Mrs. Sally Hulugalle and Mrs. Kamini de Soysa started Nest in October 1984 because of what they came across at Unit 2 in Mulleriyawa and immediately formed the island wide campaign "The Forgotten Women". This was to make life more comfortable for the 1500 women in Unit 2 (long term Psychiatric Care for women only). The women were incarcerated for life, and subject to enormous suffering. Its name has changed to Halfway Home, Mulleriyawa, and Nest has continued to nurture and help the women to acquire skills to use in the Halfway Home, at home and in the Community. The total number of women today is around 300. Nest has evolved and works to strengthen families and individuals island wide. The Community Health Workers train Communities to cope when a crisis occurs so that their kith and kin may remain in their own home and not be abandoned to Institutionalization. Training of Community Health Workers began in 1990. In 2004 Nest signed an MOU with the Ministry of Health to run a Skills Development Centre at the Half Way Home (once called Unit 2).
Nest warmly welcomes you to join the mission of empowering women and children. Send us your thoughts.
