For Emerge Lanka Foundation, meaningful impact has always been built through relationships. Our partnership with iProbono is a collaboration that extends far beyond a single project. Over the past three years, this partnership has grown steadily, with four iterations of legal rights trainings that have reached over 30 young women to date. As an organisation working alongside young survivors of sexual abuse and trauma, we know that no one organisation can hold every piece of the puzzle. Survivors face overlapping legal crises, safety risks, mental health needs and the long-term process of rebuilding a life after trauma. Having iProbono as a partner means having a trusted ally who shares our commitment to survivor-centred and rights-based work who understands that justice must be both accessible and humane. 

Too often, seeking justice can unintentionally recreate the powerlessness and fear survivors have already experienced. For iProbono, justice extends beyond the courtroom. They ensure every survivor they engage with gains practical knowledge to navigate the legal system with clarity, and confidence.Their ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical, understandable guidance aligns closely with Emerge’s own commitment to creating safe and empowering spaces for young women.A major outcome of this partnership has been the creation of the Empowerment Toolkit: Navigating Legal Rights and Protections in Sri Lanka. Launched in March of 2025 in collaboration by Emerge and iProbono, the tri-lingual toolkit was never intended to be simply another legal handbook. Instead, it was designed as a practical resource that young women could genuinely use to understand their rights, navigate institutions, and advocate for themselves. The process of building the toolkit was deeply collaborative, drawing on legal expertise, lived experiences, programme insights, and an understanding of the realities survivors face while transitioning out of care. Together, we worked to ensure the information was accessible, relevant, and available in Sinhala, Tamil, and English so that it could reach people across the country. 

Beyond the toolkit itself, iProbono has become a trusted ally we can turn to when participants face particularly challenging legal situations.. Their team has consistently offered guidance, accompaniment, and thoughtful support that helps us better prepare survivors for what lies ahead. We learn from one another constantly, and that exchange of knowledge strengthens our collective ability to serve survivors effectively and ethically. 

Reflecting on the partnership, Emerge Lanka Foundation Communications Lead Kaavya Pathirana shared: “We cannot do important work like this without conscientious partners. What has stood out most about working with iProbono has been the care they bring to everything they do. They have been incredibly considerate of our young participants and deeply thoughtful about the experiences and trauma they are navigating. Partnerships like this remind us that meaningful change is not created in isolation, it is built through trust, learning, and a shared commitment to doing better for the young people we serve.”