of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka.

It was gruelling work and the money they earned was scarcely enough to buy food, let alone send her daughter to school. They were stuck in a cycle of poverty.

However, with the assistance and training from Oxfam’s partner organization JSSK, Paikkiam now leads a small dry-fish production enterprise of 12 men and women.

Despite being illiterate, Paikkiam is good with numbers. She has participated in many JSSK business management, leadership and livelihoods programs.

“We learnt how to overcome challenges in the setting up and running of a small business, how to develop a business and how to access markets,” she says.

“Before, when an official showed up at our gate, I would be afraid to meet him. During the training, they explained to us how to communicate with local authorities and how to ask for our rightful entitlements. So I am no longer afraid.”

Each member in the group now draws an average monthly income of Rs 15,000 [AUD $1351], part of which they reinvest in the business.