Nurturing challenged but able youth
Spacious are the halls, the dormitories neat and welcoming with crisp linen and giant stuffed toys, and the learning spaces flooded with mellow light where books share space with handicrafts made by the young students.
This calming environment is the Sevana Home and School run by the Challenged Children’s Aid Association of Sri Lanka (CCAASL) – a haven for a very vulnerable section of our society that has been so for nearly 90 years.
Begun in 1937 by Arthur H. Nathanielsz, the CCAASL this year looks back on 88 years and will hold a gala charity fundraiser singalong at the Water’s Edge on September 21.
Set away from the busy Kotte Road, the Sevana Home and Special School are a sanctum, where physically disabled children from 5 to 18 get wholesome care, from food, clothing and shelter to comprehensive healthcare, quality education and vocational training and life skills.
Originally called the Crippled Children’s Aid Association, the terminology has changed from those times.
President of the CCAASL, architect Ranjan Nadesapillai, says while the home and school can each foster 40 children, the home has only 16 now and the school 20. Education is provided up to O’ Levels and for A’ Levels, the young scholars are sent to St. Thomas’ College, Kotte, next door.
The home has a superintendent and a matron with staff while the school employs eight members of academic and non-academic staff.
Each class in the Sevana Special School graded according to the child’s competency and not age has no more than eight children and many are the success stories that adorn a special cabinet in a hall. Here are portrayed the happy nuptials of young Asanga*, who now has his own printing press and is, married to a non-disabled girl, Dinasha* a pretty girl without both legs now happily married, and also another now an university graduate. “Producing ‘challenged but able adults’ is our target” says Mr. Nadesapillai.
Says Damayanthi Weerakkody, Secretary, CCAASL, fondly, “We also had a boy who was very good at compering but of course at eighteen he had to leave us, and is now doing well as part of the Victoria Home.”
A classroom session: Learning according to their abilities and right, the calming environment of the Sevana Home and School. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
The CCAASL also helps find employment and marital partners for their wards.
The school and home are equipped with computer rooms, play areas, a physiotherapy centre with its own small pool and a dedicated team including a medical officer and a visiting psychotherapist. Each day is regulated according to a timetable with emphasis on physical exercise and religious education (with daham pasal on Sundays), hydrotherapy, art classes, badminton, singing and dancing, with sil at the Naga Vihara, Kotte, on Poya days.
The Treasurer of CCAASL for 40 years, the indefatigable Abirami Kailasapillai, has been a pillar of strength at the association and still finds the time and energy to come down to Kotte regularly and look into the running of the place.
While the CCAASL is looking for more students, it also needs to employ more staff.
Donations are welcome (and would be acknowledged with a receipt) and can be made to Seylan Bank Kollupitiya Account No. 00801 13588896120 (Swift Code- SEYBLKLX) by account payee cheques
or online transfers (the Deposit slips to be sent to Treasurer by email or Whatsapp for formal acknowledgment).
| Sing-along on September 21 | |
| To raise funds for the Challenged Children’s Aid Association of Sri Lanka, a Sing-along with Black, billed to be a swinging ‘sing, dine, dance’ event featuring the band Black will be held at the Grand Ballroom of the Water’s Edge Battaramulla on September 21 from 7 p.m. Tickets are priced at Rs. 8500 per person in tables of ten, while each table will also feature decor crafted by inmates of the home and school. There’s a sumptuous buffet and prizes to be won at the table, entrance and raffle draws. The compere will be Kennedy Machado. For table/ticket bookings, please contact Ranjan Nadesapillai- 077 7777729, Damayanthi Weerakkody- 077 3082023 or
|
Searching for an ideal partner? Find your soul mate on Hitad.lk, Sri Lanka's favourite marriage proposals page. With Hitad.lk matrimonial advertisements you have access to thousands of ads from potential suitors who are looking for someone just like you.