Sunday Times 2
CFINS helps amputees with self employment and educational grants
View(s):The Colombo Friend-in-Need Society (CFINS) is the premier source of artificial limbs for amputees since 1985- the limbs are provided free of charage for those who cannot afford the usual cost of Rs. 14,000.
As part of the rehabilitation programme of CFINS, amputees who are unemployed are encouraged to run self-employment projects to supplement their income and to maintain busy schedules to avoid breakdown of motivation and mental health issues etc.
So far over 100 amputees have been helped to set up home gardens, grocery stores, garment outlets, food outlets, bicycle repair/ welding units, garment sewing facilities etc. This year 16 beneficiaries were identified.
In addition CFINS has also helped schoolchildren who wear artificial limbs with an educational grant of Rs 1,000 per month and Rs. 1,250 per month for university students. This project which was set up by the Hope for Children Fund (it has been discontinued ) is now run by CFINS.
Funding for both the projets has been generously given by the MJF Charitable Foundation of the Dilmah Tea Company.
The recipients were given their grants last week.
Present at the ceremony were Messrs Kamalanathan and Shantha from MJF Charitable Foundation and President of CFINS Nihal Abeysekera, Prof. A.H. Sheriffdeen, Chairman Self-employment project Krishan Jayewardena, Heather de Lanerolle, Chandramani Thenuwara, Ayoma Wijesundere of the Board of Management of CFINS and S.M.S. Bandara, project co-ordinator.
A workshop was conducted for the participants on how to run their businesses by K.M.S.G. Bandara of the Export Developemnt Board.