School
for children with special needs in Sri Lanka...
Udana Special Children's Centre
Mr
Jaya Dharmasiri, retired scientist in physics at the University of
Queensland, Australia, contacted BODHI after hearing Colin and Susan
speak about BODHI on Australia’s radio programme, Bush Telegraph.
Mr Dharmasiri is one of the founders and the Australian representative
of the Udana Special Children's Centre, a school for children with
special needs in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital.
Mr Dharmasiri says, ‘Students include two with Downs Syndrome,
two with autism and two others with cerebral palsy. There are two
children with learning and hearing difficulties, and two others with
learning and walking difficulties.
There
are three teachers, one specially trained and two trainees. The teachers
are presently paid half of what they are worth. They are happy with
that until the place is established. The parents of five children
are unable to pay the school any money so my contacts meet the costs
on their own. They are paying for the transport of kids to the school.
It would be nice if someone donates a van to this school. I have not
yet started canvassing for help in Brisbane yet. The school is run
by the parents of the children and care providers.
‘At the opening ceremony, Buddhist monks blessed the new venture
and the traditional brass lamp was lighted symbolizing the dawn of
knowledge.
‘A garage was converted at the beginning to run the school.
The school is now housed in the preaching hall of a Buddhist temple,
which is leased at a reasonable fee. As a temple premises is not designed
for children with special needs, for example certain security changes
(fences, lockable gates etc) have to be incorporated.
‘Some of the school’s per-annum needs include (in Australian
dollars):
| Skill
development aids, videos, DVDs |
A$1000/US$833 |
|
| Books,
manuals, guides |
A$500/US$417 |
|
| Student
fees for 1 student per year (at 20 Hrs per week) |
A$750/US$625 |
|
| Teacher’s
salary ($150 p/m) |
A$1800/US$1500 |
|
Please see the proposal [link] for further details.
Donations may be made to BODHI for the Udana Special Children's Centre.
Current needs, 2008
Please see Year End Party 2007
Year End Party 2007
Mr Lalith Halangoda writes from Colombo in February 2008:
We are running the centre as usual. We are giving a daily transport fee to Dilshan with your donation.* He is having some progress. We had a year end party at the temple. Parents and family members also participated and are happy with the event. We appreciate your assisstance so much. We will inform you the progress from time to time.
*A specific request from a donor who gave A$400. Please see Year End Party 2007 for details.
Pictures from Udana School
The temple where the school is run. |
The classroom, Principal standing
at the centre, with two assistant teachers |
Sameera
|
Some students
of the Udana Special Children's Centre |
Maharshi |
Sasindu |
Sajith
|
Sakuni |
Staff
of the Udana Special Children's Centre
Mrs Hemamali, CEO |
Miss Thrimanna, Principal |
Mrs Nirmala Siriwardena, Assistant Teacher
|
Mrs Kokila Wasanthi, Assistant Teacher |
