Handcrafted with enthusiasm
Students of the Colombo Centre for Special Education present their annual exhibition ‘Expressions 2013’
Down Layards Road in a quiet and peaceful residential area is The Colombo Centre for Special Education (CCSE), a school that is a second home to 25 male students over the age of 18 who are challenged with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and other mild to severe learning disabilities. The institution that has been a safe haven for the differently-abled since 1975 will hold “Expressions 2013” their annual art and craft exhibition for the seventh consecutive year on June 18 at the Lionel Wendt Gallery from 9 a.m. – 6.30 p.m.
Paintings, collages, household items, gift boxes, wooden items, wall hangings, wrapping paper and many more creative works of art are handcrafted with much enthusiasm by the talented boys at CCSE. “The canvases for the art work too have been made by the students themselves,” said their art teacher Ms. Anusha De Silva proudly. The boys have been eagerly preparing for the exhibition for months and it is with the greatest effort and care that they have created each and every item that is to be displayed.
At the CCSE the boys are given basic schooling and simple vocational training so that they could find gainful employment and become independent. Living skills, speech therapy, occupational therapy, art and creative handcraft, computer aided development of perceptual skills are taught. The CCSE’s devoted teaching staff of five also includes music, Kandyan dancing, singing, physical training, sports and group activities in their carefully integrated education programme so that the students’ learning experience would be exciting and enjoyable.
It is evident that the programme is one that is truly loved by its students as many who join never leave, says Ms Charika Muttiah, Executive Director at CCSE. “These students are very loving. It’s a pleasure to teach them,” she adds.
Currently they depend on donations made by well-wishers. Therefore it is to generate funds for the school that the centre often organises events such as this exhibition. Since it costs about Rs 300,000 per month for the maintenance of the school it is the hope of all at CCSE that perhaps companies would outsource and use the skills and abilities of the students and that others who are capable would help the centre in any way possible.
Hard at work preparing for the exhibition
Ms Muttiah points out that the help they seek need not only be monetary. The institute is in need of volunteers, art and craft supplies such as cotton material, paint, brushes, old cards and magazines, plywood sheets and pieces of timber. Well-wishers could also provide sponsorships for needy students, help organise more fund raisers and sponsor an outing for the students.
All items displayed at the exhibition will be for sale and the money generated will be used solely for the maintenance of the centre. Contact the centre via email on ccse.eol.lk, Tel: 2591641 or 4510832 or visit them on weekdays between 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. while the centre is in session.
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