‘Friends of Prisoners’ Children’ to hold all-star charity concert
View(s):‘Imagine – A concert for the Children’, organised by ‘Friends of Prisoners’ Children’, will be held on November 25 at the Bishop’s College auditorium at 7 p.m. Popular artistes such as The De Lanerolle Brothers, Rukshan Perera, Mariazelle Goonetileke, Rajitha Rupasinghe of Misty, The Revelations and Natasha Ratnayake will be amongst those performing at the concert.
The proceeds of the concert will go towards improving the future of marginalised children of long-term prisoners at Welikada Prisons. Its main aim is to grant scholarships so that the children, who attend school in their hometown or villages, are able to continue their education. Scholarships are given to children from grades 6 to 13.
‘Friends of Prisoners’ Children’, an organisation of volunteers, was formed as an association in 2006 to consolidate a programme begun in 2005 to grant scholarships to the children of prisoners. They seek to befriend these children, who undergo many difficulties in their lives. Having a parent in prison they often live a double life and sometimes even their school principal is not aware of it. In their neighbourhoods they have to cope with the stigma of being judged a ‘child of a criminal’.
Having granted 47 scholarships in 2005, the association now has 200 children receiving scholarships. Their aim is to increase this to 300 children and also to focus on their psychological needs. A programme of sponsorship of a child will help to achieve their aims. Sponsors contribute Rs. 12,000 each year, which is deposited into a postal branch of the National Savings Bank. The child can withdraw Rs. 1000 at a time from the post office closest to his / her home when in need.
Many success stories have resulted from the scholarship and sponsorship programmes. “An outstanding case is of one girl who had got seven distinctions and was studying for the ‘A’ Levels when we met her,” said Sr. Immaculate De Alwis, Chairperson of the association. “She was not going for any extra classes so we gave her a double scholarship to get additional help in her subjects. She passed the ‘A’Levels so well she was ranked on the national level.” Sister Immaculate says the touching annual letters written by the beneficiaries to their sponsors show deep appreciation of the assistance received. The association hopes that the sponsors too will understand better what is going on in the hearts and minds of these vulnerable children who desire to grow up as good citizens.
Tickets for the concert priced at Rs. 2,000, Rs. 1,500, Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 are available at Bishop’s College auditorium.
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