Arts
One Stage for All: Youth-driven platform for special skills
A rather special model shoot took place during the lockdown at Galle Fort: the models who happily posed for the photographers were those with Down Syndrome and autism. Handled completely by members of One Stage for All, the images were released on World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, 2022.
One Stage for All is a volunteer organisation that works towards raising awareness about the lives of those with Down Syndrome and autism and supporting their community. Their focus is to give a voice to those who go unheard, a platform for those who go unnoticed despite their talents and skills.
Thareendra Liyanage
Established in 2018, One Stage for All began when 19-year-old Thareendra Liyanage fresh out of school whilst scrolling down a Facebook post, noticed an earnest plea from a mother of someone with Down Syndrome, asking for a caretaker who could come in daily.
“I noticed that she had emphasised the word patient and that got me thinking about what the needs for those with Down Syndrome and their families would be. The more I researched, the more I realised there was not enough work done for the community in Sri Lanka,” Thareendra says.
It is with this thought in mind that she gathered 25 friends, all of whom she had got to know through various extra-curricular activities that her school, Devi Balika had participated in and they brainstormed on how they could help. After much deliberation and even more research and planning, they decided to form an organisation with the aim of building a fully equipped centre or home, where those with Down Syndrome and autism could be educated and accommodated.
Parents of those with Down Syndrome or autism are often very fearful of the future of their children, as not many would be willing to take responsibility of those who have physical and mental developmental delays and struggles, when they themselves are no more.
One Stage For All aims to accommodate these children in a safe space where they can express themselves freely. They hope to build a fully equipped home in Colombo as well as a hostel and other facilities. At the moment, they are looking for a land that will accommodate their needs and mapping a registry for the community.
An organisation that began with 26 volunteers and a dream is now 1700+ strong (95% are undergraduates or straight out of school) and has branched out in Galle, Kandy, Kurunegala and Jaffna. It will be officially launched in May.
“Many volunteers join One Stage with the intention of doing good and supporting the community yet are unaware of how to correctly respond and help. Therefore, the first thing we do is train the volunteers and conduct workshops which unfortunately have been restricted due to COVID. Then they are gradually brought in to participate in our events,” Thareendra says.
One Stage has had many events;‘One Stage – Spend the day for a good cause’ sees volunteers and those with Down Syndrome and autism have fun doing various activities together while their One Stage Live concert at Nelum Pokuna has had artists and talented members of the community showcase their dancing and musical skills.
The organisation has also supported other causes; they have made donations for those affected in the Easter Sunday attacks, the ongoing pandemic and earlier this month held a silent protest down Green Path in support of the ongoing public protests.
The Galle Fort model shoot was the first initiative of their recently launched House of Tara – South Asia’s first-ever talent management hub for children and youth with special abilities which looks to create an online portfolio where those in the community could be helped to find jobs and an income.
Happy to step into the modelling world through the House of Tara
Two One Stage members are also currently receiving training to begin working at Barista, as well.
Thareendra expresses her gratitude to Apsara Kumarage, Sarath Liyanage, Dilantha Malagamuwa and Dilupa Pathirana for their support.
“There is so much talent that goes unnoticed and those with Down Syndrome and autism deserve a spot as well. We named ourselves One Stage because we want one equal stage for all,” Thareendra says passionately adding that it is time more awareness was created in society in order to prevent discrimination.
Any donations and volunteers are always welcome. You can find them on Instagram @onestageforallsl and check out @house.of.tara as well.