FemAsia Team
Shey Perera, in 2016, founded United Humanitarian Aid, a small non-profit charity that helps any and everyone in need. It started by collecting used goods in working, usable condition and donating them to people in need: helping people clear off what they didn’t need, and helping others get goods they needed for free.
Shey currently runs a small Youtube channel, along with a Facebook and Instagram page with positive and motivational content, which she manages during her free time, finding great joy in encouraging people to think and act positively.
Shey asked herself why people would deprive others of knowledge, motivation, inspiration which could be shared on a free platform for all? She decided that people who need advertising the most are small business owners or start-ups, home-based businesses often run by struggling mothers who cannot afford to pay for advertising, but really need it. She wanted to change this, so she created a free platform for all.
We at FemAsia talked to Shey Perera regarding ‘Women Together’ as it is one example of many avenues of female-led digital activism.
What inspired you to start the Facebook Group ‘Women Together’?
As a person who loves to help create and witness positive changes in people’s lives, I wanted females to have more freedom in every aspect. In the modern day, especially in Sri Lanka, females are crushed under so many limitations by people and places all around them, including people who love and care for them. These demands are made on them through their family, career and social responsibilities they carry. society.
Even though we are growing towards becoming or being treated as 100% equal to males, we find ourselves being judged by the society we live in, which – subconsciously most often – makes a huge impact on our lives.
I wanted nonjudgmental freedom and unlimited support for females coming straight from our kind.
I wanted us to be able to enjoy the freedom of being ourselves while creating a platform for them to uplift, encourage and support each other in education, business, mentally, emotionally and financially, with advice and information.
In a day and time where money rules almost everything, my desire was that advertising is free and accessible for any females who needed to advertise whether it be new and small business owners, or someone offering education or even just to sell something you no longer use. My aim is for even the smallest of businesses to be able to reach a large audience without having to spend a cent.
I realized there are so many platforms accessible to both genders, therefore, this space was created for females only.
It now has 7000 members. What leverage does that give the group?
This group has great potential to grow in amazing ways. We have so much talent coming from different parts of the world. Sri Lankans living overseas and expats living in Sri Lanka. This provides exposure to the group and its members.
I believe together we can do great things, reach amazing heights and grow beautifully while helping each other. In the right time with the proper planning and effort, we can make a huge positive impact in society and the lives of women in need starting from education, to life support, helping start and grow a business, creating awareness related to health, sex, life, family, and parenting. If we work together, we can not only create a strong foundation for our lives and those around us, but we could also change lives and build platforms for more successful and fulfilling life practices, and a powerful, self-confident female citizenry in Sri Lanka.
What issues are discussed?
We discuss different types of topics. From family to crisis situations, opinions, advice, sexuality etc. Basically, the platform is open to freely discuss everything related to female life.
What are the rules?
We’ve made some very simple guideline to maintain peace and sanity on the group. They are:
No Racism
No Gossip
No Hate Speech
No Adding Males
No Pornography
No Screenshots
No Discussing content shared on the group outside of the group
No Advertising Businesses Which Are Not Owned or Co-Owned By Females.
No Disrespect Towards Members.
Don’t like what you see, Scroll Past.
What political and social change can such a group catalyse?
This group does not focus on making a political change but socially we have potential to Make a Mentally, Physically and Emotionally Stronger Female in Sri Lanka. That change which takes place in an individual life can create a stronger female community leading to a stronger Sri Lankan Woman in the house, office, school, overseas and wherever we go.
What challenges do you face, as the founder and admin?
The group was founded not too long ago. Currently, we are only four months old but we’re grown rapidly.
In the beginning, I thought it would be easy! I assumed having an all-female group would be simple, but this group has taught me otherwise. It’s probably something that challenges me most in my day to day life, But I love challenges.
Because we come from different backgrounds and beliefs, sometimes it is quite challenging to maintain a standard of peace within the group when ideas are shared. Most times people unknowingly break the rules. This happens when people want to express ideas and believe their opinion is important, but another’s is not.
Another challenge is managing time: I run the group in-between my job which means that most times simultaneously being present and operating both can get extremely hectic. I find myself stuck between office work and having to comfort members, answer questions, coordinate the group’s communication between donor and beneficiary, and so on – but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It is my heart’s desire to be of service and support to people in need.
It’s a real form of empowerment accessible daily. Is this how you see it?
Yes! Even though the group is not equipped to physically empower people on a daily basis it is a place of comfort and support. You’ll see so many ladies come forward to help others in financial need. Other times you see people sharing their problems and receiving valuable advice. There have been many ladies whose businesses have grown and benefited through free advertising and customers they received through the group. So yes, I believe it is a form of empowerment accessible on a daily basis.
Is there intergenerational knowledge-sharing, or are the members all of an age and similar life stage?
It’s a mix of fun and serious discussion. Always supportive.
Is that your aim?
What we understand is that the group’s members are 19 years and above. The majority of members are in their thirties and forties. The group has a mix of discussions from fun to serious.
My aim is creating a non-judgmental, respectful support team, and currently, this is a challenge, as some females don’t find open-mindedness very appealing, but we are working towards it, and I believe given the time we can do it.
How important is such a forum in Sri Lanka today?
Given the opportunity and support to grow, this forum can be a home to many positive things in today’s world: which can really change the way society sees and treats females.
As a group that consists of 7000 different people, the importance of this group is based on how important an individual feels: it is to create a pleasant and positive change for females in the world around them and how far one is willing to go, to keep things together and make it happen.
Shey told us that she noticed how women, including some of her own friends, struggled with small businesses with barely any profit but had to pay for advertising to make a sale.
Shey’s decision to create a free, open platform for females resulted in the formation of Women Together Sri Lanka (WTSL). Its aim is to create a forum where women can stand for each other, in which all forms of support are available for free. Today, the group has a growing number of women of all ages on the group who get to buy, sell, advertise, get advice, ask for assistance, offer assistance, and so much more.
It is an example of Empowerment in action.
