Saved from the Brink of Death: Pramila and Malathy’s Story

“I felt completely alone with no one to support me,” says Malathy, a Sri Lankan mum registered in Compassion’s Mums and Babies program. “That was the moment [Pramila] stepped in and gave me strength.” Find out how this life-changing bond not only saved Malathy and her children but also brought hope for their future and transformation to their entire family.

22 Jan, 2025

Pramila’s unshakeable feeling

It was a feeling she just couldn’t shake. Pramila hadn’t planned to visit Malathy at home until much later, but there it was again: that sense she should check in on Malathy before continuing her other home visits. As she approached the house that she had entered so many times and shared many cups of tea over heartfelt conversations, Pramila noticed that it didn’t look like it usually did. The door was shut, the windows were closed, almost like there was no one inside.

Immediately, Pramila knew something was wrong.

She couldn’t keep her mind from racing. Pramila remembered the times she had witnessed Malathy come to the end of herself and feel like she couldn’t go on. Questions about Malathy and her children’s safety flooded Pramila’s mind as she stood knocking on the door.

Malathy’s familiar feeling

She wasn’t a stranger to feeling like this. Malathy had been here several times before and even though she didn’t want to be here again, she felt hopeless and powerless against the despair coursing through her heart and mind. Life was overwhelming for Malathy. From marital difficulties and the challenge of making ends meet, to the exhaustion of work and home life, the weight of it all seemed unbearable.

She locked herself and her children in the house. In her darkest moment, the only way out of her misery and desperation seemed to be to do the unthinkable.

“While we were sitting there, just about to take the tablets, someone came and knocked on the door,” says Malathy.

A defining moment

The knocking only got stronger. Malathy panicked at the thought of someone discovering what she was about to do. She quickly asked her children to sit on the bed and opened the door. She was surprised to find Pramila standing on the other side.

Pramila noticed that Malathy was different. She invited herself in and looked around the room.

“I noticed her hurriedly hiding things. A bottle of poison, tablets and other items under the bed,” says Pramila. “When she saw me, she became restless and uneasy. Her behaviour and way of talking were very different from usual.”

Pramila realised that she had come at just the right moment. She noticed a glass of water that was mixed with tablets that hadn’t yet been consumed.

“As she kept questioning me, I broke down and confessed everything to her as I usually do,” says Malathy. “She was very upset, but she took my children, sat them on her lap and comforted them. She told me she would take care of me.”

For Malathy and her children, hope had arrived just in time.

Pramila honoured her promise, providing Malathy with both emotional and practical support. She worked closely with Malathy and her husband to address their marital challenges, enlisted Malathy’s mother as a dependable source of assistance and maintained regular check-ins to ensure the family’s wellbeing.

That day marked a turning point for Malathy. Since then, she says her mental health has improved and her outlook on life has transformed.

"I’ve left those difficult thoughts behind and focused on raising my children,” says Malathy. “For this, I am deeply thankful to [Pramila].”

Relationships that bring hope

Pramila first met Malathy through Compassion’s Mums and Babies program at the child development centre in Hatton, Sri Lanka, where she works as a child development tutor. Malathy and her daughter, Pavishana, were registered in the program. For Pramila, the role has always been more than just a job. Having lost her own mother at a young age, she understands the profound impact those early years can have on a child's life.

“There were countless times when I longed for love and care,” says Pramila. “That longing shaped my perspective and fuelled my desire to help others.”

Through the program, Pramila provides much-needed love and care to babies and mothers just like Malathy in the community. The strong personal connections and supportive relationships built in the program make a significant difference in the lives of both mothers and their children.

Pramila is much loved in the community because of her personal touch. The families don’t see her as a program tutor but rather as another member of the family. During the Mums and Babies sessions held at the centre, Pramila educates, upskills, trains and raises awareness about different parenting and family issues. Home visits are an integral part of the program, and Pramila enjoys the opportunity to spend quality time with the families. She is often consulted for advice and is a trusted counsel to parents in the community on matters relating to their parenting and home life.

