Songs with a difference

By Madhushala Senaratne

Every human being is precious, yet we are all different from one another. This is a group of differently abled people waiting for an opportunity to tell the world what hidden talents they have. With a little help, they plan to sing to you those evergreen songs of yesteryear…those 'golden oldies'.

"Don't take disability at face value. Look deeper and you will begin to notice abilities that may have been missed at first glance," says Ms. Merle Jainu Deen, President of the Kandy Girls' High School (KHS) OGA (Colombo Branch) who have organized this event to raise funds for the needs of the Sumaga (Day-care) Vocational Training Centre.

The Centre run by the Ceylon Association for the Mentally Retarded (CAMR), provides vocational, educational, recreational and social activities for mentally handicapped boys and girls over 14 years. Over 20 differently-abled, from 14 years to around 40 years, as well as members from CAMR and KHS OGA will take part in the event. The children of Sumaga day-care centre will also perform a dance item. There will be a variety of stalls as well.

The Sumaga day-care centre, which celebrates its silver jubilee this year, conducts training in areas such as fabric designing, carpentry, home science, horticulture, handicraft, sports and the performing arts. The event will be held on November 17 at the Galle Face Hotel at 7 p.m. Tickets are available from the Sumaga Vocational Training Centre, No. 435/1, Galle Road, Mount Lavinia.