Hiranthi Fernando looks at how a children's shelter in Dambuwa became a place for happy youngsters
A Mudliyar's home for little people

A pleasant, well maintained children's home with happy, smiling little ones is hard to find. Providing shelter to about 75 destitute children from infancy right up to adulthood, the Peter Weerasekera Children's Home in Dambuwa was adjudged one of six best-run homes in the country in 2002.

This children's home goes back over 40 years. The main building, which is over 100 years old was the home of Mudliyar Peter Weerasekera and his wife. The Dambuwa, Buthipitiya Walauwa together with four acres of land, was gifted by their son, Singha Weerasekera, to the All Ceylon Women's Buddhist Association for a home for destitute children.

The home is now run by a committee chaired by Mr. Singha Weerasekera. Starting with an intake of 10 girls aged between seven and 14, today the home looks after 75 children. Most of them are orphans, the Manageress Mrs. D.K. Dissanayake explained and some have one parent who is unable to care for them.

The home is made up of three units, the main girls' home, nutrition centre and toddlers' home, each with its own matron.

At the nutrition centre, which is kept scrupulously clean, there were 18 infants below three. The rooms are bright and airy with neat cots, each with a pink mosquito net over it. The youngest infant, Sudaraka is just two months. The babies in the nutrition centre are malnourished children sent here by the State Receiving Home in Panadura for special care and nourishment.

Ruwini, who is 2 1/2 months is a tiny, frail-looking baby. Brought to the nutrition centre two weeks ago, she is feeding well, but is slow to gain weight due to a medical condition, Matron Namal Wickremarachchi said. In another room, more children were at play with three care- givers watching over them.

The toddlers' home accommodates 20 children of three - six years. A large hall serves as a dining room and play area.

Five little tables covered with blue checked tablecloths were set for their meal. In the long airy dormitory, cots with half railings are ranged along the walls. Cheerful nursery printed sheets with teddy bears are laid on the cots.

Each cot has the child's favourite doll or soft toy in it. Three-year-olds from the nutrition centre are sent on to the toddlers' home. Boys are kept at the home only till they are five years old.

The main girls' home housed in the original Walauwa, has 33 girls between 6 - 18 years who attend schools in the area. Some, like twins Taraka Sandamali and Nirmala Rukmali 15, have been at the home from their infancy. Their younger sister is also with them. Their parents who are both blind are unable to care for the girls.

One of the senior girls, Nirosha Subasinghe had been awarded a scholarship to the University of Bangalore two years ago. Nirosha had been admitted to the home at the age of five.

The girls are given opportunities for extra curricular activities such as music, art and dancing as well as religious activities. They are taught cooking, home decor and gardening. During their free days they assist in the kitchen or garden, thus gaining an all round education.

"The home is funded by the Peter Weerasekera Foundation," said Manageress Dissanayake. "We also get Samurdhi aid for 65 children. We receive donations of meals and other needs for the children. The balance expenses and staff salaries are met by the Foundation."

The Ravi Kundanmal Foundation is also assisting with the education of the children. Being an old building, the Walauwa now needs major repairs, Mrs. Dissanayake said.
The roof is leaking and the wiring and water pipes also need attention. The estimated cost of the repairs is Rs. 500,000. As a fund-raiser, a village fair has been organized for December 14 and 15 at the premises.

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