“By engaging with them in a friendly and genuine way and relating to them as one of their own, they feel comfortable sharing everything with me,” says Pramila. “When we accept people as they are, it helps build trust and connection.”

The Compassion Mums and Babies program

For mothers and babies living in poverty, the first year of a child’s life is critical to their survival. Compassion’s Mums and Babies program is designed to prevent premature death, promote good health, and support positive development for both babies and their caregivers across more than 25 countries.

The program includes:

• Home-based care: Perinatal specialists visit families monthly to provide healthcare, education and emotional support to mothers and babies.

• Advocacy: Ensuring mothers receive fair treatment from local services and have access to essential support, including medical care and birth attendants.

• Community support networks: Connecting mothers to combat isolation, learn new income-generating skills, and offer long-term emotional and practical support to each other.

• Compassion centres: A safe place where mothers can access support, educational opportunities, and expert advice on how to monitor their child’s healthy development.

When a child turns one, the program transitions to early childhood development, and the child becomes eligible for Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program, continuing to receive personalised home-based care until the age of three.

This level of care and support is vital not only for children but also for mothers like Malathy, who face unimaginable hardships.

The challenge of daily life

Malathy lives in one of the most picturesque regions of Sri Lanka. Nestled in the hill country, Hatton is surrounded by rolling tea plantations, lush green hills and stunning waterfalls and rivers, making it a truly beautiful place to call home.

And yet, life is anything but easy for women in this community.

Most women work on the nearby tea estates, where they spend long hours plucking tea leaves. The work is physically demanding and exposes them to harsh weather conditions, from the intense heat of the sun to torrential rain. They often suffer from leech bites, and despite enduring these challenges, they are not properly compensated if they fail to meet the daily quota set by the estate.

Domestic violence is common in the community, driven by the struggles of poverty and the taxing nature of work. Many husbands grapple with alcoholism, which frequently contributes to emotional, physical and sexual abuse within the home.

Women in this community face the overwhelming challenge of balancing the strenuous demands of work with their responsibilities at home, all while raising their children.

“They are constantly working, taking care of their families and children and managing household responsibilities,” says Pramila. “This is the mindset they live with—they live for their families and their children.”

Malathy's struggles were no different. Before she met Pramila and received support from the Mums and Babies program, life was incredibly difficult. Her husband wasn’t employed, they had no proper home and lacked basic necessities like clothes and food.

“Back then, my house was in terrible condition. During the rainy season, water leaked everywhere,” says Malathy. “When it rained, I worried about where to keep the children dry. When it was sunny, the heat was unbearable. I often wondered, what kind of life is this?”

In addition to the marital strain, the exhaustion of working as a tea plucker and managing daily household chores left Malathy drained, making it difficult for her to have any emotional or physical capacity to engage with her children.

“It’s difficult because the children don’t understand how tired I am after a long, hard day,” says Malathy. “Still, what can I do? I try my best to be there for them.”

Hope for the future

Over time, with Pramila’s steady guidance and support, Malathy and her family began to see positive changes. While their challenges haven't disappeared, their lives have been transformed for the better.

The relationship between Malathy and her husband has greatly improved, and their home life is now happier and healthier. They are slowly but steadily working on building and improving their house, making small but meaningful strides toward a better future.

There is one person Malathy credits with this transformation.

“[Pramila] became my guide and support. If she hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be standing here today,” says Malathy. “Without her, I don’t know where I’d be. My life was in deep trouble, but I’m still here, living and moving forward.”

Pramila has tears in her eyes as she talks about how much this community and the relationships she has built within it mean to her.

“In the past, women lived more oppressed lives, but that is no longer the case. They can do anything,” says Pramila. “I believe leading them onto the right path and helping bring about positive transformation in their lives is invaluable.”

The Mums and Babies program exists to foster connections and build supportive networks for mums and babies living in poverty. Mothers like Malathy often have nowhere else to turn, your support can help give them hope and bring transformation into their homes.

Written and reported by Sidhara Udalagama, Compassion Australia.