Judy Doubas formed the idea for Ten for Tamils when she first visited Jaffna, Sri Lanka in October 2014.
Judy writes:
“I was not happy with the way our government treated Tamil Asylum Seekers and wanted to know why Tamils would want to flee a country considered the “pearl of the Indian Ocean”. The civil war between the Tamils and the ruling Sinhalese had ended in 2009, after 25 years of conflict, leaving hundreds of thousands of Tamil widows behind.
“So when I was in Jaffna in 2014, I sought out information about this particular group and was directed to Saroja Sivachandran, a wonderful Tamil woman who has created a group called Centre for Women and Development. The primary aim of this group is to aid these widows in having their land, which is currently occupied by the military, given back to them. This is a long and arduous task. And she has very little funding.
“When I returned in October last year, I spent several days visiting the Internal Displaced Persons Camps in Jaffna, listening to and interviewing the women to find out how I could support them. What I discovered shocked me. These women had no way to support themselves other than doing the odd “koolie” job, which paid very poorly. Some days they had no food to eat. The children are malnourished and the women live in despair, with little hope for any change in their future.
“The people in the camps call themselves the “forgotten” people. And when I arrived, my guide greeted me with “welcome to the human Zoo”. The camps have been visited by many dignitaries who promise to help them, but never have.
“I was determined not to let them down. I promised these women help. I will not let them down. I want them to know that they have not been forgotten. And that someone cares.”
Peanut Lady Sangariya
Sangariya, “The Peanut Lady” is one of the earliest beneficiaries of Ten for Tamils distributions to women of materials, worth around $100 which enables them to start a small business.
At 86 years, she is still busy supporting herself selling peanuts outside the temple. I first met her in 2018 and was overjoyed to meet her again in Jaffna in October 2023.
The Ten for Tamils Team
Ten for Tamils would not be able to function without the help of the following people.
Judy Doubas
Founder
JUDY DOUBAS is a Feminist who writes plays about contemporary social issues to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. She has worked as a Psychiatric nurse, a Counsellor, Teacher and Family Worker.
She also agitates for the rights of people to seek asylum in Australia, is a Media Advocate for Family Violence and supports the development of Tais making Cooperatives in Venilale East Timor, in an effort to increase local women’s incomes.
Suria Naidoo
Chairperson
Suria Naidoo is an experienced educator and social justice advocate with over 35 years of teaching across South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Born in Durban, South Africa, during the Apartheid era, Suria’s early experiences of racial segregation and political activism profoundly shaped her lifelong commitment to equity, cultural justice and education as a force for liberation. Now based in Australia, Suria teaches Cultural Diversity and Inclusion in tertiary education and is currently completing a PhD examining cultural competence and inequity in educational contexts. Her academic and professional work centres on empowering marginalised communities and challenging systemic barriers in education and employment.
Suria’s connection to Ten for Tamils was deeply personal. During a visit to Sri Lanka in 2023 with her husband Nesan, she met Tamil women—many widows of war—living in severe poverty despite the end of the civil conflict. Conversations with tea plantation workers and community representatives in Jaffna highlighted the ongoing economic hardship, exploitation and lack of structural support facing Tamil women and their children. Moved by these experiences, Suria joined Ten for Tamils with a strong commitment to advancing dignity, opportunity and sustainable support for affected families.
As President, Suria brings strategic vision, governance experience and a deep cultural connection to the Tamil community, grounded in compassion, accountability and social justice.
Nesan Naidoo
MBA, BA, DPFM, GMP, FIML, CPBA, CMngr, CPMngr
Treasurer
Nesan Naidoo joined the Board of Ten for Tamils in 2025 and currently serves as Treasurer. He brings more than three decades of executive leadership experience across banking, finance, governance, strategic advisory and the NFP Sector.
Born and raised in Apartheid South Africa, Nesan’s early life was shaped by systemic inequality and social division. Those formative experiences instilled in him a deep commitment to justice, dignity, and service. Having witnessed firsthand the impact of marginalisation and structural disadvantage, he remains passionate about humanitarian initiatives that empower vulnerable communities through education, economic participation, and sustainable development.
Professionally, Nesan has held senior leadership roles with several of Australia’s major banks and has managed multi-billion-dollar portfolios. He is currently the Managing Director of a business advisory and consulting firm, where he works closely with CEOs, directors, and business owners to strengthen governance, strategy, and organisational performance. He has served on a number of not-for-profit boards across the health, education, international trade, and financial services sectors, contributing specialist expertise in business improvement, change management, strategic leadership, governance, and human resources.
Nesan holds a Senior Executive MBA from Melbourne Business School and a Bachelor of Arts, together with advanced qualifications in business, leadership, and marketing. He completed the General Manager Program through AGSM and Negotiations Mastery through Harvard Business School. He is a Chartered Manager, a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, a Nationally Accredited Mediator, and a Certified Professional Business Advisor.
Nesan’s involvement with Ten for Tamils reflects both his professional capabilities and his personal values: a belief that sustainable change is achieved through disciplined governance, strategic clarity, and compassionate action to help uplift the plight of women and children after the civil war in Sri Lanka.
Saroja Sivachandran
SAROJA SIVACHANDRAN is a local Tamil woman from Jaffna who began The Centre for Women and Development, a non-profit organisation, legally registered under the NGO secretariat Colombo in 1988. The CWD, aims to address Women’s Rights and to build capacity and empower women in the local community to take part in all the activities.
CWD aims to work with the underprivileged , the marginalised, the discriminated and the victimised women and girls and as part of this project, the thousands of widows in Sri Lanka.
The Ten for Tamils project would not be possible without the support of Saroja and the CWD who are responsible for implementing the programs and supporting the women.
OUR SERVICES:
TEN for TAMILS will offer practical assistance, including:
- Food support programs and distribution of rations
- The creation of employment opportunities for the women
- Supporting children to remain at school by the provision of scholarships
- Support of University of Jaffna students with a scholarship program
- Micro finance opportunities for women