A place where love and care bring out hidden talents
Time for Kandyan dance. Pic by Priyanka Samaraweera
The Colombo Centre for Special Education in Colombo 5 is a place that gladdens one’s heart seeing the dedicated work that is done there. The school focuses on creating an environment for its 30 adult male students to be happy among their peers and express themselves creatively.
This year their annual sale, called, ‘Market Place 2019’ will take place on Saturday, November 23, at the school, located at 80/7, Layards Road, Colombo 5, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
In addition to items that have been made throughout the year by students, staff, and volunteers, several donated items such as books, ornaments, kitchenware, clothes and household goods too will be on sale. On sale will be Christmas decorations and bonbons, woodwork, handmade cloth rugs, a variety of coconut shell spoons, recycled greeting cards, sarees, art and craft items, notepads, canvas bags, bead work items, and more.
Anna Rebert
“Very often parents are quite surprised when they are shown video clips of their children doing things that they have not been seen doing at home. Helping to mow the lawn, dancing the baila, posing like a model, are few of the clips we have made. Simply put, we keep them happy for the hours they spend with us each day. They leave at 1 p.m. with the eager expectation of returning the next morning. Friday is a sad day and Monday is anything but ‘blue’ for them, says Anna Rebert, who is on the Centre’s board of management.
The Centre was started on July 3, 1975, in a small room at the boys’ home of the Salvation Army in Rajagiriya, with only two students. An initiative by Rev. Celestine Fernando and Nora Fernando of the Bible Society Ceylon, their son is currently the oldest member of the school, at the age of 70. Rev. Jabez Gnanapragasam, who having seen the work done at the Centre for Special Education and on the request of the board of management arranged a more permanent home for the Centre at Layards Road.
Aged between 18 and 70, the students have autism, cerebral palsy and neurological disorders, Down syndrome and other learning disabilities. The Centre focuses on bringing out their talents and fostering a positive environment by having activities that include art therapy, music therapy, and Kandyan dancing lessons in lieu of more traditional therapies. The dancing, for example, helps them get the exercise they need without having to go for physical therapy. It’s a welcome change from the therapies that they have had and continue to have.
Some of the products made for the sale
“We aren’t fussed by all the labels that are given to them but we get to know the boys, because knowing them, and what is needed for them, whether on a good day or a bad day and intervening in that is more important,” Anna explains.
Dr. Nimal Markar, a retired Consultant Psychiatrist in the UK with nearly 30 years experience in mental health is a Consultant to the Centre, visiting on a regular basis.
To join the school it costs Rs. 5000 with a fee of Rs 1,000 every month. However the initial charges are only taken after three months of the boys being there. In addition the school will also find a sponsor for anyone who cannot afford to pay. The Centre only accepts adult male students.
For Anna, the message she wants others to understand is that it isn’t about working with your brain but rather letting your heart take the lead. Anna has been working with the Centre for over 25 years, and when one of her grandsons was born with autism, her work with the Centre helped her both understand and deal with the situation.
In addition to the sale there is also a shop where products can be bought. For more information about the work that the school is doing visit their website: www.colombocse.org.lk. Anyone who would like to donate their time or money could call +94112591641 or visit the centre at Layards Road.