Sidhara Udalagama - Expanding Our Definition of Neighbour

Bleeding Daylight

In this powerful episode, Rodney sits down with Sidhara Udalagama, a communications specialist at Compassion Australia who was born and raised in Sri Lanka. Sidhara shares her unique perspective on global poverty, having recently returned to her homeland with Compassion to capture stories of young women facing significant barriers. Her insights reveal the multidimensional nature of poverty and how it affects every aspect of human dignity, from the basic need to matter and be seen, to practical challenges like period poverty that force girls to abandon their education.

Through compelling stories from Sri Lanka, Uganda, and the Philippines, Sidhara demonstrates how locally-led approaches are creating lasting transformation in communities. From child-headed households where siblings care for each other, to aspiring fashion designers defying expectations, to mothers pulled back from the brink of despair, these stories showcase both the heartbreaking realities of poverty and the incredible hope emerging through compassionate intervention. Sidhara challenges listeners to expand their definition of "neighbour" beyond their local community to embrace a global perspective on care and responsibility.

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