Look, I can walk

Sunflower Village says it has room for 30 more children

By Hiranthi Fernando

After three years of physiotherapy, Ruwini is able to walk with the aid of calipers strapped to her legs. She can go to the toilet on her own and look after herself. What's more, she has a ready smile on her face.

Nine-year-old Priyanthi, lay with one leg in traction at the Physiotherapy Unit. She too had not been able to walk when she came for rehabilitation three months ago. Priyanthi now gets around with the support of a walker. "She can also take a few steps on her own," Physiotherapist Ramalingam said. As she was put down from the bed, Priyanthi took a few faltering steps, fell back on her haunches, but got up again and valiantly continued to show what she could do. 

According to the General Manager of Sunflower Village, Lionel Dissanayake, Priyanthi had some spasticity in her lower limbs due to mild mental retardation.

"When I came here five years ago, I could only crawl," recalled Sumudu (16) who was in a wheelchair. "Doctor Uncle made me do exercises and now I can walk around the centre with a walker." Sumudu, whose parents are from Wattala, lives at the Sunflower Village and attends school there, while being rehabilitated.

Ruwini, Priyanthi and Sumudu are among the 48 children with various forms of physical disabilities being rehabilitated at Sunflower Village. "We can accommodate about 30 more children," the General Manager said. At Sunflower Village, physically disabled children between four and 17 years, are housed, fed, clothed and educated. They are provided training facilities and motivated to improve their quality of life. Left on their own, they would have remained restricted to their beds or spent their lives totally dependent on their families. 

The objective of this institution is to rehabilitate them, give them a vocational training according to their aptitude and help them find jobs or become self-employed.

"Parents can bring disabled children in need of rehabilitation here, along with their medical histories," Mr. Dissanayake said. "We provide them with resident facilities with a home environment. They are sent to school. They can go home for the holidays just as in a boarding school. We take in children with physical disabilities and not those who are mentally retarded. 

"Our aim is to teach them a vocation and make them self-reliant. We sometimes take children with mild mental retardation for short spells to see whether we can help them." 

Sunflower Village targets the poorer segments of society and provides services free of charge. Parents who can afford to make a contribution do so on a voluntary basis.

Located at Mulleriyawa, Sunflower Village is a 15-minute drive from Parliament. Brick cottages are set in a pleasant, green environment. There are also some guest cottages for visiting voluntary workers. 

This was the brainchild of Carl Heinz Beier, from Germany who provided the funding. 

"Two years ago, he handed it over to the local Board of Directors," said Chairman M. Wickremarachchi.

The Founder remains a silent Director and still provides funding. Several income-generating programmes have also been launched.

An automated industrial laundry caters to hotels and restaurants. Marina who was an inmate of the Village from its inception is now employed here, with another disabled person.

At the screen printing section which undertakes the printing of letterheads, greeting cards and name cards, four disabled youth in wheelchairs were busy turning out an order.

A number of young boys and girls, some disabled, from the neighbourhood were being trained in the computer section, where Pushpasiri, one of the first inmates to be rehabilitated at the Sunflower Village is the Instructor. A talented young man, he is fluent in English and Sinhalese and comperes shows for the Social Service Department in his free time. 

Disabled students who come in for instruction get a 50% discount on the fees. They also have free use of the computers. "Many students have been able to obtain employment with the certificate we issue after their training," Pushpasiri said.

The other sections dealing with carpentry, sewing and handicrafts are equally efficient.

A hall within the premises is hired by people of the area for weddings and other functions. "We provide a five-star service at one-star prices," Mr. Dissanayake said. Food is also supplied by the kitchen staff.

"We cook an average of 100 meals each day." A farm managed by the disabled, produces vegetables for use at the centre, while the surplus is sold outside.

Meanwhile, the orthopaedic section manufactures artificial limbs and splints. "We make everything for the children here as well as some limbs for the army," said Mr. Wickremarachchi. 

"Children outgrow limbs. When new limbs are supplied, the old ones are adjusted and reused." 

In the audiology section, ear moulds are manufactured for hearing-aids for schoolchildren. Kumari (22) who has only one leg and is being fitted with an artificial limb sent by Founder Beier has been trained to make the ear moulds.

"The hearing-aids are also donated by Mr. Beier," Mr. Wickremarachchi said. "We go to isolated schools in the rural areas and conduct hearing tests with a portable audiometer. 

Mr. Beier sends pocket hearing-aids from Germany and we turn out the ear moulds for the children."

A staff of 48 runs the institution. The aim of the Sunflower Village is to ensure the development and well-being of disabled children as well as disabled staff members.

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