Blog
The Transformative Power of Self-Defense
It's a Saturday morning and I watch seven girls learning to calmly, quickly, and fiercely move out of choke holds and two-hand arm grips. The doors and windows are open, and warm light bathes the room. Kunchana, their self-defense instructor, reminds the girls to focus, to maintain eye contact, and encourages them to believe in their strength. One moment, they're giggling, unsure of themselves, the space, and the power of their bodies and minds. The next, they're escaping a hold from someone twice their size, their eyes wide. Kunchana looks at me after practicing the latest technique with one young woman and says, “she is very strong.”
What a Gift to Be Seen: Visiting SALAA* from Our First Batch at Emerge
“Good morning” – a whatsapp sticker with hearts appears across my phone.
“Good morning, nangi!” I reply.
A year and a half ago, SALAA* and I reconnected through a video call. We had met during my first Emerge workshop in 2005.
Now, she and her pre-teen daughter send me daily love notes in the form of stickers and “good morning” messages on Whatsapp. I never thought a digital teacup sticker reading “good morning” could fill my heart but it’s a beautiful reminder of our long-term connection — one that has transcended both time and language.
Emerge CEO expresses disapproval of Daily Mirror article
I am writing to express my profound concern regarding the content in Daily Mirror’s article by Shane Seneviratne on child rape, published on 21 December 2023. This article poses dangerous and inaccurate conflations between rape and consent that are factually and legally inaccurate, harmful to survivors, and further perpetuate norms that enable child sexual abuse. Having worked for 18 years with children who have survived rape in Sri Lanka and as CEO of Emerge Lanka Foundation, I urge the Daily Mirror to take a strong stance against child rape and to carefully consider how articles that the Daily Mirror publishes may condone and/or perpetuate harm.