Verni was displaced during the Sri Lankan Civil War and had to live in a camp for two years before finally being able to return home. She has worked for The HALO Trust since 2010 and today is a Quality Assurance and Training Officer, providing oversight of HALO’s 700 male and female deminers in Sri Lanka.
Verni considers herself to be wealthy in Sri Lankan society thanks to her employment and strongly believes her job benefits her country. Her work has also brought psychological benefits, as she believes it has helped her move on from the painful memories of the war. She has a four-year old daughter and is a proud role model for gender equality.
What were you doing before you joined HALO?
I was at home as a housewife before I joined HALO.
What does your family think of you working as a deminer?
In the beginning, my family was afraid for me to work in the minefield because they thought it was dangerous. However, after some time, and when they saw that my job allowed me to support the family, the fear left their minds.
What do other women think of you doing this job?
To start with, like my family, other women outside of HALO were not very supportive of me working as a female deminer, as in our culture it is not common for women to do this kind of job. Now, they appreciate the good work we do and they have also started to join HALO.
What are your ambitions for the future?
My ambition is to save money and start up a cattle rearing and milk business.
What opportunities has your job given you or your family?
By doing this work, I have been able to support my sister and brother in law’s education. I’ve also bought land, a motorbike and cattle, and built a house.
If you could ask a fellow female deminer from around the world one question, what would it be?
I would ask about their first thoughts, feelings and experiences when they joined HALO. From my experience, I was afraid and made mistakes when I first started working for HALO. I want to know if it’s also difficult and scary for women from other countries, and not just in Sri Lanka.
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